THON Maker said he is taking responsibility for his actions during the brawl involving his team Australia and Gilas Pilipinas on Monday night during the Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers at the Philippine Arena.
The Milwaukee Bucks center said he is “deeply disappointed” with the incident. The South Sudanese-Australian also said he should have carried himself better being an NBA player aside from being a member of the Australian national team.
“I am deeply disappointed in the actions displayed during yesterday’s game against the Philippines,” wrote Maker on his Twitter account.
“Being from a war-torn country, basketball for me has always been a means to bring people together. I feel a great responsibility as an NBA player to carry myself in a way that promotes peace and unity,” said Maker.
Maker was one of the four Australian players ejected following an incident between Daniel Kickert and RR Pogoy that sparked a full-scale brawl. Maker was also caught dishing out flying kicks to Gilas Pilipinas players.
While he said the incident should spark discussions about security during games, Maker said he is taking responsibility for his action in his desire to protect his teammates.
“My hope is that this experience provides a springboard for discussion regarding security surrounding these games. I take full responsibility for my actions knowing that they were a result of MY DESIRE to protect my teammates and myself. It is a tremendous honor to represent Australia, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the NBA and my goal is to reflect that in my conduct and play,” said Maker.
