Apr 10, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) dribbles the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Beno Udrih (19) defends during the second half at EnergySolutions Arena. Memphis won 89-88. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

This coming August, Utah Jazz point-man Dante Exum and the Australian national hoops squad will go head to head with New Zeland in the FIBA Oceania Championships. The two-game, home and home set will serve as a qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Over the weekend, it was announced that the Boomers will host the Tall Blacks at Rod Laver Arena, a stadium in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with a seating capacity of 15,000. The event marks the return on FIBA play to the region for the first time since the months leading up to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

In an article appearing in the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday, Exum said that he believes the game in Melbourne could pave the way for NBA basketball in the Land Down Under:

“I’ve talked about it for the last year with NBA people and with Joe [Ingles] trying to get games back here,” Exum said. “They have to sort out the logistics behind it, but all the Australians in the NBA are happy to play an exhibition game here. I think it will happen soon.”

All smiles for Danté Exum, announcing his intention to represent @AussieBoomers in Melbourne in August. #homecoming pic.twitter.com/Vn7fijKohP — Angus Crawford (@arkcrawford) May 3, 2015

Meanwhile, a statement from Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore expressed excitement about the game in Melbourne:

“The staging of the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championships at Rod Laver Arena signifies the return of big time, first class basketball to Australia. The best Australian basketball talent, on one of the greatest sporting stages in the world—an unforgettable night.”

Whether or not NBA commissioner Adam Silver has designs on bringing the NBA game to Australia remains to be seen. In the meantime, Exum will be looking to improve on his performance with the Boomers during the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

In six World Cup games last summer, Exum averaged only 2.7 points per game on 33.3-percent shooting. Given his year of growth and development, as well as the experience of an 82-game NBA season, I would expect Exum to have a greater impact in the series with New Zealand.

Fellow Jazzman Joe Ingles will not play for the Boomers, citing a need to rest and recuperate.