In the 2016 NBA draft, with the 10th overall pick the Milwaukee Bucks shocked the NBA community by selecting Thon Maker, a 7-ft. forward/center from the South Sudan.  In a press conference, Bucks general manager John Hammond emphasized Maker’s character, stating:

“You’re always concerned if you can put your head on the pillow at night knowing if you drafted somebody you can trust. We felt that with Thon. We know he’s going to do everything he can to be the best player he can be. We don’t have to teach him how to work, he knows how to work.”

Maker’s work ethic, combined with his ability to stretch the floor and play interior defense, seems exactly what the Bucks need.  However the big question behind Maker is his acutal age.

While Maker is listed at 19 years old, a lot of people are speculating if that’s the truth, mainly because of a recent yearbook photo that has surfaced on the internet, showing Maker in 12th grade in 2010. If the photo is accurate then Maker is probably closer to 22 or 23 years old. 

When Maker was asked about speculation of his age, he was not worried about it, saying, “I know it’s not the truth, so I’m comfortable.”

Hammond was also very confident when questioned during his press conference, saying, “He’s 19 years old, that’s what we have record of and we’ve been through this before with international players.”  Whether he is 19 or 22, I love the Bucks’ swing-for-the-fences attitude and I am a big fan of the pick.