Milwaukee Bucks: Get To Know Thon Maker

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Thon Maker puts on a team cap after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Thon Maker puts on a team cap after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Thon Maker is the most high profile Milwaukee Bucks addition from this year’s NBA Draft, but what do you need to know about him?

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Thon Maker puts on a team cap after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Thon Maker puts on a team cap after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

In reality, it was only Thon Maker and those in the Milwaukee Bucks war room who were left unsurprised by what unfolded at the 2016 NBA Draft.

The long, eventful, and entirely remarkable journey for the young native of South Sudan came to a head, when NBA commissioner Adam Silver called out his name for the 10th overall pick.

He realized his dream of playing in the NBA, and now the next step will be to build on it and leave a legacy far greater than just being one of the most surprising picks in the history of the league.

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To do that will require a lot of work, but that’s a concept Maker seems more than familiar with, so there’s no reason for him to be daunted by that prospect.

Having had his star ascend in the wider public consciousness thanks to unlikely crossovers, powerful dunks and startling shooting range, most appraisals of Maker’s game tend to be clouded by noise.

It’s difficult to assess him in the same way as you would another young prospect, as you have stories that take shape.

There’s Thon Maker; the refugee who escaped his war ravaged homeland and carved out a future for himself at the top of professional sport thanks to a somewhat nomadic existence.

And then there’s Thon Maker; the freakish prospect who could transform the NBA thanks to his unique combination of size, touch and athleticism.

As June of 2016 comes to a close, there’s only one version of the 19-year-old that really intrigues Milwaukee Bucks fans though. Who is Thon Maker, the NBA player going to be?

Let’s take a closer look to find out.

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