Bol Bol, C, Oregon
On the surface, Bol Bol looks like the perfect modern NBA big. He’s a 7-foot-2 shot-blocking center with guard skills on the perimeter, and in his brief time at Oregon, he flashed his full repertoire.
The son of former NBA shot-blocker Manute Bol put in some breathtaking performances, averaging 21.0 points and 2.7 blocks while shooting 52.0 percent from deep. Those numbers came across nine games- a small sample size for sure, but not a totally insignificant one.
The reason he was held to just nine games, though, is the biggest concern around him heading into the draft. A navicular fracture in his foot ruled him out for the season, and he still hasn’t been cleared to participate in scrimmages or drills at the NBA combine. Foot injuries in big men are an immediate red flag, and even a best-case recovery such as Joel Embiid requires patience and a lot of luck.
Bol’s measurements at the combine may also give NBA executives reason for pause. Listed at 235 pounds by Oregon, he weighed in at just 208 pounds while posting a body fat percentage of 7.1, at the higher end of the combine’s participants. He undoubtedly has potential as a rim protector, but his frail frame will need to be filled out significantly if he is going to defend the NBA’s best big men.
The team that takes the plunge and drafts Bol will be getting one of the most naturally talented and skilled players in the draft. They will need to be patient, though, and hope that he has the work ethic and durability to make the most of his immense potential.
Where could he land?
Teams in the late lottery might be looking for a home-run play, and Bol could certainly be that. For a team like the Charlotte Hornets, who have pick No. 12 and may lose Kemba Walker this offseason, his star potential over a longer timeline would be a sliver of hope to sell to the fans. Minnesota one pick earlier is also intriguing, as he and Karl-Anthony Towns could give opposing bigs fits for the next decade.