Basketball On The Internet.

OUR teen sensation Dante Exum apparently has told ESPN he is heading stateside to check out storied US college programs at North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana and Oregon.

On a big day for Aussie basketball, with Andrew Bogut (Golden State Warriors), Patty Mills and Aron Baynes (San Antonio Spurs) all starting in the same NBA game, Exum has caused something of a shock by saying he would visit college basketball's "fab five".

With even Bogut recently suggesting Exum should skip college while his NBA draft stock is high, Dante's decision to explore his options is interesting.

If he was selected in the top five at the draft on June 26, Exum could expect a $US5 million ($A5.66 million) rookie NBA contract.

Top US sports agents already are due in Australia next month, hoping to represent Exum if he turns pro.

Of course, checking out North Carolina - where his father Cecil played alongside Michael Jordan - should be no great surprise.

Why not check out the Tar Heels?

Dante, 18 and a member of the world under-19 championship All Star Five this year is a 198cm point guard with NBA athleticism.

The world is at his feet.

But you knew that.

BAYNES and Bogut take the opening tip in Oakland and the ball goes to Mills.

So not only did three Aussies start an NBA game for the first time in history, but they also were the first to touch the ball!

Bogey, as we all know, is the Warriors' starting centre. Baynes and Mills were elevated when the Spurs decided to rest Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, with Tony Parker (shin contusion) already sidelined.

Not that the reasons matter. Fact is fact.

Bogey was perfect from the floor for eight points, accompanied by a whopping 18 rebounds.

Baynes had two points, three boards and Mills went off for 20 points as the Spurs won 104-102 on Tiago Splitter's last-gasp tap-in.

Last season, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was roundly criticised for resting players against Miami Heat, San Antonio fined $250,000.

He was typically unrepentent today, although he didn't make the decision to rest Duncan and Ginobili until after the Spurs beat Phoenix yesterday.

"I care about the end of the season, and we've been doing it for years,'' he said.

"We've already held them out in back-to-backs here and there, and seven (games) in 10 days, for them, that's ridiculous.

"Having played three teams that run - the Clippers, Phoenix and Golden State - tonight-a back-to-back, and we're going to get home at 4:30 (am).

''Let's see, how smart do you have to be to rest a couple of guys that are older than dirt?''