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    Thon Maker among 3 cuts as Australia pool to World Cup down to 15

    Deep Boomers still have 10 NBA players in Final 15
    Aug 6, 2023
    Thon Maker Lebanon Australia
    PHOTO: Fiba.basketball

    THON Maker was among three cuts as Australia trimmed its Fiba World Cup roster to 15 players heading to a series of tune-up games in Melbourne.

    Maker, a six-year NBA veteran who was the 10th pick overall in the 2016 draft by Milwaukee Bucks, along with NBL standouts Keanu Pinder and Sam Froling were left out in what coach Brian Goorjian said was one of the toughest cuts he had to make.

    READ: Thon Maker says he was only trying to break up fight

    “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," Goorjian, who is also coach of the Bay Area Dragons in the EASL, told the NBL official website.

    "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.

    “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."

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      Maker, who was banned three games by Fiba for figuring in the infamous brawl with Gilas Pilipinas in a 2019 World Cup qualifier, was the most prominent cut in a team that has tremendous depth in every position. He is currently playing for the Fujian Sturgeons in China's pro league.

      No less than 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 the Final 15 ahead of friendlies against Venezuela, Brazil, and South Sudan.

      SEE ALSO
      SEE ALSO

      The other members of the pool are Xavier Cooks of the Washington Wizards, Dyson Daniels of the New Orleans Pelicans, former Cav Matthew Dellavedova of Melbourne United, Dante Exum and Josh Green of the Dallas Mavericks, Chris Goulding of Melbourne United, Nick Kay of Japan B.League side Shimane Susanoo Magic, Jock Landale of the Houston Rockets, Will McDowell-White - New Zealand Breakers, free agent Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle of the Portland Trail Blazers and Giddey's teammate at OKC Jack White.

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      Ben Simmons wasn't made part of the original roster.

      Goorjian said he will trim the 15-man pool to his Final 12 before the team departs for Okinawa, where the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalists are bracketed with Germany, Finland and host Japan in Group E of pool play.

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      PHOTO: Fiba.basketball
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