What‘s next for Thon Maker?

Maker was key for the Boomers, but leaves you wanting more. Can his professional career be reignited?

Credit: FIBA

Thon Maker was dominant playing for the Australian Boomers during the recent FIBA Asia Cup.

He was a two-way force; anchoring the tournament's best defensive unit on one end, while controlling space around the rim on offence. Maker looked like an outlier. And truth be told, he was an outlier within the setting. Athletes with NBA experience, not to mention prodigious athletic gifts, are seldom seen within regional Asian tournaments. Australia’s basketball elevation means our established men have graduated beyond the confines of an Asian Cup. But there was Maker, playing a major tournament for the first time in his Boomers career. His dominance wasn’t surprising, although his presence in Jakarta reinforces how turbulent a turn his professional career has taken.