Guessing Thon Maker’s exact age very well may be a parlour game for years to come, but someone from the newest member Milwaukee Bucks’ camp offered up some evidence that would suggest there’s no mystery at all.
Sky Smith, Maker’s high school coach, tweeted a picture of what he claimed was Maker’s expired Australian passport, which was issued in 2009 and lists Maker’s date of birth as Feb. 25, 1997, which would make him currently 19 years old, exactly as he has stated.
#ThonMaker Expired Passport. Issued by Australian Government Nov 30 2009. Pictured: 12 y/o #Thon (DOB: Feb 25 1997) pic.twitter.com/ePRrmqa6x9
— Sky Smith (@Sky_Smith_) June 29, 2016
Now yes, it’s going to be hard - if not impossible - to verify whether the passport is an authentic or a forgery based on a photo posted to social media by someone who presumably would have a incentive for either proving or maintaining that Maker is indeed 19, but it’s worth noting nonetheless, especially given the level of scrutiny Maker’s birthdate has received.
Either way, Maker is now in the NBA as a top-10 pick and set to make millions of dollars, whether he’s in his mid-20s or still a teenager.