Valley of the Suns
Fansided

2 winners and 1 loser from the Phoenix Suns’ preseason

By Luke Duffy

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 16: Bol Bol #11 of the Phoenix Suns passes the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center on October 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 117-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 16: Bol Bol #11 of the Phoenix Suns passes the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center on October 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 117-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: Bol Bol of the Phoenix Suns. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: Bol Bol of the Phoenix Suns. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Loser – Bol Bol

In a lot of ways Bol is already a winner purely because, like Lee, he has made the roster. But to watch him on the court with the Suns so far has been exactly like what we’ve seen from him in the past with the Orlando Magic.

Not that this is a bad thing, but it is hard to see where Bol is going to find significant playing time once the games start coming thick and fast. Outside of an injury that nobody wants to see happen, Bol is going to replicate the kind of minutes we’ve seen from him in preseason play.

Which was 10.2 minutes of action per night, and nearly half as many personal fouls (nine) as he had points (19) in the five games he played combined. Managing to grab 2.2 rebounds in these contests has also been puzzling because Bol is such a unique player, you would think through his size alone that he’d be in the right place at the right time to go and get some more.

If this seems harsh on Bol then you need to know, this writer is completely obsessed with him and wants to see him succeed more than any one player in the league today. He’s an absolute marvel to observe on the court. But looking at this subjectively, all of the question marks about where he fits in continue to persist.

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The Suns could afford to take a flyer on him – but if a couple of injuries hit them early and Bol is thrust into a bigger role – they will wish they’d gone out and gotten a more dependable big. Bol doesn’t defend well at all, and his shot is streaky at best. Even he doesn’t know his best position, and he’s entering his fifth season in the league.

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