Bucks' Parker: Maker will be NBA's best 7-footer
Saturday's 109-97 loss to the Miami Heat marked the first career start for Thon Maker, the 10th overall pick of the Milwaukee Bucks. It was also just the second time all season the 19-year-old project saw the floor for double-digit minutes.
Everyone outside of the Bucks organization has yet to see enough out of Maker to make a sound judgment on his future and potential growth, as the playing time just hasn't been there (4.9 minutes per game in 20 appearances).
His teammate, Jabari Parker, works with the South Sudanese-Australian big man on a daily basis, and has as good an understanding as anyone as to what Maker is capable of.
"You can quote me, right now," Parker told The Lead prior to Saturday's outing. "Thon Maker's gonna be the best 7-foot player in this league. He's going to. He's that good."
Milwaukee is currently in the midst of a playoff push, sitting one game behind the eighth-seeded Chicago Bulls at 20-23. With a legitimate shot at qualifying for the postseason for the first time in two years, especially when taking into account the reported return of Khris Middleton before the All-Star break, it's easy to see why head coach Jason Kidd would be reluctant to give a hefty chunk of minutes to someone as raw as Maker.
Nonetheless, if he were with another organization with lesser aspirations this season, Parker believes Maker would be on more people's radar.
"Say if, for instance, he was on a team like Philly or one of the teams that's in the low .500s, he'd be averaging 15 and 10, easily, because his skill set is so amazing," Parker added.
"He can shoot the ball, he can put it on the ground, and he's athletic. He has that type of athleticism. Quick first step for his size, agile, great hands, good feel for the game, and it's only going to get better."
Parker was removed from the lineup in favor of Maker for violating a team rule, although it's believed he'll return to his regular role when Milwaukee hosts the Houston Rockets at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Monday.
Maker finished with a line of six points, one rebound, one steal, and one 3-pointer in 18 minutes.