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We are continuing down the SunsRank path, one that is full of observations, predictions, lines in the sand, and loyalties. “Best”, right? Subjective as that may be, we are still beginning to see how the Bright Side writing team perceives this team and how the community sees the 2024-25 version of the Suns.
We’ve navigated the top seven players on the Phoenix Suns, identifying three teirs of players. There is Tier 1, occupied by Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. Bradley Beal sits alone in Tier 2, and Tier 3 includes Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkic, Tyus Jones, and Royce O’Neale. No, Bol Bol was not in Tier 3.
The Bol Bol situation is interesting. He is someone who certainly outperformed his preseason expectations, at lest in my book. I thought he’d be a throwaway, someone who the Suns would kick the tires on only to realize they were bald and flat. But Bol provided some quality minutes along the way, and the fanbase took to him.
In 43 games with the Phoenix Suns during the 2023-24 season, Bol Bol showed flashes of his potential. He averaged 5.2 points per game, shooting an impressive 61.6% from the field, 42.3% from beyond the arc, and 78.9% from the free-throw line. While those numbers are solid, they highlight his efficiency in limited minutes, particularly his unexpected proficiency from three-point range.
Bol’s ability to contribute as a versatile scorer was evident, though his role remained somewhat inconsistent. Despite the flashes of brilliance, questions linger about his ability to maintain that level of production over a larger sample size or in a more prominent role.
Our writers compiled their collective rankings, and fans of Bol Nation might not be thrilled to hear that he didn’t make it into Tier 3. In fact, he landed at the back of Tier 4, just behind the newly acquired Monte Morris and Mason Plumlee.
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As someone who ranked Bol eleventh, I have my reasoning.
Part of the uncertainty around Bol Bol stems from his role. We still don’t quite know what he is as a player. He’s not physically imposing enough to play center. Last season, he guarded centers in just 9% of his possessions. While he has the length, he lacks the bulk to hold his ground in the paint. Though he has the shot-blocking ability, he often has to gamble on those plays, which limits his effectiveness.
Another factor is his overall impact. The Suns did an excellent job this offseason filling out their roster with players who, despite being lower in our rankings — like Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro, and Josh Okogie — are likely to see more minutes than Bol. This limited playing time will diminish his impact, especially when compared to players like Monte Morris and Mason Plumlee.
Let’s get to some polling, shall we?
Poll
Should Bol Bol have been in the Tier 3 rankings (with Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkic, Tyus Jones, and Royce O’Neale)?
Poll
SunsRank: Who is the 8th best player on the Suns?
This poll is closed
-
34%
Monte Morris
(164 votes) -
35%
Mason Plumlee
(171 votes) -
27%
Bol Bol
(130 votes) -
3%
Other
(15 votes)
Poll
SunsRank: Who is the 9th best player on the Suns?
This poll is closed
-
34%
Monte Morris
(151 votes) -
34%
Mason Plumlee
(150 votes) -
26%
Bol Bol
(115 votes) -
4%
Other
(20 votes)
Poll
SunsRank: Who is the 10th best player on the Suns?
This poll is closed
-
14%
Monte Morris
(58 votes) -
14%
Mason Plumlee
(58 votes) -
57%
Bol Bol
(235 votes) -
14%
Other
(61 votes)
Later this week we will be revealing the final rankings for all members of the Phoenix Suns, outside of TyTy Washington (he was signed a little too late for our writing team to add him to the rankings). We’ll poll the community, and following that, we’ll compare notes.
It should be interesting to see the comments below as we enter the truly subjective area of the rankings. The “gray area,” if you will. Using the word “best” is like trying to capture smoke; it’s elusive and open to interpretation, but that’s intentional. We all have different criteria for what makes a player the “best,” and when this is placed into the context of rankings, it sparks some fascinating debate.
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