Bol Bol is putting up numbers that demand attention 

This Suns season has been chaotic but Bol Bol’s emergence is undeniable.

Whether you think Bol Bol is a legitimate NBA starter or just a human glitch in the matrix, one thing is undeniable. When he gets minutes, he makes things happen. Once again, given a real chance to stretch those impossibly long limbs and let his rare blend of size and skill cook, he has delivered for the Phoenix Suns. A season-high 25 points in just 26 minutes against the Pelicans, looking like a MyPlayer build someone forgot to nerf.

I’ll admit it. I wasn’t always on the Bol train. A Bol-iever, if you will. But every time he gets extended run and actually contributes on both ends, I find myself gnawing on yet another serving of crow. He blocks shots like a sentient windmill, slithers through defenders with handles that shouldn’t belong to a guy his size, and somehow always seems to make the game weird in a way that works.

The Suns have needed a spark, and Bol keeps making a case that maybe he’s more than just a novelty act.

Every player has flaws. Some can’t shoot. Some can’t defend. Some are a walking turnover machine. But if you can bring production, pair it with effort and the right mentality, and have just enough talent, you’ve got a shot in this league. Watching Bol Bol, fully aware of his shortcomings, I have no doubt. He belongs. I can think of at least ten Suns players in the last three seasons who had glaring holes in their games yet still saw minutes. And frankly? Bol is better than all of them.

Since Phoenix finally gave him real playing time, he’s been on a tear. Through the first 50 games of the season, Bol was practically a rumor, appearing in just 14 games and averaging a mere 6 minutes per contest. Even in that minuscule sample, he managed 3.1 points per game which, for the per-36 crowd, translates to 18.6 points.

But since February 7? He’s played in all 10 games, started five of them, and is logging a healthy 23.8 minutes per night. The result? 14.5 points per game on 56/40/83 shooting splits. That’s not just a fun stat line. That’s the definition of an ideal role player. A guy who can give you scoring efficiency, length, and energy in meaningful minutes. Some players need opportunity. Bol finally got his. And he’s making it impossible to ignore.

As a starter this season? The sample size is small — just 5 games — but the numbers are eye popping. 19.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.4 blocks.

Physically, it’s easy to see why Bol Bol makes an impact. He’s long. He blocks shots. Sure, his lateral quickness is average and he’ll pick up some fouls trying to recover after getting beat off the dribble, but he still provides a level of rim deterrence this team hasn’t seen since Jusuf Nurkic.

But where Bol really surprises you is on offense.

His jumper, while not the quickest, is effective. And given his absurdly high release point, good luck blocking it. As the season rolls on, his confidence keeps growing. And his teammates are taking notice. He’s no longer just a curiosity off the bench. He’s a weapon.

“Honestly, he’s just playing lights out, shooting with confidence, making plays, being active on defense, blocking shots, protecting the rim,” Tyus Jones said of Bol after their win on Friday. “So he’s been huge for us, and we’re gonna continue to need that moving forward.”

Maybe this is the silver lining, the one bright light piercing through the fog of a shipwrecked season. Bol Bol’s development isn’t just a fun subplot. It’s something real, something worth Bol-ieving in. But here’s the catch: he’s an unrestricted free agent this summer.

So while these performances are thrilling, while we watch in awe as he stretches his arms to the heavens and casually sinks a three, it might all be for nothing in the grand scheme of the Suns’ future. The one ace Phoenix has up its sleeve? David Fizdale, quietly sitting on that bench. And Bol? He genuinely loves playing for Fiz. That might matter when the time comes.

“That’s my O.G.,” Bol said of Fizdale. “Anytime he can help me, whether it’s on or off the court, defense, offense, he pretty much is going to pull me to the side and coach me up.”

Maybe that’s something to keep in mind when the offseason rolls around. Bol Bol will hit the market, and by then, who knows? The Suns might have yet another head coach. Maybe this time, it’s someone with a little sway over a 25-year-old, 7’3” anomaly. Someone who can convince him to run it back in Phoenix on a better minimum deal.

The Suns do hold his Early Bird rights, which helps. But that’s a conversation for another day. Right now, there are still 22 games left in the season. So let’s appreciate what’s in front of us. Let’s enjoy the chaos, the surprise, the sheer absurdity of Bol’s evolution. Because when he actually gets the chance, he’s proving he belongs.

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