By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Ending an uninspiring brief stint, Thon Maker has been released by Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem upon mutual agreement, the team announced Sunday evening.
Maker, 24, inked a one-year contract to join the Israeli club in late August. Debuting in the Basketball Champions League, he was held to 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds over 13.8 minutes per game. Apart from the four BCL appearances, he logged five points and five rebounds per contest over two more games in Israel’s Winner League.
During his stint, Yotam Halperin came in to become head coach after the firing of Oren Amiel in late October. The team based in Jerusalem recovered from the 0-3 start in BCL Regular Season Group G and with two wins in a row clinched a berth to the Play-In Round. At the domestic level, the 6-2 W-L tally tops the standings, half a game ahead of Hapoel U-NET Holon, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, and Hapoel Nofar Energy Galil Elion, all carrying 6-3 records.
The South Sudanese-Australian big man was coming off five seasons in the NBA split between the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in a combined total of 279 appearances between the Regular Season and Playoffs.
The Bucks had selected him with the tenth overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft. His role was reduced through the third season at Milwaukee, leading to the midseason trade to the Pistons. He became an unrestricted free agent after the 2019-20 season and joined the Cavs for a short run in 2020-21.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League