NBA draft uncertainty for Aussie Maker

Jun 23, 2016 - 8:34 PM The Philadelphia 76ers are set to select Ben Simmons as the No.1 overall pick at the NBA Draft, but another giant Australian has been hit by an eleventh-hour controversy.

NBA teams are reportedly questioning whether Perth's 216cm tall Thon Maker, listed as a 19-year-old, is older.

Maker was five-years-old when his family fled war-torn Sudan and settled in Australia, making his journey to the NBA one of the great stories of Thursday's draft (Friday 9am AEST).

Some draft analysts predict the Detroit Pistons will select Maker with the 18th pick, but the age controversy could damage his draft stock as his performances in high school against less developed players could be discounted.

"Several teams have entirely ruled Thon Maker out of the first round due to his age," Sports Illustrated contributor Jake Fischer wrote on Twitter.

"Multiple sources believe Maker to be 21-23, not 19."

There is little doubt about 19-year-old, 208cm tall Simmons' prospects.

Simmons appears all but certain to be the number one pick by the 76ers, a team with an atrocious win/loss record coached by former NBL and Australian Olympic coach Brett Brown.

"I've put in a lot of hours, a lot of years to get here," Simmons, the son of US-born former Melbourne Tigers NBL star Dave Simmons, told reporters.

Simmons shot down a US reporter's question about whether he might play for Team USA at future Olympics, rather than Australia.

"No, I'd never play for the US," Simmons, who will skip Rio to settle in with his new NBA team, replied.

"I'm Australian."

Simmons is set to become the third Australian-born player drafted number one, with Andrew Bogut the top pick in 2005 and Kyrie Irving in 2011.

Melbourne duo Venky Jois and Emmanuel Malou are also hoping to hear their names called out at the draft held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Source: AAP