The NBA Draft is one of the bigger crapshoots in sports. When looking at the draft, it’s best to assume that everybody sucks. This way, you’re making fewer mistakes. The 2019 NBA Draft is regarded as a 3 player draft. Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, and RJ Barrett are the consensus top players. After that, it’s a big drop off. It could very well turn out different. Maybe Morant flops? Who knows? What I do know is someone will flourish outside of that top 3. Oregon big man, Bol Bol has the best chance to become a star while being totally overlooked in this draft class.
One of the biggest reasons why Bol Bol is slipping down the boards is because of his health. Bol Bol missed most of the college basketball season because of a foot injury. Foot injuries are a scary thing for a guy who is 7-foot-2. However, the talent is undeniable. At the end of the day, Bol Bol is the type of player worth a dart throw.
The analytics love Bol Bol. I’m not sure how they came up with this 96% graphic but it doesn’t surprise me. Bol Bol had a PER of 38.5 which ranked 2nd to Zion. He was also ranked the 3rd best prospect prior to the season, scored 28.3 points per 40 minutes, and is the son of Manute Bol. When you start to add it up, Bol Bol has the looks of a potential steal.
I’ve looked at a bunch of mock drafts and I was shocked to see where the Oregon big man was projected to land. nbadraft.net has him at 20 to Boston. The Ringer also has the Celtics taking him at 20. Sports Illustrated has Bol Bol slotted all the way down at 22 to the Jazz. How could this be possible?
For starters, at 7-foot-2 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, there is no other player like him in the draft. The only player in the NBA with similar measurables is Rudy Gobert. Now imagine if Gobert could shoot. That’s what you’re getting with Bol Bol.
Bol Bol shot 56.1 percent from the field and 52 percent clip from deep. His free throw numbers are solid as well at over 75 percent. Add in that Bol Bol finished 67 percent of his shots at the rim and in the half court and you have a special offensive player. At his best, the Oregon product should be the best player in the draft. He has unbelievable offensive potential, a wingspan to make him an elite defender, and an
I’m not saying Bol Bol is perfect. His weight is a concern but there’s no reason why he can’t bulk up. Especially considering the fact that he dropped a bunch of weight with the injury. The motor could be a concern at times. Durability has already shown signs of concern. At the end of the day, those things shouldn’t be something that keeps someone out of the top 10 with this kind of talent.
The biggest concern with any big guy is the way he moves. Well, that’s not an issue with Bol Bol. He has great footwork, balance, and
The entire point of the NBA Draft is to find players that you are willing to max. If that’s not your goal then why are you drafting him? Looking for players with high All-Star ceilings is the goal. For the draft position that Bol Bol is being talked about, it’s crazy to think this type of player could be available in the 20 range. If things all pan out, this is a special player that is worth a dart throw. Bol Bol could very well be the steal of the draft.
