Bol Bol

denalabidou

The Nuggets announced the return of Vlatko Čančar from the G League on Sunday, ending a 10-game stint in the NBA’s development league for the team’s 2017 second round pick. After a slow start, Čančar got going in his last four games – averaging 19.8 points on 51.8 percent shooting. The 22-year-old was also an impressive rebounder and three-point shooter during his time with the Erie BayHawks, grabbing 6.2 boards a game and hitting on 39.3 percent of his attempts from downtown.  Čančar has also shown progress in avoiding costly fouls. In his first three games, he was averaging 4.5 fouls a game. He’s reduced that to 3.0 per game at the end of his stint with Erie.  The Nuggets also have a standout pair with the Windy City Bulls as Bol Bol and PJ Dozier continue to shine in Hoffman Estates, Ill. Since Bol’s return to the Bulls, he’s been averaging 16 points on 81.2 percent shooting in two games off the bench. After only taking three shots (with zero makes) from downtown in his first run in the G League, Bol has been lights out in his second turn. The 20-year-old center hit his first professional three against the Agua Caliente Clippers on Dec. 5 and is 4-of-6 in his last two games. Bol was dominant against the Santa Cruz Warriors on Sunday, going for 21 points, six rebounds and five blocks in 28 minutes. Check out the highlights of that performance below:
   Bol's Bulls teammate Dozier remains one of the most in-form players in the G League as he is a consistent triple-double threat – putting up 21.4 points, 7.7 assists (seventh in the league) and 7.0 rebounds a night. The 23-year-old point guard has been asked to play multiple positions for the Bulls, ranging from shooting guard to power forward, and has excelled throughout his time with Windy City. Since the last G League roundup, Dozier’s top performance came against the Maine Red Claws in a 118-117 victory for the Bulls. The Nuggets’ two-way player poured in 34 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals while shooting 12-of-20 from the floor. Games like that showcase why the Nuggets might have found a diamond in the rough in the former University of South Carolina star.

Finally, Jarred Vanderbilt has shown plenty of growth in his seven games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers this season. The 2018 second-round draft pick is averaging 14.9 points and 8.7 boards on 55.4 percent shooting. Last year with the Delaware Blue Coats, Vanderbilt was averaging 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. The 20-year-old was a bright spot for the Vipers in their loss against the Wisconsin Herd on Saturday, putting up 21 points and 11 boards. 

nuggets-g-league-roundup-vlatko-cancar-back-in-denver-bol-bol-continues-strong-form

Nuggets G League Roundup: Vlatko Čančar back in Denver, Bol Bol continues strong form

It’s been almost a year since Bol Bol last played a competitive basketball game, but his G League debut proved why his skillset is well worth the wait.

Bol came off the bench in the Windy City Bulls’ third game of the season and made an impact in the team’s 111-97 victory over the Canton Charge. The 19-year-old had a strong all-around game with eight points, nine boards and four blocked shots on 4-of-9 shooting in just 18 minutes of action. Bol signaled his arrival just a minute after coming on at the 7:18 mark in the first quarter as he dunked on a pick and roll play.

Prior to Friday’s game, Nuggets’ teammate Monte Morris mentioned Bol’s versatility could make him a triple-double threat in the G League.

“Bol is God-gifted, talented. He can dribble, shoot it. He’s a hell of a player,” Morris said after the Nuggets’ 101-93 win over the Nets. “I expect him to go down and kill it, double-double easy, almost triple-double. He’s that skilled. He’s just got to know everyone’s coming for his head. He’s got a big name and they are going to come at you hard. You just have to do what you do.”

Friday’s appearance is the first competitive basketball game Bol has played in since he suffered a foot injury on Dec. 12, 2018 during his lone season at Oregon. Prior to that season-ending injury, Bol displayed a unique skillset that led many to believe he would be a top-five pick in the 2019 draft. The center averaged 21 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while shooting 56.1 percent from the field and a searing 52 percent from downtown. Concerns over his injury led him to slip to 44th pick of the NBA Draft, where the Nuggets decided to pounce on an opportunity to add another talented young player to the roster via trade. His debut is encouraging sign of just how dangerous he can be on both sides of the court.

