The Bucks Defending Thon Maker Draft, Mark Cuban Doubts Player’s Age


Milwaukee Bucks has made a big bet when they drafted 19-year-old Australian basketball player Thon Maker. With a 7-foot-1 height, fans and critics were both impressed and doubtful of the decision.

For the haters, Maker said the Bucks had a reason for believing in him. According to the Daily Telegraph, Maker has had an outstanding play during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Thon Maker has an average score point of 14.8 during his four games.

Still, many are doubtful that Thon Maker is all talk. The height might be impressive, but that is not the only thing to consider in the NBA.

Aside from the maturity of the player, many are saying he is just too young to play in the NBA. Thon Maker had actually gotten an approval to skip college since he has been drafted in the NBA. Though Thon Maker has clarified the age issue to everyone, there are still critics who are uncertain of this big decision.

Nonetheless, 10-time All Star Jason Kidd told the Daily Telegraph that Thon Maker has so much potential.

“I think Summer League has been really good for Thon. The experience has been great and he has been playing extremely well.”

Thon Maker NBA Draft [Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images]
Jason Kidd highlighted his performance during the Summer League and said this has been a “great opportunity” for Thon Maker to showcase his abilities. Kidd also said that the young player “works extremely hard.” Because of his perseverance, this will make him stand out from all the other players his age.

“Whatever route Thon has taken to get here on his journey, he now has the opportunity to be something special. If he continues to keep working hard, something good could happen. I can’t wait to work with him.”

Long Way To Go

Kidd might have seen a unique potential in the player that he believes in Thon Maker so much. He has the natural abilities to success in the NBA, but he still has a long way to go if he wishes to supersede veterans like Kevin Durant and LeBron James.

During the third Summer League game against Memphis, Thon Maker had hit a 10-foul limit. There are still some things Maker needs to polish in his play. Even Kidd knows this. Jason Kidd added that he acknowledges the rawness of the player and that he has a lot of ways to improve. He also said he cannot guarantee that the player will immediately start in the NBA.

“We are a young team and we have a lot of young talent and a lot of long, athletic guys,” Kidd said. “He has got to earn his minutes. We believe he is going to work hard.”

Thon Maker NBA Bucks [Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images]

“I think being able to do the things he does, in due time he will get a lot of minutes. But early on he has to be patient.”

Meanwhile, Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks owner, has thrown a massive shade on the newly drafted player. Though it was meant to be a joke, Cuban had implied what the rumors about Thon Maker were all about.

Though Thon Maker claims he is 19-years-old, CBS Sports noted that there is a possibility that he might be older—probably 23 or 24 years old. Thon Maker was born in Sudan, and he grew up in Australia.

The Aussie forward would have a lot to prove to the Buck’s fans. Jason Kidd noted that he has limited knowledge on the NBL, but he thinks “Australian basketball is definitely on the rise.”

So far, Kidd is just looking forward to transforming Thon Maker into the NBA superstar he hopes him to be.

“I think being able to do the things he does, in due time he will get a lot of minutes. But early on he has to be patient.”

[Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images]

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