NBA
#10 Milwaukee Bucks: Thon Maker
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
With the 10th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Thon Maker out of Athlete Institute.
Maker is one of the most intriguing players in this draft class. He is 7’1 and has as much raw potential as just about anyone in this class. It’s not clear how long it will take for Maker to adjust his game to the NBA, but that didn’t scare the Bucks away — a team that’s roster is built around length. Don’t forget, the Bucks selected Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2013 Draft and there’s no debate that pick turned out to be a steal.
Maker needs to add some bulk to his frame and doesn’t have elite rebounding skills, which can be problematic for a player his size. However, he is a physical player who doesn’t back down and competes with a high motor. While Maker could someday become a uniquely lethal stretch power forward, his shot will need to improve significantly. He certainly has three-point range in his arsenal, but it’s not clear how long it will take before it is consistent enough to be a real asset for the Bucks.
Despite all of the short-term concerns, there’s little doubt that Maker has a ton of potential and upside. With an intriguing skill set and defensive versatility, he could be an interesting fit with the Bucks.
