Is Sydney Champion Set for NBL Return?

NBL22 champion and former Next Star Makur Maker could be on his way back to the NBL, ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc is reporting. 

As the NBA’s Summer League begins to wind down, the need to make moves leading into pre-season ramps up, and for Melbourne United that means looking for cover for Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. 

The star big man is set to miss the start of the season with a wrist injury, but Uluc believes Maker looms as a potential target. 

“Makur Maker is one that NBL teams are looking at,” Uluc said.  

“When I look at someone like Melbourne United, they are still sort of figuring out what is up with Jo Lual-Acuil Jr’s injury, how long he might be out for, but if there is a replacement that might come in.

“If they need a local replacement for a temporary amount of time, Makur Maker is someone who I’m told that they are preparing to engage with, so that’s one to keep an eye on.”

While Maker is considered a slightly less expensive option than the likes of Thon Maker and Duop Reath, he’s a proven commodity in the NBL.

The 22-year-old is an exciting talent, having played in the Sydney Kings’ championship team across the 2021-2022 campaign and enjoying regular minutes with Capital City Go-Go, the G-League affiliate of the Washington Wizards in the most recent season. 

United is still to confirm its approach as it aims to fill the void for Lual-Acuil Jr, but returning Next Star Ariel Hukporti is perfectly poised to step up his production. 

“We will also look to Ariel (Hukporti) to take on a larger role in the early stages of the season to help cover for Jo,” Melbourne head coach Dean Vickerman said last week. 

“Right now our focus is on helping Jo recover, but as a club we are prepared for all kinds of scenarios, so we’ll evaluate all of this over the coming weeks and make our decisions from there.”

Lual-Acuil Jr is expected to miss four to five months.