It was recently announced that Bol Bol of the Denver Nuggets was being traded to the Detroit Pistons for Rodney McGruder and a future second-round pick.
Bol, the son of legendary center, Manute Bol, has only played 14 games this season, averaging just 5.8 minutes per game.
The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal to acquire l Denver Nuggets’ F Bol Bol for Rodney McGruder and a future second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2022
Yet, with his 7-foot-2 frame and 220-pound build, you would think he would be playing – and producing – a lot more in the NBA.
The game of basketball is built around height in many ways so why isn’t Bol one of the biggest stars in the game when he is literally one of its biggest players?
A Difficult Start
Bol has played for three seasons in the NBA after spending his time with the Oregon Ducks in college.
He was considered one of the best players in his class and many expected him to be the next huge thing in the world of professional basketball.
While in college, he was rated a five-star recruit and earned McDonald’s All-American honors.
When it came time for the big leagues, Bol was drafted as the 44th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, who agreed to trade him to the Nuggets.
Before the draft, there was much speculation that he could be a top ten pick, so the shocking fall from the top was dramatic and surprising.
In fact, Bol was in-person at the Barclays Center for the draft, expecting to be a top pick, but soon left his seat when it became apparent that he wasn’t be snatched up early in the night.
“I just want to prove everyone wrong and come out and be the best player I can be,” Bol told ESPN after his disappointing drafting.
However, since entering the league, he hasn’t had the sort of impact he had hoped for.
Where Does The Big Man Fit?
In his three seasons with the Nuggets, Bol has only created an average of 2.7 points, 1.2 rebounds, and .3 assists.
Additionally, he only gets about 6.2 minutes a game.
The biggest problem with Bol is related to his height, ironically.
There is no doubt that every team in the league wants a center as tall as Bol – but only if he is a strong and powerful center.
Unfortunately, neither of those words describe him well.
Bol lacks the build and strength to finish at the rim with contested shots, simply because he doesn’t have the physical power to push his way through the defense.
For the same reason, he’s not particularly great at blocking others, who can stream roll right through him.
Bol has toyed around with being a perimeter shooter too despite his size, much like Kristaps Porzingis and Nikola Jokic.
Yet, that’s another goal that has never been achieved.
At the same time, Bol has failed to play with much intensity – a problem that persisted during his time in Oregon as well.
So what you have with Bol is a player who can’t get commanding within the paint and can’t seem to get his head into the game.
His plays are slow, his defense is lacking, his offense isn’t close to where it needs to be.
The good news is that Bol has shown some signs of promise, especially during the NBA Summer League, where he caught the attention of many.
BOL BOL to the Pistons 👀 pic.twitter.com/8su1nc8qFW
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 9, 2022
As well, Bol is still young and has time to change his game and reach his potential.
But he needs to work extra hard now because he’s playing for a bottom-tier team and if he doesn’t make an impact in Detroit, his time in the NBA may be coming to an end.
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