PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns fan-favorite Bol Bol will officially be back in the Valley next season, as he inked his one-year contract to return to the Suns today, the team announced.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!With Bol’s signing, the team has 14 players signed to standard contracts (out of 15).
The team release on Bol’s re-signing reads:
“The Phoenix Suns today announced that the team has re-signed forward/center Bol Bol. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Bol (7’-2”, 220 pounds) played in 43 games with the Suns last season, averaging 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting a career-best 61.6% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range. He made 81.3% of his field goal attempts in the paint last season, the highest percentage in the NBA among players to make at least 50 field goals in the paint. Bol scored in double figures 10 times in the 2023-24 season, highlighted by season highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds on Feb. 23 at Houston.
“Through five NBA seasons, Bol holds career averages of 6.0 points on 55.0% shooting from the field and 3.6 rebounds in 166 career games with the Suns, Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets. In 2022-23, he averaged career bests of 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 70 games with the Magic. The 24-year-old Bol originally entered the NBA as the 44th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.”
#Suns officially announce the re-signing of Bol Bol. Team now has 14/15 players signed to standard contracts https://t.co/tlDTVlTM7m pic.twitter.com/J1Ka9jaJfU
— Burn City Suns Talk ????️ (@BurnCitySuns) July 7, 2024
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on June 29 that Bol intended to sign a one-year deal to return to Phoenix. According to Spotrac, Bol will be making $2.92 million next season.
Bol originally joined the Suns on a one-year veteran minimum contract last July after being waived by the Orlando Magic.
Kevin Durant is Bol’s favorite player, so he was very happy to play with and learn from him in his first season with Phoenix. The two have already been seen working out multiple times together this summer.
Bol n KD in the lab ???? pic.twitter.com/IwLgwiGicW
— ????ℯ????????????????ℴ???????????? ????????ℴ???????????? ???????????? (@Hoopsfan800) May 31, 2024
In addition to Durant, Bol also had a close relationship with Suns assistant coach David Fizdale. Even after firing coach Frank Vogel, Phoenix is retaining Fizdale as an assistant under new coach Mike Budenholzer.
Bol could have a clearer path to playing time this season, especially if Phoenix plays him more at the 5 under Budenholzer, who is known to like to have centers that can space the floor. He will have competition if he does play the center position, as the team added Mason Plulmee via free agency after last year’s backup center, Drew Eubanks, signed with the Utah Jazz, while Phoenix also drafted Marquette big man Oso Ighodaro with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
With Bol returning, the Suns’ frontcourt currently consists of Durant, Bol, Plumlee, Ighodaro and Jusuf Nurkić. No. 28 overall pick Ryan Dunn could also see some minutes at the 4 spot, where Bol played the majority of his time last season.
Bol still figures to be the clear backup to Durant next season barring whoever else Phoenix signs for its final roster spot. Here is what a potential depth chart could look like for the Suns:
- PG: Bradley Beal, Monte Morris
- SG: Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Damion Lee, David Roddy
- SF: Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn (R), Nassir Little
- PF: Kevin Durant, Bol Bol
- C: Jusuf Nurkić, Mason Plumlee, Oso Ighodaro (R)
- Two-way: Jalen Bridges (R), Collin Gillepsie
Bol is currently training with South Sudan ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics later this month. If Bol makes the final roster, he will play against Team USA and Durant and Booker in Paris, as they are in the group stage together.
See our updated Suns free agency tracker below:
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
