Phoenix Suns forward Bol Bol had shown promising flashes shortly after the trade deadline, carving out a consistent spot in the rotation for several weeks.
However, his playing time dwindled significantly down the stretch, as he logged just 29 total minutes over the team’s final 16 games.
The sharp decline in his role raised questions, now partially answered by a new report from NBA insider Chris Haynes.
According to Haynes, Bol’s sudden disappearance from the rotation wasn’t purely basketball-related.
The tipping point came during a March 12 game against the Houston Rockets, when an on-court altercation broke out between Suns center Mason Plumlee and Rockets big man Steven Adams.
As players from both teams converged around the scuffle, Bol was seen at the opposite end of the court continuing to shoot layups, seemingly disengaged from the situation.
Former Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, who was in his first year with the team, was reportedly “irate” over Bol’s lack of response.
The expectation in moments like that, even if not to escalate, is to show a level of unity and awareness, especially in support of a teammate.
Bol’s apparent indifference was viewed as a breach of team culture and may have cost him Budenholzer’s trust.
“Coach just couldn’t understand it,” a team source told Haynes. “It wasn’t about fighting or doing something reckless. It was about showing you have your teammate’s back. The rest of the guys were in the mix. Bol kept shooting layups like nothing happened. It rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.”
While there has been no official statement from the team, Bol’s minutes and usage following the incident suggest that it had lasting repercussions.
His brief run of relevance post-deadline gave way to long stretches on the bench, often without explanation.
As Bol enters the offseason, questions remain about his role moving forward – and whether a fresh start or change of scenery might offer him a better opportunity to grow and regain trust.
Pacific Notes: Leonard, Bol, Kings, Murray, Ellis https://t.co/15OM2A0OtW pic.twitter.com/x91ePb1h8Q
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 22, 2025
