<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-odd-reason-bol-bol-fell-out-mike-budenholzer-rotation');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns rumors: The odd reason Bol Bol might have fallen out of Mike Budenholzer’s rotation');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Suns-center-Bol-Bol.jpg"><figcaption>Soobum Im-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Suns rumors: The odd reason Bol Bol might have fallen out of Mike Budenholzer’s rotation</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-18T16:30:47-07:00">April 18th, 4:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-19T16:01:27-07:00">April 19th, 4:01pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When factoring in the unrelenting injury issues the Philadelphia 76ers endured, it is easy to say that the Phoenix Suns were unequivocally the biggest disappointment in the NBA this season. In addition to colossal embarrassment, that title comes with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-rich-paul-drops-kevin-durant-truth-bomb-potential-trade">expected changes this offseason</a>.</p><p>The organization evaluated the state of things during the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, and the results were likely as inexplicable as they were frightening.</p><p>However, one question that will pop up after the obvious one– how did a Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal-led team perform so poorly?– why did the Suns not give Bol Bol more opportunities to prove himself.</p><p>After receiving a bigger role in February, the 25-year-old center flashed some of the potential that had inspired Shaquille O’Neal to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-shaq-hilariously-claims-bol-bol-better-victor-wembanyama">compare him to Victor Wembanyama</a>. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 20.9 minutes per game while shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from 3-point range during the month.</p><p>Bol’s role diminished in March, however, and was practically nonexistent in the final two weeks of the season. Phoenix confusingly chose not to get a clearer look at a forthcoming free agent who was showing promise. Fans <a href="https://x.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1913336085461229699" rel="noopener">might now know why</a>.</p><h2><b>Bol Bol might have turned off Suns HC Mike Budenholzer</b></h2><p>“His last day in the rotation was March 12,” senior NBA insider Chris Haynes said on Friday. “The Suns were playing the [Houston] Rockets when Steven Adams and Mason Plumlee got into that altercation, a little scuffle on the ground. Players start to run and pull other players off. Bol, in the background, is shooting layups. He didn’t run to the incident.</p><p>“League sources told me Coach [Mike] Budenholzer was irate when he saw that, when he saw that Bol did not run to the defense of his teammate. Bol, after being in the rotation for over a month, was out of the rotation for the remainder of the season.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sources: On Haynes Briefs show, how Phoenix intends to avoid star-chasing for defensive toughness, how potential coaches can prepare, how next coach could factor into Kevin Durant's future, and why Bol Bol lost his spot in rotation. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/haynesbriefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#haynesbriefs</a></p><p>Full EP: <a href="https://t.co/cdC3fAc7RE">https://t.co/cdC3fAc7RE</a> <a href="https://t.co/eJeUPrgnLl">pic.twitter.com/eJeUPrgnLl</a></p><p>— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1913336085461229699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>There is an unwritten code among athletes that urges them to spring into action when one of their own is embroiled in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-steven-adams-mason-plumlee-ejected-suns-rocketss-wild-scuffle">a heated altercation</a>. Escalating the situation is discouraged, but coaches expect team unity.</p><p>It is one thing to avoid the scrum, but engaging in another activity off to the side could send bad optics to the locker room. Even so, a one-on-one conversation should have sent a strong enough message.</p><p>It is obviously unknown if the now-fired Mike Budenholzer slashed the former NBA lottery pick’s playing time because of his seemingly indifferent reaction, but the timing is interesting.</p><p>It should be noted that the Sudanese-American big man was in the midst of a shooting slump at this point, falling below 35 percent from the floor in three of his last five contests (including versus Houston).</p><h2><b>The hits keep on coming for Suns</b></h2><p>Whatever the reason may be, Bol Bol did not get to enjoy a full-blown breakthrough right before entering the open market.</p><p>And that is particularly a shame, since <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-steven-adams-mason-plumlee-ejected-suns-rocketss-wild-scuffle">Kevin Durant extolled</a> the man’s work ethic less than two weeks before the Rockets brawl. The Suns could have gathered more information on the 7-foot-3 talent. Instead, they allowed him to waste away on the bench in what turned out to be a meaningless season.</p><p>You might have to throw yet another L in the column for Phoenix.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns rumors: The odd reason Bol Bol might have fallen out of Mike Budenholzer’s rotation

