Australian Maker ready to make NBA mark

Jun 24, 2016 - 5:15 AM Australian Thon Maker hopes his incredible journey to the NBA is an inspiration to young kids around the world.

Maker's pathway has taken him from war-torn South Sudan, where he fled with his family as a five-year-old refugee, to Perth, Sydney, Virginia and Mono in Canada.

His next stop is Milwaukee, with NBA basketball team the Bucks selecting him with the 10th pick of the Draft.

Even before he was picked up he faced a last-minute challenge with rumours circulating just prior to the Draft he was older than 19 - which Maker laughed off.

The 216cm tall, freakish athlete was destined for the NBA since he was spotted in Perth as a 14-year-old playing soccer but he said it hadn't been easy.

Maker also had to contest the NBA rule that players had to be one year removed from high school graduation to be allowed to enter the Draft, saying he graduated from the Athlete Institute in Canada in 2015 but stayed in school for an extra year to play alongside his younger brother, Matur.

"For me, sacrificing a lot of things has helped me out," Maker said.

"My family being far away in Australia and me being in the US has helped me out because I know I'm working for them and finding a way to be successful for them.

"I can't put in my mind that I'm homesick, I had to find a way to continue to motivate myself and keep working."

Maker said he'd met many kids who are also looking for a better life and hoped he inspired them.

"It's not just in Australia, all around the world too, there's a lot of kids I've met through this journey and they want to find a way, in basketball, or any sport, to be successful.

"When they see someone do something like this, they want to find out more and what decision got you here.

"There's kids in my situation who can see this as an inspiration."

Maker said he was excited to be picked up by the Bucks, where former No.1 draft pick and fellow Australian Andrew Bogut started his NBA career in 2005.

While he wants to be a modern day Hakeem Olajuwon, Maker said hoped to meet Bogut to get advice about his new team.

"I'd love to pick his brain a bit and not just because of the Bucks but also because he's been an NBA champion with the Warriors and very impactful with the national team."

Maker's top 10 selection by the Bucks underlines Australia's growth as an international basketball power, with Ben Simmons picked No.1 by the Philadelphia 76ers and seven other Australians already in the NBA.

Maker and Simmons both declared they want to play for the Australian national team, although they want to concentrate on their rookie NBA year rather than joining the Boomers in Rio.

Source: AAP