The Phoenix Suns are soul-searching after a difficult run of form following the All-Star break.
After starting the season hot, the Phoenix Suns are ice cold. And not in a good way. The team are 11th placed in the Western Conference, 28-32 and 3-7 over the last 10.
It is not helped by a disastrous trade window in which the team tried to trade away both Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant unsuccessfully. Beal’s no-trade clause blocked his exit – but the team tried to push it as far as they could.
Devin Booker has expressed frustration at the team’s lack of urgency to turn their form around – although they did register a win on February 28 over the New Orleans Pelicans 125-108.
Kevin Durant finds positive with Bol Bol
One of the very few positives for the Phoenix Suns is the form displayed by South Sudanese talent Bol Bol.
He was praised by coach Mike Budenholzer last month, and now star teammate Kevin Durant has made his feelings clear.
Durant wants other young stars to learn from Bol Bol’s professionalism, and has been left staggered by the 25-year-old.
He said: “I think a lot of younger players can learn from how he approaches the game. And it’s not as glamorized, people don’t think that about Bol, because he’s so quiet and unassuming, but he’s a pro’s pro, and he’s shown that ever since he came here to Phoenix.
“And ever since he’s been my teammate, I’ve been blown away by 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.
“So I always make sure when I’m talking to you guys, I want to highlight that about him, ‘cause not a lot of people talk about that side of his game.”
Bol Bol season numbers
Bol Bol played 43 games for the Suns last season but was not selected to start a single one. He averaged 10.9 minutes minutes per game.
This season he has played 24 games, starting 5 of them, showing his progress, and is averaging 13.4 minutes per game.
During February he has been averaging 20.9 minutes per game, showing his increased importance to the team.
He scored a season high 25 points in the win over the Pelicans, the second highest mark of his career, following the 26 scored for the Nuggets against the Timberwolves in 2022.
For the season he is now averaging 7.9 points per game, 12.3 per game over the past month.
In a season in which the Suns have been blasted as the biggest disappointment in the NBA, Bol Bol is at least providing reason to smile.