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-stories-shaq-isnt-the-only-hall-of-famer-who-thinks-bol-bol-stacks-wemby');   ga('set', 'title', 'Shaq isn’t the only Hall of Famer who thinks Bol Bol stacks up with Wemby');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Shaq-isnt-the-only-Hall-of-Famer-who-somehow-thinks-Bol-Bol-stacks-up-with-Wemby.jpg"></figure><h1>Shaq isn’t the only Hall of Famer who thinks Bol Bol stacks up with Wemby</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-10T17:48:41-07:00">March 10th, 5:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-10T17:48:41-07:00">March 10th, 5:48pm</time><address><a href="https://alexasabatte.wordpress.com">Alexa Sabatte</a>Alexa Sabatte is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a passionate sports writer dedicated to storytelling in the ever-evolving world of sports media. A graduate of NYU's American Journalism MA program, she has honed her skills at outlets like LAFB, ABC7 Los Angeles, and TMZ Sports, where her SEO expertise and interviews propelled stories to trend nationally.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA Stories</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Shaquille O’Neal is not the only NBA Hall of Famer who believes Bol Bol has the potential to rival Victor Wembanyama. Tim Hardaway <a href="https://x.com/clutchpoints/status/1899152255535689824?s=46" rel="noopener">recently stated</a> on Fan Duel TV, “I think Bol Bol has the same abilities as Victor Wembanyama… I don’t think he has been able to get that right opportunity to go out there and prove himself like a [Wemby].”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I think Bol Bol has the same abilities as Victor Wembanyama… I don't think he has been able to get that right opportunity to go out there and prove himself like a [Wemby]."</p><p>– Tim Hardaway</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/RunItBackFDTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RunItBackFDTV</a>)<a href="https://t.co/iApxoLOonT">pic.twitter.com/iApxoLOonT</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1899152255535689824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>People <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-bol-bol-strong-online-buzz-amid-downward-spiral">have long recognized Bol,</a> a highly skilled 7’2” forward, for his raw talent, but he struggled to find consistent playing time and an ideal role on previous teams. This sentiment echoes what many basketball experts have said about his underutilized potential. Hardaway’s comments suggest that with the right opportunity and system, he could thrive in a way similar to the much-hyped Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ phenom.</p><p>The conversation about the two gained even more traction recently after Shaquille O’Neal expressed his belief that Bol stacks up well against the young star. In a segment of Inside the NBA, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-shaq-hilariously-claims-bol-bol-better-victor-wembanyama">Charles Barkley asked O’Neal whether</a> he would choose Bol over Wembanyama.</p><p>Without hesitation, O’Neal answered with a resounding, “Yup, I do.”</p><p>This bold statement caused a mix of disbelief and laughter from his co-hosts, who couldn’t quite grasp O’Neal’s stance. However, the Diesel was unwavering in his opinion. He further explained that the Phoenix Suns currently hold a better record than the Spurs, adding fuel to his argument.</p><p>While the idea of choosing Bol over Wembanyama might seem outlandish to some, it’s not entirely surprising given the circumstances. Wembanyama has already garnered massive attention and has had the chance to show his talent from day one. On the other hand, the former Nugget, faced more challenges with inconsistent minutes and opportunities, before finding a role with the Suns.</p><p>His versatility and impressive skill set have always been apparent. With the right opportunity, he could further prove that Hardaway and O’Neal’s faith in him isn’t misplaced.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Shaq isn’t the only Hall of Famer who thinks Bol Bol stacks up with Wemby

