Antetokounmpo sees future all-star in Maker
NEW ORLEANS – Thon Maker could be the next Giannis Antetokounmpo.
At least the Milwaukee Bucks all-star thinks so.
Maker, the 19-year-old Bucks rookie, was in New Orleans this weekend for the NBA all-star festivities and attended Sunday night’s game to cheer on Antetokounmpo, playing in his first NBA All-Star Game.
Antetokounmpo was asked about his teammate earlier in the weekend and offered high praise for Maker, now inserted into the Bucks’ starting lineup.
“He’s playing great,” Antetokounmpo said. “He gained coach (Jason) Kidd’s trust. He doesn’t have a ceiling.
“As he works harder and is doing what it takes to win, he’s going to get more minutes and he’s going to get a lot better.”
Asked what advice he has for Maker, Antetokounmpo said, “Spend as much time as you can on the court and just listen.”
Maker has been doing just that and said he is eager to get back to Milwaukee on Monday to begin preparing tor the season’s final stretch.
Maker said he would love to be an all-star.
“That’s a goal of mine, but team goals precede those,” he said. “I try to keep this as a model, but if I play to win every single time, this will be a part of it.”
Maker is getting a bigger opportunity with Jabari Parker out with his second anterior cruciate ligament tear. But right now the 7foot-1 player from Australia and native of South Sudan is starting at center while Michael Beasley is at power forward.
That lineup should get an even closer look after the all-star break when the Bucks resume play Friday night at home against the Utah Jazz.
“Everybody talks about small ball, but when you look at the different lineups around the league, there’s a 7-footer on the floor that’s very gifted, that can put the ball on the floor, can shoot and can pass,” Kidd said before the break.
“I don’t know if it’s small ball. You look at Golden State ... Kevin Durant, you can call him 6-10 or 6-11; he’s close to 7 feet tall. For us, we have Giannis who can play any position.”
Maker fits into that equation as part of the Bucks’ all-length team. But he needs experience, just as Antetokounmpo did when he arrived.
“He’s a rookie,” Kidd said. “He’s going to make mistakes. His energy has been high.
“He loves to play and he works extremely hard. The beauty of this is his teammates want him to have success, too. When you see him on the floor, his teammates are cheering for him.
“He has put himself in this position because he has worked hard and been patient with the process.”
Maker’s best recent performance was a 12point showing at Indiana in the Bucks’ 116-100 victory. He showed his range by hitting 3 of 5 three-pointers, including a crucial one late in the game. He also started in victories over Detroit and Brooklyn as the Bucks compiled a threegame winning streak heading into the break.
“He’s really mature for his age,” Antetokounmpo said. “I think he can be at this (all-star) level one day. He’s better than me when I was his age.”