NBL player to fight assault, choking charges

Cairns: So, here’s the scoop. Jackson Makoi, a guard for the Cairns Taipans, is in a bit of hot water. He’s accused of assaulting and choking a woman, but he’s saying it’s all a misunderstanding. He got arrested at the team hotel and has been suspended from playing.

He showed up in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. This all goes back to an incident that supposedly happened on November 11 in western Sydney when he was with the Sydney Kings. The Taipans have decided to keep him off the court while this whole thing gets sorted out.

Makoi, who’s also known as Anyiarbany Makoi, is gearing up to fight these claims in court on April 1. The Taipans are taking this seriously and have said they won’t comment further while the investigation is ongoing.

Right now, the Taipans are struggling at the bottom of the league, and their season is almost over. They’ve got one last game against the Tasmania JackJumpers on February 8. With a record of 4-17, it doesn’t look like they’ll make the playoffs.

As for Makoi, his contract is up at the end of the season, so his future in basketball is a bit uncertain. He’s had some good moments, like playing for South Sudan in the Paris Olympics, but this situation is definitely a setback. He’s averaged 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 11 games this season.

He started with the Kings as a development player back in 2022 and even played a part in their championship win, but then he hurt his knee before the finals. It’s a tough spot for him right now.