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-kevin-durant-bol-bol-endorsement-suns-win');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kevin Durant gives Bol Bol endorsement after Suns win');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Suns-news-Kevin-Durant-gives-Bol-Bol-endorsement-after-Phoenix-win.jpg"></figure><h1>Kevin Durant gives Bol Bol endorsement after Suns win</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-01T15:59:46-08:00">March 1st, 3:59pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-01T16:00:28-08:00">March 1st, 4:00pm</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Kevin Durant is a big Bol Bol fan. The Phoenix Suns center has taken his team and the basketball world by storm over the past two weeks.</p><p>Ever since head coach Mike Budneholzer inserted him into the starting lineup, the Suns have reaped the rewards. Funny enough, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-how-bol-bol-inner-confidence-surprising-performance-nuggets">the Suns head coach talked about Bol finding his inner confidence</a>.</p><p>Safe to say, he’s found it. In the 125-108 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, Bol finished with 25 points and a career-high five-made threes. While the player of the game didn’t speak to the media, his teammates were more than happy to do so.</p><p>For instance, Durant spoke to reporters in the locker room about <a href="https://x.com/YoungNBA/status/1895699007277776939" rel="noopener">what makes the center great</a>.</p><p>“I think a lot of younger players can learn from how he approaches the game,” Durant said. “It’s not as glamorized and people don’t think that about Bol because he’s so quiet and unassuming. I’m just blown away at how hard he works, how much he cares, how much he wants to go out there and play well, how great of a teammate he is.</p><p>“I always want to make sure when I’m talking to you guys, I want to highlight that about him because not a lot of people talk about that side of his game.”</p><p>Fortunately for the new starter, it’s not only his teammates noticing. Others around the NBA are noticing. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-shaq-eats-nastiest-bowl-cereal-bol-bol-solid-first-half-vs-grizzlies">Shaquille O’Neal ate the nastiest bowl of cereal after Bol’s dominant half</a>, the Suns center was getting proper love.</p><p>Not to mention, O’Neal talked about Bol being similar to Victor Wembanyama in their skill sets.</p><h2><b>Bol Bol is getting Kevin Durant and the Suns’ attention</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bol-Bol.jpg"><figcaption>© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The former Oregon basketball star had, and still has promising traits. The size, versatility, and increased scoring output have made him a must-play for a struggling Suns team. Following the game, Budenholzer explained where Bol was <a href="https://x.com/HaydenCilley/status/1895696426124132700" rel="noopener">making an impact on the floor</a>.</p><p>“Right now, I mean everywhere, to be honest with you, but he’s unique,” Budenholzer said. “Whenever he’s played in the games, he’s responded well and he has just a way about him. He kind of just plays basketball.</p><p>“He’s got unique skills, and I think defensively he’s helping us. There’s rim protection; he’s just a lot of good things. It’s been impressive what he’s been able to do.”</p><p>In his last three starts, he’s scored 15+ points. Throughout the season though, it wasn’t always that way. For instance, Bol had 10 DNPs, something that raised many questions. Regardless of any skepticism, he proved that all he needed was an opportunity.</p><p>As a result, he’s thrived in it. In <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/bol-bol-starting-stats" rel="noopener">five games as a starter</a>, Bol is averaging 19.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks, according to StatMuse. It was quite strange when he was named a starter but Budenholzer knew what he was doing.</p><h2><b>Other Suns besides Kevin Durant see Bol Bol’s work ethic</b></h2><p>Much of the success stems from what they do off the court. Luckily for Phoenix, they’ve typically had a history of bringing in high-character and high-energy players.</p><p>While Bol has a stoic demeanor, it <a href="https://basketnews.com/news-192436-gilbert-arenas-predicts-disappointment-for-bol-bol-in-suns-pretty-girl-with-bad-attitude.html" rel="noopener">hasn’t always been pretty</a>. For instance, Gilbert Arenas called him “a pretty girl with a bad attitude.” Character goes a long way in a plethora of teams, and Bol understands that more than anyone.