Thon Maker among Australia's first roster cuts / News - Basketnews.com

Thon Maker and two more players were cut from Australia's remaining roster ahead of the World Cup.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

The Australian national team has reduced its squad from 18 down to 15 ahead of its FIBA World Cup campaign later this month.

Thon Maker

Position:CAge:26Height:216 cmWeight:101 kgBirth place:Vau, SudanProfileNewsStatistics

The remaining players will now stay in camp in Cairns until Wednesday before heading to Melbourne for the prep games. The players not going through to Melbourne are Sam Froling, Thon Maker and Keanu Pinder. From those 15 left, 12 will end up making the final cut.

Brian Goorjian reiterated that this is the hardest selection in his time as Boomers head coach.

"This is an elite squad with so much talent, there is no easy way to make cuts, but the reality is that we only get to take 12 into Okinawa. Would I take all of these players if I could? Absolutely, but that’s the hardest part of sport, you have to make the cuts, we have to keep moving forward," Goorjian, who is also coach of the Bay Area Dragons in the EASL, told the NBL official website.

"I have the utmost respect for Sam, Thon and Keanu and their contribution here in Cairns, their work rate has been exceptional. On and off court they have demonstrated the highest level of professionalism."

In total, 10 NBA players led by OKC Thunder star Josh Giddey, Patty Mills of the Atlanta Hawks and Joe Ingles of the Orlando Magic, make up Australia's current roster ahead of friendlies against Venezuela, Brazil, and South Sudan in Melbourne on August 14, 16 and 17.

Thon Maker, who was banned three games by FIBA for taking part in an infamous brawl with Gilas Pilipinas in a 2019 World Cup qualifier, was the most prominent cut. Maker, 26, will miss out on the chance to play against the country where he was born (South Sudan).

Following an uneventful five-year NBA stint with the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, he landed in Europe to join Hapoel Jerusalem in 2021. He's currently playing for the Fujian Sturgeons in China's pro league.

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