THON Maker disagreed with the decision of Fiba to suspend him for three games, insisting he was initially just trying to be a peacemaker before needing to act accordingly in the brawl that marred the World Cup qualifier between Australia and Philippines.
The Australian NBA slotman took to social media to air his thoughts on Fiba's decision stemming from the brawl that saw him soar for a pair of flying kicks - first against Andray Blatche and the second on Terrence Romeo - in the middle of the fracas.
“While remaining respectful of Fiba as a governing body for basketball with a duty to protect the integrity and sanctity of our game, I disagree with their decision to sanction me for three games,” Maker said in a Twitter post late Thursday.
“I tried to break up a conflict, but without security, things quickly devolved into a very dangerous situation where I needed to act to protect my teammates and myself from imminent harm,” the 21-year-old cager added.
“As a human being I cannot turn my back on anyone, Australian or Filipino, teammate or not, who is being attacked by a mob without the adequate help from security,” the Milwaukee center continued.
After the dust has settled, Maker is eager to move on as he sets his sights on the Bucks buildup for the upcoming NBA season
“I would like to focus on my continued preparation for the exciting upcoming season with the Milwaukee Bucks and move forward from this terrible event with a positive take-away – a renewed appreciation for the importance of security personnel,” he said. “They provide safety for all to enjoy the game we love, both as players and fans.”
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