Kevin Garnett once declared Milwaukee Bucks rookie Thon Maker a future NBA MVP. That bold 2017 prediction looks starkly different today as the Bucks, coming off a 126-106 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on April 12, 2026, struggle with recent form of just one win in their last five games.
What did Kevin Garnett say about Thon Maker?
In a 2017 interview with Bleacher Report's Jonathan Tjarks, Garnett made a stunning proclamation. He saw a lot of himself in the young Bucks forward. Garnett praised Maker's love for the game, his agility, his footwork, and his shooting touch from three-point range up to 21 feet.
His ultimate compliment was about Maker's physical potential. "He has very good bones, as we say. He has the bones," Garnett said. He concluded with absolute certainty: "Thon is going to be the MVP of the league one day. Mark it down." That statement became a memorable piece of NBA folklore, especially as Maker's career unfolded.
How did Thon Maker's NBA career turn out?
Maker played five NBA seasons from 2016 to 2021. The Milwaukee Bucks selected him 10th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. He appeared in 263 regular-season games for the Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
As a rookie in the 2016-17 season, Maker played 57 games. He averaged 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in just 9.9 minutes per game. His role grew in his second year with Milwaukee. He played 74 games in the 2017-18 season, averaging 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 16.7 minutes.
He was traded from the Bucks to the Detroit Pistons in February 2019. His most productive season came in 2018-19, splitting time between the two teams. He averaged career highs of 5.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game. His final NBA season was 2020-21 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played only eight games before being waived.
Why do Garnett's predictions often miss the mark?
Garnett has a history of exuberant, public predictions about players he admires. In 2013, while with the Boston Celtics, he told CSNNE that teammate Jeff Green would become "one of the best players to ever play this game." Green had a solid 12-year career but never reached those heights.
More recently, before the 2023-24 season, Garnett declared on his show that a healthy Ben Simmons was "officially back" to his elite form. Simmons played just 15 games that year, posting career lows in points and assists. Garnett clearly favors long, versatile frontcourt players who remind him of his own game. But his passionate assessments sometimes outpace reality.
What is the context for the Milwaukee Bucks today?
The current Milwaukee Bucks roster is far removed from the Thon Maker era. The team's recent performance has been challenging. Their last result was a 126-106 defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 12, 2026.
Their recent form shows just one win in their last five outings (LLWLL). They have lost their last two consecutive games. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on the schedule page. This tough stretch highlights how difficult sustained NBA success can be, even for highly touted teams.
Kevin Garnett's MVP prediction for Thon Maker remains one of the most optimistic and incorrect forecasts in recent NBA memory. It serves as a reminder about the unpredictability of player development. For every superstar, there are many prospects whose potential, no matter how highly praised, goes unfulfilled. The Milwaukee Bucks continue to build their roster in pursuit of championships, a path far more complex than any single prediction.
