Maker's and Deng's nationalities raise questions about travel ban

Milwaukee Bucks rookie Thon Maker was able to re-enter the United States early Saturday from Canada following a loss to the Toronto Raptors, but the team appears to be concerned about his visa status in the wake of President Donald Trump's sweeping travel ban.

"I appreciate all the fans concerns and prayers for Thon," Bucks senior vice president Alexander Lasry said in a series of tweets Saturday. "And, today a Sudanese refugee who fled oppression and is an incredible young man will make his second NBA start. I'm incredibly excited and proud of him."

Maker made his second career NBA start in Saturday's 112-108 home loss to the Boston Celtics, but much of the discussion has centered around his unique dual citizenship.

Related: NBA has reached out to State Department regarding immigration ban

Maker was born in what is now South Sudan - a country that did not exist at the time of his listed birth, Feb. 25, 1997. Instead, the region was part of Sudan, now on Trump's banned list of either refugees or people with citizenship or dual citizenship from those countries (South Sudan is not). Maker is a dual Australian citizen, having moved to Western Australia as a child.

Los Angeles Lakers veteran Luol Deng was also born in the same city as Maker, Wau, in 1985. He holds dual South Sudanese-British citizenship. It is not yet clear if the U.S. State Department would consider the country's status at the time of those players' births.

Maker does hold an Australian passport, according to FOX Sports Australia's Olgun Uluc.

Because Toronto - incidentally where Maker went to high school - is the only NBA city outside the U.S. and with the Global Games series finished, Canada is the only country that teams will be regularly flying to for the rest of the season. Neither the Bucks or the Lakers return to Toronto, although Milwaukee could conceivably face the Raptors in the playoffs.