Bol wasn’t the only Nuggets player to see action in the G League on Friday. Two-way player PJ Dozier got the start at small forward for the Bulls and almost finished with a double-double – going for 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Dozier has been an impressive playmaker in his first three games of this G League campaign. He is averaging 14.7 points, 10.3 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1 block per game while shooting 45.5 percent from downtown.

Vlatko Čančar, Denver’s 2017 second-round pick, also got some playing time for the Erie BayHawks. In his second game in the NBA’s developmental league, the Slovenian had 13 points and four rebounds. Čančar is averaging 10 points and four rebounds in his first two games. Foul trouble is a concern as he’s averaged 4.5 fouls per game.

nuggets-g-league-roundup-bol-bol-makes-professional-debut-with-windy-city-bulls

Nuggets G League Roundup: Bol Bol makes professional debut with Windy City Bulls

scenes-from-nuggets-training-camp-day-2

Scenes from Nuggets Training Camp Day 2

MORRISON, CO – When Bol Bol got to the bottom of the steps at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, he looked up and his jaw immediately dropped. He turned to Monte Morris and asked if the group of Nuggets players on hand would have to run to the top. Morris grinned and emphatically nodded before yelling “EASY MONEY” seconds later.

The Red Rocks Amphitheater is one of the world’s most renowned music venues and a tourist attraction that welcomes over a million visitors a year. For the Nuggets, the 6,435-feet high concert hall represents something else: A rite of passage. It’s a chance for players to experience one of the toughest workout sessions available to help in acclimating to the altitude which they’ll deal with during the NBA season.

Bol was one of four first-timers with Vlatko Čančar, Tyler Cook, Tyler Zeller to take part of the Friday morning training session, joining veterans Gary Harris, Will Barton and Monte Morris.  The players did the famed east stairway, climbing 145 steps and going up 300 feet in the process, four times back and forth. They also did a range of exercises on the venue’s 69 rows, doing leaps and running up 2.7 miles in front of dozens of onlookers. The veterans “welcomed” their rookies to the experience.

“[They said] you’re never coming back or first time and last time you’re here,” Čančar revealed with a grin. “It loosened up the mood and made everything easier.”

The irony of it all is sometimes what appears to be the easier workout, like going up stairs, can present unique challenges to NBA athletes.

“The hardest part is going up the stairs one by one because we're all really tall,” Bol said.  

He added, “It's something different [from what I'm used to]. Even though it's not directly related to basketball, I think it'll help on the court because of conditioning and endurance. I think this helped me a lot today.”

Zeller, a player who has been in the NBA since 2012, called the workout one of the most difficult in his seven-year professional career.

“It’s up there, it’s not something you’re used to,” Zeller said. “It definitely ranks up there.”

Harris, the longest-tenured Nugget, explained why the workout is important as the team gets ready for the upcoming season.

“We play such a high and intense game, there's a lot of up and down. A lot of times, we're tired -- especially playing in the altitude,” Harris said. “This prepares us for the season.”

Felipe Eichenberger, the Nuggets’ Head Strength &amp; Conditioning Coach, explained why the workout is an important part of the offseason workout.

“Well, it's more like a cardiovascular stimulus,” Eichenberger said. “So, any exercise that we do even if it's not a sport-specific for basketball, and this altitude, they're going to have an adaptation. Adapting their physiological system and their physiology to this higher altitude than Denver, it's going to benefit us… So that's the purpose behind everything that we do here.”

When the workout was done and the Nuggets players gathered at the top of the Amphitheatre, Harris was happy with what he saw from his rookie teammates.

“The rookies, they did a great job,” Harris said. “They came in with the right attitude, the right mentality. They killed it today.”

