Here’s an analysis of Bol’s game, and what he might bring to the Magic
ORLANDO - Terrence Ross, the oldest player on the 2022-23 Orlando Magic, had some flattering things to say about his tallest teammate, Bol Bol.
“He’s just a freak,” Ross said. “I don’t know, it’s hard to really describe Bol. He is seven-foot-three, moves like a guard, can shoot threes, light on his feet…Nobody has ever seen anybody play like this.”
What, you are probably now curious, makes Bol, who’s played in only 53 NBA games so far in his career, so unique and, as Ross describes, freakish?
For starters, it’s unusual to watch players as tall as Bol look so fluid on the perimeter. While not super-fast or explosive, the 22-year-old is quite polished in the way he moves around the court – with and without the ball in his hands.
Not often do we see 7-foot-plus players operate off the dribble and pull up for mid-range jumpers or navigate toward the basket, using nifty footwork and ball skills.
Another modern component of his game is his outside shooting. Quite interesting about the Magic is that all their bigs stretch the floor, which is not the case for most teams. That’s going to open up more space for Orlando’s guards to attack the paint and either finish inside or kick out to bigs on the perimeter.
So far in his NBA career, Bol has made 14 of his 37 3-point attempts. Let’s not forget either that his late father, Manute Bol, was one of the first 7-foot-plus guys to shoot threes. In one game during the 1992-93 season while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, he drilled six triples. It wasn’t until 2012 when another 7-foot-plus center knocked down six or more threes in a single game.
The Magic will have no problem pushing the pace with Bol on the floor, as he likes to get out in transition. He’s a grab-and-go kind of big, where as soon as he hauls down a rebound, he’s looking down the court and seeing what’s available. He’s quick to go into attack mode if the defense isn’t set.
He’s clever with his playmaking, too. This is one of the areas where he uses his height to his advantage. Here’s an example of a nice over-the-top pass he made to Nikola Jokic off a dribble handoff/screen-and-roll when he was with Denver. Expect to see some of this in Orlando, since he’s likely going to be on the court with at least one, if not two or three other bigs.
He and Mo Bamba, Orlando’s other true 7-footer, complement each other well. With Bamba a little more of a traditional big (screen-and-roll/pop heavy) and Bol possessing more guard skills, the two have a chance to cause tons of problems for opponents whenever they are featured together in the Magic’s frontcourt.
“Bol does so many things out there where people always ask me – they ask me personally – ‘how did you even do that?’ and I was like ‘I don’t know’ and then I ask him, ‘how did you even do that?’ and he’s like ‘I don’t know,’ so you kind of see the parallel in that,” Bamba said. “The first time I met him was in Pangos (basketball camp) in 2015 (or) 2016, and it was the same way. Everyone was so fascinated with his combination of agility and length, and how big he was. I think he was the same height.”
Bol’s length on defense can cause opponents issues as well, although he’s not the quickest laterally, so it remains to be seen how he will do in switches when matched up against speedsters on the perimeter. Something you don’t see many players do well, Bol has a knack for blocking and altering perimeter shots.
As far as weaknesses, he can get knocked off balance when pulling up for mid-range jays and floaters. He’ll take shots sometimes with a defender draped all over him. This is when his lack of strength and speed is glaring.
Let’s not forget that if he didn’t injure his foot in college, Bol would have likely been a top 10 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Only playing in nine games at the University of Oregon clearly impacted his draft stock. He ended up getting selected 44th overall in the second round by the Miami Heat, who immediately traded his draft rights to the Nuggets.
Elated to be in Orlando, where he’s feeling healthier than ever and is ecstatic to be part of a young, vibrant group, Bol is confident this could be the place where he carves out a role and takes his game to new heights.
“We are a very young team, and we are all growing together,” he said. “There’s no pressure on me to be able come here and do anything. We are all figuring it out. I think it’s a good place for me to figure it out.”