On February 11, 2025, Bol Bol made his long-awaited first start with the Phoenix Suns, stepping onto the court as the power forward against the Memphis Grizzlies at Footprint Center. This marked his 60th game with the Suns and the first time he had started since April 6, 2023, during his tenure with the Orlando Magic.
Following impressive recent performances—where he scored 19 points and recorded significant stats—the Suns' coaching staff felt it was time to capitalize on his growing confidence and skill. Despite being only 7-foot-2, Bol quickly made his mark on the game, tallying seven points, along with contributions on assists and blocks, just within the initial 70 seconds of play.
Coach Mike Budenholzer, reflecting on Bol's integration and impact, voiced confidence about Bol's capabilities, stating, "He’s really kind of grown or developed... big challenge for us tonight." The team faced complications with injuries to star players Bradley Beal (who sat out due to a left great toe sprain), Cody Martin, and Vasa Micic. This opened the door for Bol to showcase his skills on the larger stage.
During the match against the Grizzlies, Bol started alongside teammates Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Nick Richards. Budenholzer had expressed admiration for Bol's excellent form, emphasizing the importance of confidence from teammates. He stated, "There's a lot of confidence from his teammates and I think it really helps him." This was evident as Bol made impressive plays throughout the game.
Prior to his start, Bol had become somewhat of a fan favorite due to his impressive and improved performances. After struggling through most of the early season, often logging limited minutes under Budenholzer compared to previous coaches, he finally seized the chance to take control of his playing time. The culmination of this opportunity was his back-to-back game performances where he scored 12 points against Utah before following it up with 19 points against Denver.
"He played extremely well, was ready when his name is called, created an opportunity," said Suns guard Tyus Jones about Bol's conduct on the floor. Jones highlighted Bol's multiple ways of impacting the game, remarking on his three-point shooting, effective rebounding, and defensive blocks—traits the Suns sorely needed against the resilient Grizzlies.
Bol’s emergence coincides with the Suns grappling with injuries and inconsistent rosters. With Beal sidelined, Bol's recent performances helped him gain trust from the coaching staff, enabling his transition from the bench to the starting role. Over the last five games leading up to his start, Bol averaged 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks, showcasing his potential as he adapted to the Suns’ playing style.
His career so far, including statistics from previous seasons with the Orlando Magic, emphasized his past struggles—recording only 5.2 points over 43 games last season—but his resurgence as he continues to assimilate with the Suns has offered hope for their future. The strategy to start Bol not only reflects his rising form but also aims at countering the offensive strength of the Grizzlies, who feature players like Jaren Jackson Jr. and the towering Zach Edey.
The Suns have had their fair share of challenges this season, struggling with injuries at pivotal moments. The latest absence of Beal and others created the urgent need for Bol to step up—and the organization’s trust seemed to deliver positive results quickly.
Support continues to grow for Bol among fans and players alike, indicating his importance to the Suns' strategy moving forward. While Bol’s performance may not single-handedly change the team's season expression, it embodies the possibilities for newly forming collaborative dynamics around him as he takes on increased responsibilities against tough competition.
Bol's first start reflects the evolution of not just his game, but also the framework surrounding the Suns as they navigate this transition of injuries, performance issues, and aspirations for the remainder of the season. All eyes will be on him as the Suns look to improve their struggles, and fans hope this development marks the beginning of new strategies stepping forward.