Many mysteries have trailed 19-year-old Milwaukee Bucks rookie Thon Maker on the way to the NBA, including the question of what his actual age may be, but also including his potential to make a professional impact. A seven-footer with guard-like perimeter aspirations and a questionable resume against top talent, Maker is a basketball dream who may never take reality, and many considered the Bucks selecting him at No. 10 overall to be something of a curious gamble.
Skeptics of Maker got off to a good Summer League start Monday night, as the Orangeville District Secondary School alum fouled out. To put that into further perspective: players don’t often foul out in Summer League, as they have nearly twice the allowed fouls — 10, instead of six — as they would in an NBA game, due to all the sloppy and unrefined defense seen at Summer League.
Maker, clearly not ready for the speed and athleticism of fellow professional talent pools, collected 10 fouls in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Maker is of course very athletic himself, with unusual touch and agility for his size, but he’s definitely used to being the most imposing presence on the floor. In a league full of hulks and speed demons the likes of which he hasn’t seen, Maker will have a steep adjustment curve.
