How a refugee from South Sudan became a historic NBA draft anomaly
In short: Thon Maker’s path to the NBA was anything but conventional. After escaping civil war and settling in Australia, he became the first player in over a decade to leap directly from high school to the NBA draft, sparking intense debate over his age and eligibility before his professional career began.
Born in Wau, South Sudan, in 1997, Maker fled the civil war as a child with his brother and aunt, eventually settling in Perth, Australia. His basketball journey accelerated after being discovered playing soccer at age 14. Under the guidance of mentor Edward Smith, Maker moved to Sydney and later to the United States, where he dominated the high school circuit in Virginia and Ontario, Canada. His physical profile was elite; at the 2016 NBA Draft Combine, he measured nearly 6 feet 12 inches and set a record for the highest no-step vertical jump for a player of his stature.
Maker’s entry into the 2016 NBA draft was a landmark event that required a special ruling from the league. To bypass the standard college requirement, he had to prove he had graduated from Orangeville Prep in 2015, effectively utilizing a postgraduate year to meet the NBA's age and experience mandates. This made him the first high schooler to enter the draft since the 2005 collective bargaining agreement introduced the one-and-done rule. His eligibility was clouded by public speculation, with some teams questioning his listed age of 19, suggesting he might be several years older. Despite these concerns, the Milwaukee Bucks selected him 10th overall.
His NBA tenure included stints with the Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Following his time in the league, Maker transitioned to a successful international career, notably winning the inaugural FIBA West Asia Super League MVP award in 2024 with Al Riyadi. His athletic lineage is significant; he comes from a family of notable height and sporting talent, including his brother Matur and cousin Makur, who also pursued professional basketball. Maker’s career remains a testament to a unique, high-pressure trajectory that challenged the traditional pathways of elite basketball development.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Thon Maker
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