Super Bol!

Bol Bol Speaks: “This Is Where I Can Become Who I Really Am”

August 4th, 2025 | Interview by Almondoh Joi, ESPN

Following his surprise 4-year, $12.9 million signing with the Charlotte Hornets, Bol Bol finally addressed the media — and his comments suggest this move was more than just a paycheck. It was about identity.

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On Choosing Charlotte

“I didn’t come here to just be another bench guy. I came here because they believe in me. Coach Lee looked me in the eye and said, ‘We want you to be you. No limits.’ I haven’t heard that anywhere else.”

Sources say Charlotte was one of the only teams that offered Bol not just a multi-year deal, but a starting role with offensive freedom. That, plus the team’s investment in positionless, length-heavy basketball, sold him immediately.

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On His Role

“I’m not just a center. I can bring the ball up. I can shoot. I can block shots. I’m 7-foot-3, but I grew up studying guards. Charlotte is letting me use everything in my game.”

“They’re not boxing me in. They’re unlocking me.”

Bol is expected to be a featured piece in Charles Lee’s hybrid system — operating out of the high post, initiating sets, and switching defensively across multiple positions.

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On Playing with Ben Simmons

“It’s a cheat code. Ben finds me in places no one else does. We both see angles most guys don’t see. It’s gonna be fun.”

He called Simmons a “basketball genius” and said their chemistry is already building in camp scrimmages.

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On Public Perception

“People gave up on me. I know that. But I’ve never been in the right spot, with the right coach, with the right system. Now I am.”

“This is the best shape I’ve ever been in. Mentally, I’m locked in. I want to prove I’m not just a ‘unicorn’ or a YouTube highlight. I’m a winner.”

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On His Goals in Charlotte

“I want to help build something here. Not just play well — change the story. For myself. For this city. For this team.”

📝 Almondoh’s Final Thought:

“This isn’t the Bol Bol who bounced around the league. This is a player on a mission. And if Charlotte’s gamble hits? We might finally witness what the league has been afraid of since draft night.”

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