Snyder Shrugs Off Heated Exchange Between Exum, Oni

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – No big deal! That was head coach Quin Snyder’s attitude when he was asked about a heated exchange between Dante Exum and Miye Oni in practice on Sunday that was witnessed by the media.

Exum and Oni were in a 2-on-2 drill before Exum took a tumble. Exum was restrained by fellow players and coaches before leaving the practice yelling while he was on his way out. Snyder was actually surprised someone even brought the question up.

“If we let (the media) in practice every day you would see a lot of altercations,” said Snyder before Utah’s pre-season game against the Sacramento Kings. “That’s a natural part of the game…guys are smiling today and getting after it.”

Coach Snyder did not think it was a big deal that Dante Exum and Miye Oni got mad at each other at practice. Said it happens all the time. #utahjazz @kslsports #jazznotes #takenote

— Cleon Wall (@kslcleon) October 14, 2019

Snyder said Royce O’Neale and Donovan Mitchell had a kerfuffle two weeks ago and then jokingly said that maybe he should have sent out a press release about it. He then said he liked Exum and Oni’s competitiveness.

“I love seeing Dante compete,” Snyder mentioned. “He’s not able to play 5-on-5 right now. Those are his games. Those are Miye’s games. It was a game point situation. So guys want to win. I don’t think it was a big deal.”

Snyder indicated he didn’t talk to the guys after the dust-up, but that it happens at times.

“Anything that happens in the heat of the moment of competition you just have to temper your perception of it. Joe (Ingles) and I get into every now and then in a game and two minutes later, I put him back in the game and it’s over.”

Snyder finally said that being part of a team includes pushing and challenging your teammates. He added that there is no way that guys can compete as hard as the coaching staff and the players want to compete without some sort of disagreement.