Dreams of a championship and the NBA

Matur Maker has big dreams for his basketball career, with ambitions to make himself a household name in the NBA.

The 208cm tall centre has been making waves with his recent performances with the NBS Nelson Giants, posting a 22-point, 11 rebound and four steals double-double in their game on Sunday against the Franklin Bulls.

Coming back from a season-ending injury last year, he says the Giants team is the ideal place for him to relaunch his career ambitions.

"I came back again and went with a good opportunity in Nelson. Just to get to the next level, this is perfect.

"When I was eight or nine years old, I knew I was going to be a pro. I knew I was going to do something big.

"My goal is the NBA. Whatever it takes.”

Having been born in South Sudan, Matur moved to Perth when he was four while his father stayed back in his homeland due to his love of the country.

He was raised by his mother, siblings and wider family but by 13, Matur had already been discovered by scouts and began living in Sydney before moving to the United States.

Having spent the last 10 years in America, he calls it another home away from home.

"I feel like I'm half American, half Australian and half Sudanese."

When the opportunity to come back to Australia to play with the Sydney Kings, Matur and his cousin Makur Maker, who now plays in the NBA's feeder league, the G-League.

"He said, 'why don't we both go to Sydney' and the rest is history. We won a championship."

Matur comes from a family of accomplished sports stars, with his brother, Thon Maker, drafted at pick 10 in the 2016 NBA draft, another brother, Maker Maker, in South Melbourne FC's under-20 team and another cousin, Aliir Aliir, playing in the AFL for Port Adelaide.

Matur has travelled the world playing the game but says his spiritual home for the game is in America.

"My home base is California, working with my coach, who I've been with my whole basketball career.

"Being able to compete at the highest level. All of that money and taking care of my friends and family is a dream for sure.

"I've got unfinished business. . . After this (season), it's just get to the NBA. I have nowhere else to look."

Having gone undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Matur spent time with the Houston Rocket's G-League team the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

He says that experience was invaluable to the ongoing improvement of his playing career, as was the experience of playing a pick-up game with seven-time NBA All Star and 2021 finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is also of African descent.

"I got the chance to play him in high school. We played 2-on-2 with him and my cousins. I've always followed his story really closely."

For Matur's time with the Giants, there's only one goal. A championship.

He says the culture of the team has been incredible, calling them "a big family" both on and off the court.

"There's not a better opportunity than this."