"Ready to earn my way:" Bucks newest player, Thon Maker, makes Milwaukee home

MILWAUKEE -- It was a week ago that the Milwaukee Bucks selected Thon Maker with the 10th pick overall in the NBA Draft. It's been quite a journey for the new member of the Bucks, both before and after draft day. Thursday, June 30th he even showed up at Summerfest.

Thon Maker

How do you introduce fans to the Bucks newest big man? You invite him to the Big Gig of course.

"It's great. It's been wonderful so far, lots of energy and just loving it," said Thon Maker, Bucks first round pick.

A stop at Summerfest to mingle and play with some fans was one of the final stops on a pretty hectic week for Thon. It all started last week Thursday, at the NBA Draft in New York.

Thon Maker

A day later he was in Milwaukee meeting his new coach and the local media -- and the traveling didn't stop there.

"My agent told me Friday to enjoy the week, and yesterday was my first day back since I've been drafted, back on the court. It's been slow but at the same time enjoyable. Flew back to Canada just to be with my family for a little bit and I finally got back yesterday and started practice," Thon said.

Being on the move is nothing new for Thon. His journey began in South Sudan. Not too long after being born there, his family moved to Australia to get away from a civil war.

From there he then lived in Louisiana, then Virginia -- before enrolling at the Athlete Institute in Ontario, Canada.

Thon Maker

Now he's ready to call Milwaukee home.

"I see a great opportunity, first off just ready to come in and earn my way up there and then basically find a way to help us and not just me, I see myself fitting in with these guys," said Thon.

At 7'1" tall, and a reach of 7'3", it might not be long until he fits in perfectly.

Even though it's the summer and festival season in Milwaukee, Thon says he's ready to get to work.

Thon Maker

"I'm not here to sit around, I got to get to work. This is my job now," said Thon.

"We know that he is going to do everything he can to make himself the best player he can possibly be, that's one thing we are totally assured of we don't have to teach him how to work, he knows how to work," said Milwaukee Bucks General Manager, John Hammond.

Thon Maker

"I've already started practicing, so today was my second day of practicing, getting ready for summer, and see what happens after that," said Thon.

Thon Maker

By the looks of his first day with the fans, he knows how to have a little fun too.

Now there has been a little controversy over Thon's age. Some say Thon is older than 19-years-old, some reports are that he could be 24. The Bucks say they believe he is 19.