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Thon Maker (C) of Australia attempts to kick Terrence Romeo (R) of the Philippines after a brawl erupted during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Group B qualifier match between the Philippines and Australia in Manila, Philippines, 02 July 2018. Mark R. Cristino/EPA
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Thon Maker’s embarrassing role in the Philippines vs. Australia melee

He was one of 13 players ejected in a scary brawl in FIBA game in Manila, Philippines

Donovan Dooley
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    6:59 AMWell, if there is one thing that we learned on Monday, it’s that Thon Maker can’t fight. This is evident from the wild brawl that took place in a FIBA World Cup qualifying game between Australia and the Philippines.

    The Milwaukee Bucks center has shown the ability to block shots and stretch defenses by shooting from 3-point range. However, it’s clear that his ability to connect on a right hook probably needs as much work as Ben Simmons’ jump shot this offseason.

    Around the four-minute mark in the third quarter of the game, Australia led 79-48. They were well on their way to victory in the game in Manila, Philippines. That’s also when Philippines guard Roger Ray Pogoy threw his elbow at the head of Australia’s Chris Goulding.

    At that point, both teams wanted all the smoke. The retaliation that ensued by the Australian players resembled something out of a WWE cage battle. And players from the Philippines were seen throwing punches and chairs.

    Except these guys weren’t acting.

    In all, 13 players were ejected. Fists, elbows, and objects that included a chair were used in the melee. Some even resulted to kickboxing as a method of defense.

    Which brings me back to Thon Maker …

    This man threw more leap kicks in a 30-second altercation than a ballerina at a Nutcracker recital. I don’t know if he thought his hands were off-limits or he thought he was channeling Jaden Smith in The Karate Kid. Either way, it was just flat-out awkward, and not good sportsmanship. But he isn’t the only one to blame.

    In Maker’s defense, he is 7 feet, 1 inch with a 7-foot-3-inch wingspan. So anyone with any sense knows not to pick a fight with him. But height is no substitute for experience. When placed into imminent battle, Maker embarrassed himself on several levels.

    His impact on the fight was equivalent to the impact Jordan Clarkson had on this year’s NBA Finals. Maker landed the same number of punches as Kevin Durant has hair brushes: 0.

    This is unacceptable for someone of Maker’s stature. While Maker is an emerging young player in the NBA, it’s clear from this fiasco that Maker needs to get in a gym. A boxing gym.

    Maker did apologize on Twitter.

     

    Donovan Dooley is a former Rhoden Fellow and a multimedia journalism major from Tuscaloosa, AL. He attends North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University.