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Bol Bol formerly of the Phoenix Suns lands lucrative overseas contract.
Former Phoenix Suns big man Bol Bol is continuing his professional career overseas after failing to secure an NBA contract for the 2025–26 season.
Bol, the 44th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has signed on as an import in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, according to multiple reports.
The move comes after Bol’s uneven stint in Phoenix over the last two seasons and reflects how quickly the NBA market can evaporate for fringe rotation players amid philosophical shifts and roster overhauls.
Suns Move On as Team Direction Shifts
Bol appeared in 36 games for Phoenix last season, making 10 starts while the Suns navigated injuries and frontcourt instability. When his contract expired, Phoenix opted not to bring him back, Arizona Sports radio host John Gambadoro reported last summer.
That decision came alongside major organizational changes. The Suns fired Mike Budenholzer after the season and hired Jordan Ott, pivoting toward a defense-first roster built around Devin Booker after trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets.
They reshaped their frontcourt by trading for former 15th overall pick Mark Williams from Charlotte and selected Duke standout Kahman Maluach at No. 10 in the last draft.
Under that new blueprint, Phoenix emphasized defensive versatility, physicality, and lineup reliability — priorities that ultimately worked against Bol’s chances of sticking.
Bol Bol’s NBA Resume at a Glance
Across his NBA career with Denver, Orlando, and Phoenix, Bol has carved out a niche as a situational contributor rather than a steady rotation mainstay.
The son of Manute Bol averaged 6.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 13.6 minutes across 202 NBA games.
Those numbers underscore both the intrigue and the limitation: per-minute production flashes, but never enough sustained trust to secure a long-term role.
Bol Bol’s Stint With Suns
During his two seasons in Phoenix, Bol averaged around 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in limited minutes, serving primarily as depth behind established veterans.
His production spiked when elevated to the starting lineup.
In his 10 starts, Bol averaged 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, showing the offensive and defensive upside that has followed him throughout his career. He provided floor spacing, weak-side rim protection, and occasional shot-creation mismatches against smaller defenders.
However, those starts did not translate into a permanent role. Defensive consistency, physical matchups, and lineup fit remained concerns, particularly as Phoenix evaluated its long-term identity.
Fit, Not Flashes, Defined the Outcome
Bol’s departure was less about talent and more about alignment. At 7-foot-3 with guard-like skills, he remains one of the NBA’s most unique players. But teams increasingly prioritize defenders who can switch, anchor schemes, and rebound through contact.
As Phoenix reset its roster, Bol’s strengths — offense and length — no longer outweighed the perceived drawbacks within the Suns’ new defensive-minded philosophy.
Once Phoenix moved on, the NBA market never materialized. With roster spots scarce and teams favoring younger two-way prospects or proven defensive specialists, Bol chose opportunity over waiting.
New Stage in the Philippines
Bol will now compete in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, where imports are permitted above the league’s standard height limit. He arrives as the most high-profile — and tallest — import ever to suit up in the Philippines’ professional league, immediately altering the competitive balance of the conference.
Veteran PBA coach Yeng Guiao summed up the impact bluntly, likening Bol’s arrival to “bringing a machine gun to a knife fight.”
The financial incentive was also significant. According to Spin.ph, Bol is expected to command between $50,000 and $60,000 per month, a figure that exceeds the roughly $45,000 total salary tied to a five-month G League contract, making the PBA not only a basketball opportunity, but a far more lucrative short-term option.
The Commissioner’s Cup has increasingly become a landing spot for former NBA players seeking major minutes, offensive freedom, and a featured role after falling out of the league’s rotation market.
Bol will suit up for TNT Tropang 5G, stepping in after the club’s longtime import, former NBA forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
He will not be the only former NBA center playing in the Philippines this season. Kylor Kelley, who has appeared in games for the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans, reached a buyout agreement with the South Bay Lakers to join the Converge FiberXers.
Together, Bol and Kelley headline a Commissioner’s Cup field increasingly shaped by former NBA talent — and underscore how overseas leagues are capitalizing on the league’s shrinking margin for developmental big men.
A Familiar Crossroads
Once a second-round pick with first-round intrigue, Bol Bol now joins a growing list of former NBA players betting on overseas success to revive momentum.
If he dominates in the Philippines, another NBA look could follow. For now, his path back — if there is one — runs through Manila, not the NBA.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo