Derrick Walton Jr
April 26, 2023
Makur Maker
- Nationality: AUS/SSD
- Date of Birth: 4/11/00
- Place of Birth: Perth, WA
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 211
- Weight (KG): 107
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Howard (2020-2021)
- NBL DEBUT: 5/12/21
- AGE AT DEBUT: 21
- LAST NBL GAME: 11/05/22
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 21
- NBL History: Sydney 2022
- Championships: 1
- Sydney (2022)
BIO: Makur Maker was born in Perth, WA.
FAMILY: Cousin of Australian Boomers player Thon Maker.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Makur Maker made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 21 years of age. He scored nine points in his first game.
2021 saw the Kings replace Adam Forde with unproven US coach, Chase Buford. Buford, the son of RC Buford, the mastermind of the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA, would be handed a team with a already impressive core in Xavier Cooks, Jarell Martin and Dejan Vasiljevic and added former NBA talent Jaylen Adams and fellow import RJ Hunter.
The change in leadership and early-season injuries to RJ Hunter (who would only play in one NBL game), Adams (missed a third of the season) and young big man Jordan Hunter, who would miss the entire season, resulted in a sluggish start for the Kings. After a stretch in January where the Kings lost four consecutive games, Adams was able to make his return, the Kings added a former NBA teammate of Kings co-owner Andrew Bogut, Ian Clark and things began to improve.
Maker would average 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds over 16 games, shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from the perimeter as the Kings then finished the year in spectacular fashion, winning 13 consecutive games to end the regular season.
A 6'10 play Maker.#NBL22 Grand Final series LIVE + FREE on ESPN vis Kayo Sports freebies 👀 pic.twitter.com/eANj6zksTc— The NBL (@NBL) May 6, 2022
The Kings faced Brian Goorjian and the Illawarra Hawks in the semifinals, but comfortably defeated them in two straight games. On the other side of the bracket, the Tasmania JackJumpers in their debut NBL season, who were lucky to even be in the playoffs, defeated Melbourne United in three games. Tasmania had finished the season in fifth place and only qualified for the playoffs thanks to points percentage after South East Melbourne beat Perth in the final game of the season.
In the Grand Final series, Sydney continued to show their dominance, defeating Tasmania (95-78) in the opening game of the series. Adams, who had been named NBL MVP the previous week, scored 18 points in the win but suffered a left hamstring injury which would see him miss the remainder of the Grand Final series.
Game two saw JackJumpers fan favourite Josh Adams erupt for 36 points in front of a sell-out Tasmanian crowd, but thanks to 20 point efforts from both captain Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin (who shot 80% from the field) as well as Dejan Vasiljevic, who nailed a long range dagger in the closing minutes clinched game two for the Kings, 90-86. The win was Sydney’s 12th straight road game victory – the most away wins ever during a single NBL season.
Dejan Vasiljevic with the 𝘿𝘼𝙂𝙂𝙀𝙍 🗡️
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– 📺 Watch the #NBLFinals Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/XDIgoHVKo9— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 8, 2022
The Kings then closed out the series in game three, ending their 17-year championship drought in front of 16,000 fans at Qudos Bank Arena. Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin would combine for 45 points and 29 rebounds, and the Kings won their 19th win of their final 21 games.
Cooks would be named the MVP of the finals series, averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists over the three games and at 33 years of age, Makur Maker would became the first NBL Next Stars player to win a NBL championship and Buford became the fourth-youngest championship-winning coach in league history, with Bob Turner (1983), Ken Richardson (1982) and Jim Ericksen (1981) the only coaches to win it at a younger age (Two of those were player-coaches).
17 years in the making 💜💛#WeTheKings #NBL22 pic.twitter.com/Wz7uIGjTr6— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) May 14, 2022
In November 2025, Makur Maker was a target for the Sydney Kings following injuries to Keli Leaupepe (ACL) and Jason Spurgin (foot).
Makur Maker played one season in the NBL. He averaged 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 21 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 21 | Sydney | 19-9 (3) | 21 | 332.1 | 162 | 112 | 14 | 27 | 85 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 42 | 47 | 104 | 45% | 15 | 44 | 34% | 53 | 68 | 78% | 59% | 52% | 15 | Totals | 21 | 332 | 162 | 112 | 14 | 27 | 85 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 42 | 47 | 104 | 45.2% | 15 | 44 | 34.1% | 53 | 68 | 77.9% | 60% | 52% | 15 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 21 | Sydney | 19-9 (3) | 21 | 15.8 | 7.7 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 5.0 | 45% | 0.7 | 2.1 | 34% | 2.5 | 3.2 | 78% | 59% | 52% | 15 | Total | 21 | 15.8 | 7.7 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 5.0 | 45.2% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 34.1% | 0.7 | 2.1 | 77.9% | 60% | 52% | 15 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 15 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Maker went undrafted in 2021 but opted to train with former NBA guard Darren Collison in Los Angeles rather than return to college.
Played with the Chicago Bulls during the 2022 NBA Summer League. Maker registered 7.2 PPG and 3.4 RPG in five contests (12.0 MPG).
COLLEGE
Makur Maker committed to play college basketball at Howard University in July 2020, becoming the highest-ranked recruit — a five-star prospect — to ever commit to a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the modern recruiting era after choosing the Bison over offers from programs including UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis.
Maker entered the 2020–21 season listed as a freshman forward/center for the Howard Bison men’s basketball team, a squad competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) under head coach Kenny Blakeney, with the season disrupted by COVID-19 travel, scheduling and health challenges.
He was named to the MEAC Preseason All-Conference First Team entering the season, reflecting expectations for his impact in his debut collegiate campaign.
Maker’s 2020–21 collegiate playing debut came on November 26, 2020, when he logged 11 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes against Belmont, showcasing his ability to contribute on both ends of the floor early in games.
In his second and final college game on November 27, 2020, Maker scored 12 points and shot a perfect 8-for-8 at the free-throw line in a matchup against Queens (N.C.), further highlighting his scoring touch and presence around the basket.
Across the two appearances he was able to make before injury, Maker averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in approximately 24 minutes per contest, demonstrating efficient scoring and rebounding in limited action.
Maker’s freshman season was curtailed by a groin injury suffered in preseason practice work, which limited his mobility and forced Howard to shut him down indefinitely after those two games as he worked toward recovery.
Shortly after his injury, the Howard Bison suspended their 2020–21 season entirely due to an abundance of COVID-19 cases within the program, further limiting opportunities for Maker and his teammates to compete that season.
Although his college playing career was brief, Maker’s decision to attend Howard garnered national attention and was widely discussed as a potential catalyst for future elite recruits considering HBCU programs as viable pathways, a narrative later explored in the documentary The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball.
Related
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