Thon Maker Is Paving A Path For Others Like Him To Follow
By Adam McGee
For all of the significance in Thon Maker‘s personal ascent to the NBA, his journey could be the catalyst for a burgeoning Sudanese Australian basketball scene to reach unprecedented new heights.
There has been a lot of talk about Thon Maker since he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 10th overall pick in last Thursday’s NBA Draft.
Initially there was a swell of stories marvelling at his brave and nomadic journey to realize his dreams, and then as seems to have become a feature of internet culture, the backlash arrived with a slew of allegations centered around his age (that as of yet have failed to provide any definitive proof in one direction or another)
The story that many seem to have glossed over though, is perhaps the most important of them all.
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In terms of draft prospects and even in the wider US media, of course, it appears as if there’s something unique about Maker’s background and his heritage, but the reality is that there are thousands like him who also strive to see their wildest dreams realized.
Maker and his family were forced to flee their homeland of modern day South Sudan, when the latest addition to the Milwaukee Bucks was only a young child. The cause of their flight was a brutal civil war that ravaged the entirety of Sudan for the best part of 22 years.
The Maker family were some of the lucky ones who escaped across the border to neighboring Uganda, from where they set off to their newly adopted homeland of Australia, and were accepted as refugees. They were far from the only ones.
The most recent Australian Census recorded 3,487 residents who were born in the then recently established independent Republic of South Sudan, and a further 19,369 people who were born in the Republic of Sudan but are now residing in Australia.
The Sudanese are just one of many migrant populations to have emerged in Australia in recent decades, as a growing population of African descent has gradually attempted to integrate into Australian culture.
Not unlike in many other parts of the world where such a shift has taken place, challenges facing both the indigenous and newly settled communities have at times created tensions across the country, and as such, a number of distinct hurdles remain to be cleared.
Employment is one of the more notable factors, with that 2011 Census pinning unemployment among South Sudanese at 28.6 percent, and at 25.4 percent for Sudanese. As a reference point, the overall rate of unemployment in Australia was as low as 5.6 percent at that time.
With high unemployment, all kinds of unsavory realities can develop in a very short period of time, and as such one of the biggest concerns for many in the Sudanese communities has been how to create a brighter future for their young people.
Luckily, it’s sport that has provided some of the greatest relief.
Australian Rules Football has proven to be a welcoming home for many Sudanese Australian youngsters, but even more have turned towards basketball.
With a genetic makeup that lends itself to impressive height, strength and athleticism, basketball has been something of an obvious fit. Maker might be the first Sudanese Australian to make the NBA, but Deng Deng was among the first to make the breakthrough stateside having played Division I basketball at Baylor, before moving on to a professional career with the D-League’s Texas Legends.
Further inspiration can be found in South Sudanese natives who’ve made the leap to the pinnacle of the game, such as current Miami Heat wing Luol Deng, and legendary shot blocker Manute Bol.
With the growing trend of opportunities for people of similar heritage, the Sudanese Australian youth have started to embrace the game, and are finding a welcome outlet and home to hone their abilities with a number of programs in place.
Mark Hellinger, a documentary maker who has created a number of short films capturing the lives of sections of the African population in Australia, has recently released a new short titled Sudo Ballin’, focusing on the growing numbers of Sudanese Australian youths who are playing and succeeding in basketball.
In light of Maker’s arrival in Milwaukee, we spoke to Mark to get a sense of the world in which Maker came from and many of his peers still live in, and one of the most striking details was the apparent strength and potential of Sudanese Australian basketball.
"“The first Sudanese Australian NBA players will have a huge impact on the next generation of Sudanese Australian youngsters. Showing the kids that they can do it, no matter where they come from, should inspire more kids to play basketball.”"
Unsurprisingly, news of Maker’s arrival in the NBA has resonated in Australia, particularly among those of a similar heritage. Still, it hasn’t felt like a sudden ascent for most who have been paying attention, and Hellinger told us that Maker has served as something of an inspiration for a number of years, thanks in part to his many YouTube highlight packages.
"“Thon Maker has made a lot of news in Australia. He is particularly a role model for young Sudanese players who see if he can play in High School in North America and then professionally, they can as well.There are now more and more Sudanese Australian kids playing in US high schools, colleges, etc. Even though Thon was quite young when the YouTube videos came out having a role model and something to strive for has helped inspire many kids.”"
Hellinger noted that a common theme among many of those involved in the local communities who he has spoken to has been the “importance sport plays in keeping kids out of trouble”.
What for many would have started as a hobby that’s sole purpose was just to give them something to do, is steadily growing into something bigger. As Hellinger explains, the programs that were once designed to create a positive environment and form of structured sport for many youngsters, are starting to lead to more significant opportunities.
"“The Helping Hoops program offers free basketball clinics mostly around high-rise public housing estates. This program has helped young people focus on a goal, and starts the pathway for young talent. The program now has kick started many players into playing basketball. Many of these players, such as Louisville’s Deng Adel, end up getting scholarships to US colleges.”"
With an increase in the caliber of players emerging from the community, suddenly there are more eyes fixed on young Sudanese Australian prospects than ever before. Maker’s journey which currently seems unusual, could become much more common place as professional scouts have begun to pay closer attention to the natural ability that many of the youngsters possess.
"“There is definitely more scouting of young Sudanese Australians. Many players go from playing at Helping Hoops to a club such as Longhorns. Longhorns is a basketball club made up of Sudanese players. These games are getting scouted more. With many players often then going to a Basketball Colleges such as Sedale Threatt Jnr’s AUBD which then helps get the kids scholarships in the US.”"
Lost in the noise of Maker’s incredible personal ascent to the top of the world of sport, is the legacy he’s putting in place for others like him before he has even stepped foot on an NBA court.
The growing success of Sudanese Australians should only build up to greater opportunities for the next generation, and possibly even a regular flow of players from that background establishing themselves in the NBA.
Even if dreams don’t become reality for the next wave, at the very least sport can help to change the perception of the Sudanese in Australia, and more importantly it can help to change how they see themselves.
"“It’s not just Basketball there are more and more Sudanese playing Australian Rules football now as well. It gives the kids a focus and something to strive for. With more and more Sudanese athletes succeeding this creates role models for the younger kids as well.”"
Creating a generation who are confident, assured and determined thanks to having mentors and heroes to look up to could be the trigger needed to change life for many in those communities.
In spite of much of what you have likely read in recent days, Maker’s story is a great success. Not just for him, as a youngster who has worked hard and overcome the odds to reach his current point, but also for those who will grow up watching him and aim to achieve the same in their own lives.
Next: Milwaukee Bucks: Get To Know Thon Maker
Thon Maker already has a legacy in place, now the next step for him will be to build upon it.
Watch both of Mark’s documentaries included above, and be sure to check out his YouTube channel here and website here.