But Maker also wants to join the Boomers for qualifying towards the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when they go into camp again next year. The 215-centimetre post player is already teaming up with Dellavedova and he revealed he contacted Bogut before their pre-season game against the Dallas Mavericks. Maker spent his childhood years in Australia but was born in South Sudan and played several years at high school in America and Canada, fuelling fears either of those nations could lure him into their teams. Once he takes the court in a full international game for the Boomers he will be locked into the national team. "I've spoken to a few guys, not just Delly, who is on my team, but [Andrew] Bogut when we played against Dallas in the pre-season," Maker said.

"I got in contact with him and spoke a little bit then and spoke a bit in Dallas – also we have tried to get in contact with the main guys behind Basketball Australia." Basketball Australia is understood to be keen to get him into camp and Rio Olympic coach Andrej Lemanis tried to get Maker to join the Boomers in recent years but was unable to find a date and time which worked into his school schedule. The Bucks chose Maker with the 10th pick in this year's NBA draft and the teenager admits he is still coming to grips with being an NBA player. He is embracing every opportunity to develop as part of an impressive Bucks roster led by Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Bucks coach Jason Kidd said Maker could follow in Antetokounmpo's footsteps in developing his body and skills.

"I think their build is very similar, athletically they're very similar," Kidd said. "Maker is another seven-footer that can put it on the floor, in the small time that he's gotten on the floor, he understands how to play. "It's just a matter of the process of being patient but continuing to work hard. He's one of the hardest workers in practice. He wants to be good and it's just a matter of time [until] he gets his turn." There was talk the Bucks could put Maker down into the NBA D-League to get more playing time but Kidd wants him at training against Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker and the other Bucks stars. "For me, it doesn't make sense if I downgrade from what's making me better," Maker said.

"Our staff, they know what they're doing so I'm trusting them and staying ready every single day." Pre-game Maker also goes through the same video preview work as his older teammates along with the same warm-up. But off court Maker wants to be treated normally. "The standard part has hit me but the fact I'm in the NBA still feels kind of weird," Maker said. "Sometimes when I talk to my old friends they get this big reaction and say "your famous" but I tell them to treat me the same way you have always have. "I'm not changing. I've stepped two steps higher in my basketball level but also I have a job now, this is a job and I have to find a way to get better every single day."

Dellavedova added Maker had plenty of support. "I think he is going to be a great player in the league," Dellavedova said. "You can see how excited everyone is when he goes into the game and scores or gets a block, he's such a great teammate that everyone else wants to support him." Maker's locker-room chat with journalists after the Bucks' 111-93 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night [US time] was interrupted by teammate Mirza Teletovic who was taking credit for the rookie's three-point shooting as he has made two of his three attempts this season. "Who has helped you with your shooting?" A smiling Teletovic called over the shoulders of journalists. Maker laughed and responded: "My friend his name is TV, Tele – I forgot his name but he is a great shooter."

Loading The Bucks are building a promising team on and off the court and Maker isn't afraid to echo the confidence his team has about it's future. "The rest of the NBA should be scared. That's all I have to say about that," Maker said.