Since Shaquille O’Neal compared him to Victor Wembanyama, Phoenix Suns big man Bol Bol has been the subject of intense scrutiny.
While many say Bol Bol has not lived up to expectations or come close to the Wemby comparisons, Kevin Durant believes he is a fantastic basketball player who has outperformed KD’s expectations of him in Phoenix.
“People on the outside, it’s hard for them to see,” Durant added. “However, he has exceeded my expectations. His intangibles, work ethic, IQ — all of the things that I didn’t consider when it came to Bol, are the foundation of his game.”
Shaq stated that Bol Bol did first what Wemby is doing
Shaq raised his eyebrows when he ‘compared’ Bol Bol to Victor Wembanyama. O’Neal then clarified that he never compared the two, but rather stated that what Wemby is doing today is nothing new because we’ve seen Bol do it since entering the NBA in 2019.
“If you listen to what I said, I said you guys are acting like Wemby is the first 7-foot-5 player that dribbles coast to coast, put it between his legs, and shot a three [pointer],” O’Neal was quoted as saying. “[Wembanyama] is not. Bol Bol is the first. I’ve never compared the two. I just stated you behave as if you haven’t seen it before, but you have. “You have seen Bol Bol do it.”
In another interview, Shaq stated that Bol Bol is one of just four contemporary big guys who impresses him in terms of skill, along with Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Wemby. However, O’Neal chastised Bol for his laziness and challenged him to change his play and attitude if he wanted to succeed in the NBA.
Bol Bol could be turning a page by 2024
It’s unknown whether Shaq’s persistent discussion about him has pushed Manute’s kid, who has been performing admirably for KD and the Suns since the beginning of 2024. After scoring only four points in December 2023, Bol averaged 8.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists last month. He’s putting up similar statistics this month, having just posted a season-high 25 points and 14 rebounds two games ago.
Durant mentioned that in their most recent game, a victory over the Lakers, Bol used his length and quickness on both sides of the court to help the Suns win. He ended with 11 points (5-9 shooting), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks in 24 minutes.
Right now, comparing Bol and Wemby may seem like heresy. However, the 24-year-old’s numbers improve because Frank Vogel trusts him. He went from playing fewer than five minutes per game in 2023 to 15 minutes per game in 2024, and more than 20 minutes per game in the Suns’ last two.