While the chances of the Orlando Magic making it into the postseason this year are very low right now, they do have some reasons to celebrate.
They have one of the most exciting young core of players in the league, they have the frontrunner for this season’s Rookie of the Year, and they have a lot of potential for the years ahead.
They also have one of the most exciting, unique big men in the league: Bol Bol.
Bol has had a stunning turnaround season in 2022-23 and is putting up monster numbers that seemed impossible for him just one year ago.
bol bol in 18 MIN off the bench vs. DEN:
17 PTS
6 REB
8-12 FG pic.twitter.com/ICFEgmHoNy— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) January 16, 2023
On Sunday night, Bol posted 17 points and 6 rebounds on 8-of-12 from the floor against his old team, the Denver Nuggets.
True, the Magic didn’t end up winning but Bol again showed that he has become a true force of nature for his squad.
Bol’s Big Bounce Back
Comparing this season to last is to see Bol’s incredible rise: last year he was averaging just 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.8 minutes per game.
This season, he’s up to 11.9 points and 6.9 rebounds on 58.5% from the field.
He is also playing for an average of 25.7 minutes per game.
It’s clear what has changed for Bol: he left the Nuggets for the Magic, a team that is full of young players looking to prove themselves.
Frankly, the Nuggets didn’t have the space for Bol and they were focused on winning a championship with the roster they have.
But the Magic are trying to build something from the ground up and were willing to let Bol figure himself out, find his style, and improve his abilities.
That is exactly what he has done: as he has been given more time on the court, he has gained more confidence and skill.
NEXT: Paolo Banchero Is Having A Historic Rookie Season For Magic