</p><p>He’s been the same person every day, regardless if he knows he will play or he won’t. Budenholzer elaborated more on his characteristics.</p><p>“He comes in with a kind of a good spirit every day,” Budenholzer said. “He’s somebody you want to be around and kept his head up. I think we need to be better on the boards. We need to be better around the rim protecting it. We need to shoot more threes.</p><p>“He’s a guy that has a lot of those skill sets. So, I think he’s been a good addition. He’s been helping us.”</p><p>The Suns will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday in front of their home crowd. Phoenix can continue to ride the hot hand entering the game with Bol. Either way, he’s made his impact and will continue to do so.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kevin Durant gives Bol Bol endorsement after Suns win

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-bol-bol-strong-online-buzz-amid-downward-spiral');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bol Bol sparks strong online buzz amid Suns downward spiral');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Suns-news-Bol-Bol-sparks-strong-online-buzz-amid-Phoenixs-downward-spiral.jpg"></figure><h1>Bol Bol sparks strong online buzz amid Suns downward spiral</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-26T08:43:55-08:00">February 26th, 8:43am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-26T08:43:55-08:00">February 26th, 8:43am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite much of the Phoenix Suns’ struggles, once Bol Bol was put in the starting lineup, he’s <a href="https://x.com/statmuse/status/1894596220523303219" rel="noopener">thrived in the role</a>. As a starter, Bol is averaging 18.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. Luckily, much of the increased play has been a result of one thing. His confidence. For instance, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-how-bol-bol-inner-confidence-surprising-performance-nuggets">Bol’s confidence in his game</a> has unlocked what many people hoped to see.</p><p>Although he’s had some surprising performances, his teammates and coaches aren’t shocked in the slightest. After all, he averaged over 20 points per game with Oregon basketball before being injured. Even Shaquille O’Neal said that Bol is a better player than Victor Wembanyama.</p><p>Subsequently, O’Neal called Bol lazy and said that was why he hadn’t become a good player. However, he’s been putting in the work this season. The Oregon standout has had Kevin Durant, head coach Mike Budenholzer, and Devin Booker consistently talk about his game and the improvements.</p><p>While the Suns are 0-3 with him as a starter, it’s a small sample size. His size at 7’2 and over eight-foot wingspan does wonders. He attempts to block every shot, which can be a downfall at times. Still, his length allows for increased rim protection and rebounding: Two things that Phoenix desperately needs.</p><h2><b>Bol Bol has plenty of support amid the Suns’ struggles</b></h2><p>The reactions have flown from all across the internet, specifically X (formerly Twitter). Some of the reactions trace back to O’Neal’s comments, with one saying “Don’t let Shaq know” with a crying emoji. Another said, “Bol Bol is shining bright—unstoppable talent on full display.” Also, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-shaq-eats-nastiest-bowl-cereal-bol-bol-solid-first-half-vs-grizzlies">O’Neal ate the nastiest bowl of cereal after Bol’s dominant performance</a>.</p><p>However, no great performance can please everyone. Even though Bol made only one of his two free throws, one fan thought that was <a href="https://x.com/ZimmersProps/status/1894603316220367159" rel="noopener">all they had to see</a>. “Who cares? He went 1 of 2 from the line when it mattered. Scrub.” For the first time, he scored a season-high 23 points.</p><p>When Budenholzer called upon his name, he answered triumphantly. Despite his efforts, it wasn’t enough for the Suns to win. They lost in overtime to the Memphis Grizzlies, 151-148. Even though he was the clear standout in the game, it might not matter to the team.</p><p>Phoenix is fighting for a play-in spot. They sit at 11th in the Western Conference and are four games below .500. Not to mention, they have the toughest remaining schedule in the league. Still, with a performance like this, he could keep getting starting nods thanks to his rebounding and shot-blocking.</p><p>The offense will come along but the Suns might take whatever they can get at this point.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bol Bol sparks strong online buzz amid Suns downward spiral

