Phoenix Suns center Bol Bol. Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Suns receiving boost from an unlikely source

By Bennett Silvyn | Last updated Feb 27, 2024 3:52 PM ET

In the NBA, teams sometimes lean on unlikely sources to push them to greater heights. For the Phoenix Suns, a team with a history of struggles in the postseason, they might have found that player in Bol Bol, who had not played much until recently.

The Suns (34-24) are fifth in the tough Western Conference, but they've had problems closing out games, scoring the fewest points in the NBA in the fourth quarter (24.9, per Team Rankings.)

The franchise has made several solid moves recently, including trading for Royce O'Neale, who hit two important threes in a 123-113 win Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers. But it seems Bol Bol is the real game-changer.

In the few games Bol has played more than 10 minutes, the Suns are 8-2. What's more telling is his impact on the court with a positive plus/minute in nine of those games.

MAKE WAY FOR BOL BOL

7 PTS (3-3 FG) in 6 MIN pic.twitter.com/2Zjha9f4MJ
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 25, 2024

Bol's breakout performance came Friday against the Houston Rockets.

Although the Suns lost 114-110, Bol scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. He became the third player in franchise history to achieve these numbers off the bench. Not only did Bol set season-highs for points and rebounds, but he also secured his first double-double of the season.

Last night, Bol became just the 3rd player in franchise history with 25+ PTS & 14+ REB off the bench in the game!

☄️ First double-double of the season
☄️ Season-high 25 PTS
☄️ Season-high 14 REB pic.twitter.com/4fYubT9zNu
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 24, 2024

Bol's 7-foot-3 frame, agility and recent scoring prowess present problems for opponents. He only weighs 220 pounds, but his height helps with rebounding, an area where the Suns have struggled. (They allow 11.3 offensive rebounds per game, the fourth-worst figure in the league.)

It's time for the Suns to realize Bol's potential and give him more playing time. He might be a key for Phoenix — which has lost in the Western Conference semifinals the past two seasons — to go to the next level.

Bennett Silvyn

Bennett Silvyn expects to graduate in May 2024 from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in sports journalism and minors in business, marketing and sports management. Silvyn has interned in marketing and social media for the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission, as a reporter for Arizona Foothills Magazine, in sponsorships for the Arizona Rattlers and in social and digital media for FC Tucson. Silvyn has also reported for the Walter Cronkite Sports Network and The State Press

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