Thon Maker
A 7-foot South Sudanese-Australian who became an NBA draft sensation after a unique high school path in Canada.
Born 1997 (age 29)·South Sudanese-Australian basketball player·Birthday: February 25·Generation Z
Biography
Thon Maker's journey to professional basketball reads like a modern sports fable. Born in what is now South Sudan, his family moved through multiple countries to escape conflict, eventually finding stability in Australia. His extraordinary height and raw athleticism became apparent early, leading to a pivotal move to the Athlete Institute in Ontario, Canada, for his high school years. This unconventional path, bypassing the U.S. college system, made him a fascinating and somewhat mysterious prospect. The Milwaukee Bucks selected him 10th overall in the 2016 NBA draft, betting on his unique blend of length, mobility, and shot-blocking instinct. His NBA career, spanning several teams, was defined by flashes of defensive brilliance and a relentless motor, though he never quite solidified a consistent role. Maker's story remains one of immense potential and global hustle, a player whose very path to the league expanded the map for international talent scouts.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Thon was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Thon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Thon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2016 NBA Draft.
- Played in the NBA for four seasons across three different franchises.
- Became the first player drafted directly from a Canadian high school/prep program since 2005.
- Represented the World Team at the 2017 NBA Rising Stars Challenge.
Did You Know?
He is the cousin of fellow NBA player Makur Maker.
He was granted eligibility for the 2016 NBA draft after the league ruled he had graduated high school in 2015.
He holds Australian citizenship and has represented South Sudan in international competition.
“I carry the hope of my family and my country on the court.”
