The Orlando Magic made a SLAM DUNK while others failed.
Bol Bol may have one of the most unique names in sports, but there is something even more unique about him. Bol is the son of NBA legend Manute Bol. While the younger generation may not know of his father, they will know the legendary picture of Muggsy Bogues and Manute Bol standing side by side with three basketballs showing the extreme height difference.
While Manute Bol was one of the tallest NBA players of all time, his son Bol is just as special but with an even height ceiling.
Bol Bol didn’t have an ideal start to his career
In the 2019 NBA Draft, Bol Bol was drafted 44th overall after sitting in the green room at the NBA Draft, expecting to go early on. The Miami Heat selected Bol but traded him to the Denver Nuggets in a deal on draft night.
Bol was not used much with the Nuggets as he was recovering from an injury. However, the Nuggets desperately wanted to trade Bol and attempted to trade him to the Detroit Pistons, but failed a physical and returned Bol to the Nuggets, where they eventually found a deal with the Boston Celtics, who decided to dump him for cash to the Orlando Magic.
The Nuggets, Pistons, Celtics, and every other organization’s head office must be shaking their heads because Bol Bol is looking like a unicorn rather than a bust which teams believed.
The Magic already had a starting five, but with Bol’s early success, they moved around some players allowing Bol to be a permanent addition to the starting line, and they nailed it. Bol is dominating the NBA and has quickly become a name to watch for the future.
While fans and teams have been looking forward to future NBA star Victor Wembanyama, some are now looking at Bol as he brings a similar play style to the game.
Bol’s teammate and NBA Rookie of the Year Favorite, Paolo Banchero, recently said:
"“Everyone talks about the Victor dude. I’m not trying to compare them, but Bol’s 7’2, shoots threes, brings it up the court, makes passes & blocks shots.”"
Kevin Durant had this to say regarding Bol:
"“He can pretty much do anything on the basketball court.”"
It’s clear that Bol has impressed nearly everyone in the league. His insane height and reach itself is beyond impressive, but that’s not what makes him unique. Bol’s ability to dribble like a guard and shoot three-pointers with over a 40% success rate is nuts. Bol can also block nearly anyone coming down the floor.
His entire game reminds us of an NBA 2K create-a-player.
Bol Bols is averaging 14 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and two blocks a night, and if he stays on the floor and receives nearly 30 minutes of play, those stats should increase dramatically.
There is no question that almost every single NBA team struck out not taking Bol in the draft or trading for him. His insane ability and unlimited potential alongside Paolo Banchero will be terrifying for opposing teams to face. The Orlando Magic will become serious contenders in the next few years and should not be taken lightly going forward.