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-shaq-eats-nastiest-bowl-cereal-bol-bol-solid-first-half-vs-grizzlies');   ga('set', 'title', 'Shaq eats ‘nastiest bowl of cereal’ to celebrate Bol Bol’s solid first half vs Grizzlies');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Suns-news-Shaq-eats-nastiest-bowl-of-cereal-to-celebrate-Bol-Bol-s-solid-first-half-vs-Grizzlies.jpg"></figure><h1>Shaq eats ‘nastiest bowl of cereal’ to celebrate Bol Bol’s solid first half vs Grizzlies</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-11T22:26:24-08:00">February 11th, 10:26pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-11T22:26:41-08:00">February 11th, 10:26pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Shaquille O’Neal has a fascinating <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-shaq-hilariously-claims-bol-bol-better-victor-wembanyama">fixation with Phoenix Suns center Bol Bol</a>, one that has perplexed many fans over the years. The NBA legend famously, or rather infamously, said that the 2019 second-round draft pick has the same skill set as fellow 7-foot-3 big man Victor Wembanyama. He believes Bol, not the San Antonio Spurs All-Star, deserves to be regarded as the first of his caliber.</p><p>If Bol happens to have a standout showing when O’Neal is working, the TNT analyst invariably makes a big deal of it. Such an opportunity presented itself during the Suns’ 119-112 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. After Bol nearly recorded a double-double in the first half, Shaq <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1889531445036597711" rel="noopener">decided to celebrate the moment</a> during the halftime show.</p><p>“Every time my boy Bol Bol plays, I eat the nastiest bowl of cereal,” O’Neal said on “NBA on TNT,” via ClutchPoints. The four-time champion and three-time Finals MVP concocted a ghastly snack that consisted of Cheerios, Sunchips, Hot Cheetos, M&amp;M’s, milk and Pepsi. Before he could devour this intestinal nightmare, however, O’Neal urged production to cut to the highlights.</p><p>When the camera panned back to him, he was eating seemingly normal-looking cereal out of a much smaller bowl. Sure enough, <a href="https://x.com/NBAonTNT/status/1889531371904770347" rel="noopener">the footage confirmed the obvious</a>— shenanigan-loving Shaq called for a switch. Amid all the trickery and disgust, it is easy to overlook Bol’s impressive play.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Every time my boy Bol Bol plays, I eat the nastiest bowl of cereal."</p><p>Shaq celebrating Bol Bol nearly dropping a double-double in the 1st half 🤣</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBAonTNT</a>)<a href="https://t.co/YN9ONfJWBA">pic.twitter.com/YN9ONfJWBA</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1889531445036597711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Bol Bol is producing for the Suns</b></h2><p>The 25-year-old finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and two steals. He is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-how-bol-bol-inner-confidence-surprising-performance-nuggets">rolling with momentum right now</a>, scoring in double-figures while recording at least three swats for the third contest in a row. Is Bol starting to fulfill the promise Shaquille O’Neal has touted for more than a year?</p><p>The Hall of Famer has highlighted the South Sudanese-American athlete’s ability to handle the ball, shoot 3-pointers, block shots and run the floor, all attributes that Wembanyama prominently possesses. O’Neal claims that work ethic is the only reason why there is a massive disparity between the two talents, going as far to call Bol lazy.</p><p>He seemed proud of the former Oregon Ducks player on this night, however. In a game in which the Grizzlies won and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-kevin-durant-surpasses-30000-point-milestone-vs-grizzlies">Kevin Durant surpassed 30,000 points</a> for his career, Bol occupied a great amount of O’Neal’s focus.</p><p>With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/hornets-grade-suns-jusuf-nurkic-cody-martin-trade">Jusuf Nurkic now on the Charlotte Hornets</a>, Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer might continue to trust him with a bigger role for the remainder of the season. Bol, who has endured lower-body injuries for much of the campaign, was averaging 4.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in only 16 games going into the Grizzlies matchup.</p><p>Phoenix (26-27) will try to get back to .500 when it visits the Houston Rockets (33-20) on Wednesday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
6.8	2.9	0.6	0.7	0.3

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
6.8	2.9	0.6	0.7	0.3

Bol Bol

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Shaq eats ‘nastiest bowl of cereal’ to celebrate Bol Bol’s solid first half vs Grizzlies

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