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A nice look at Bol’s journey. Just imagine losing your dad and best friend at the age of 10. Also realizing he did not grow up as a rich kid. His dad Manute didn’t make a ton of money in the NBA and gave a lot of it away to his home country of Sudan as he was one of the greatest humanitarians. Then being kicked out of your home country because they think you were an American Spy.

I know we have a lot of mixed opinions on Bol. I thought sharing this video could add some perspective. From a young age, no father or mentor, growing up in the heartland of Kansas. Always playing against ages 4-5 above, playing as a guard not as a center. It’s not a blueprint anyone would want to follow.


https://youtu.be/cDCoi-sT8iY

Enjoy some Bol highlights after watching the film.

All his hardships as a kid made him mentally tough.

The drives, threes and blocks are amazing....


next level....is when he is a dual threat as a scorer and a passer. His height and length afford him so much free space as a passer.... some of those passes would be difficult for mere humans. lol

fendilim wrote:All his hardships as a kid made him mentally tough.

I have been enjoying his growth, but never stopped and thought about what his childhood was like. Hearing him in the film as a 14 year old saying each game he played was for his dad. That’s just real deep.

His dad was talented but in a league that centers played always in the paint and beat the mess out of each other. Manute was too tall and skinny for that pounding. Manute also did not grow up playing basketball. It was Don Nelson who discovered Manute. Just like he tried to discover Shawn Bradley and eventually plucked Dirk. Nelson was the OG of what our FO is all about.

Bol Bol, SIX inches shorter than his dad, raised in America. Growing up playing basketball and as a guard. Can’t wait to see how much he can get out of his talent. We are truly lucky that our FO has hit on so many talented players. The next step is all healthy and really begin to develop chemistry.

You can see it in the way they are coached to play. Right now you see Coach imploring them to move the ball and trust their teammates. Eventually the cream rises to the top and the best talent is the starters lobbing passes to each other and setting each up with open jumpers.

Think about Bol Bol for a moment roughly as the same height as Boban. No way any NBA player of this height can do the things Bol does. Boban can’t even get playing time and he is very skilled, just not made for the pace and space of today’s NBA.

Side note it is believed that Bol’s grandfather was 7’ 10…wow

Timely post. I watched this video this morning with my son.


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