Milwaukee Bucks: Get To Know Thon Maker
By Adam McGee
Background
For as tumultuous as Thon Maker’s upbringing became, like many of his fellow countrymen, he was in some ways a natural fit to be a basketball player from the moment he was born.
Born in what is now known as South Sudan, Maker descends from the Dinka tribe. Like many of the notable tribes in Sudan, the Dinka people are noted for their impressive height, and their slim, strong physiques. On average, Dinka males measure in at over 6’4″ tall.
In that sense, just one look at Maker makes you realize that much like Manute Bol and Luol Deng before him, he is quite literally a product of his Sudanese heritage.
The cruel irony then comes from the fact that like so many others, Maker and his family were forced to flee Sudan at a young age. The country was embroiled in a Civil War (their second) that would last for 22 years, and as a result, the Makers were forced to escape across the border to Uganda.
From there, Maker and his family soon left for Australia, a country with a sizeable population of Sudanese migrants. It was there where Maker was first formally introduced to basketball.
Maker’s coach and now his legal guardian, Edward Smith, spotted the naturally athletic youngster and encouraged him to try his hand at basketball. That was a moment that would ultimately lead to the duo moving to Sydney, then to Louisiana, to Virginia, and to Canada.
Maker’s most recent stop off before coming to Milwaukee was at Orangeville Prep, just outside of Ontario. Thanks to various reclassifications, Maker eventually became draft eligible for the 2016 NBA Draft, leading us to where we are today.
What can we take from Maker’s unusual path to the pro game so far though?
Next: Strengths