He then added, “It was hard [when I first did it] and it's still hard.”

denver-nuggets-bol-bol-vlatko-cancar-experience-red-rocks-workout-for-first-time

Denver Nuggets’ Bol Bol, Vlatko Čančar experience Red Rocks workout for first time

The Camry Lot at the Pepsi Center got a taste of some of Denver’s elite basketball talent as the Nuggets’ held their inaugural 3v3 tournament on Saturday.

There were hundreds of local ballers in attendance and even more shots launched in over 10 courts at the event. Nuggets DJ PawS The Music was bumping beats through the nine-hour basketball marathon.

Among those on hand were several former overseas and college players in addition to the Nuggets PR staff and Altitude TV personalities Vic Lombardi, Katy Winge and Chris Dempsey. Led by Nick O’Hayre, Steven Blevins, Cody Wise and Travess Armenta, the Nuggets Public Relations team got two wins out of their four games on the tournament’s elite court. Team Altitude got two out of three, including a game-winning three from Dempsey to close out of the first win. Nuggets rookies Bol Bol, Vlatko Čančar, P.J. Dozier and Tyler Cook took in some of the action and greeted dozens of fans at the event.

Nineteen teams went home winners with the Sea Turtles serving as the headliners, taking the Men’s Top Gun prize. Other notable teams to win were the KS 107.5 Co-Ed team and the Lightning Ladies sealed the Girls 16U Competitive group.

Girls 16U Competitive: Lightning Ladies High School

Men 6ft &amp; Under Recreational: Underrated

Men 6ft &amp; Under Competitive: Birdies Revenge

Youth: 14U Female Recreational: Toon Squad

Youth 14U Male Recreational: The Green Team

Youth: 10U Female Competitive: Ballers White

Youth: 14U Male Competitive: Rough Riders

nuggets-3v3-tournament-showcases-denvers-elite-local-talent

Nuggets' 3v3 tournament showcases Denver's elite local talent

admin

The Denver Nuggets have signed rookie center Bol Bol to a two-way contract, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Bol, 7-2, 220, was selected with the 44th overall pick by the Miami Heat in the 2019 NBA draft and was acquired by the Nuggets in a draft-night trade. He appeared in nine games as a freshman for Oregon in 2018-19, averaging 21.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in 29.8 minutes before a season-ending foot injury. Bol reached double-figure scoring in every game and tallied four double-doubles.

The 19-year-old native of Khartoum, Sudan, is the son of former NBA great Manute Bol who played 10 seasons for the Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat.

denver-nuggets-sign-bol-bol-to-two-way-contract

Denver Nuggets sign Bol Bol to two-way contract

Welcome to another edition of the Nuggets' mailbag! 

Training camp is just a month out and there's certainly a lot of topics to discuss. So here is the latest set of questions from the Nuggets' faithful. 

[Editor's Note: All opinions and ideas expressed below are our own and do not reflect any views of the Denver Nuggets’ front office and coaching staff]

By all indications, Michael Porter Jr.’s late scratch from the Summer League was strictly precautionary and he should be set to see action this season.

Having seen Porter Jr. in several scrimmages, the excitement over the 21-year-old is warranted. His athleticism makes him a dangerous threat inside the paint and he has the range to be deadly in mid-to-long range shots. He could prove to be a matchup nightmare as he’s versatile enough to play three positions (shooting guard, small and power forward). Still, there might not be immediate fireworks from the former Mizzou standout. Considering the paths of several rotation players, including Nikola Jokić, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Malik Beasley and Monte Morris, don’t be surprised if Mike Malone slowly brings his rookie along.

From Facebook: Henri: Do you see the Nuggets as a championship-caliber team this year or the next?

The Nuggets proved to be one of the NBA’s elite teams last season and there is a lot of optimism over the team’s ability to build on the progress shown last season. This team remains one of the youngest in the league and the addition of Jerami Grant gives Malone some much-needed athleticism and shot-blocking.

Although there have been plenty of high-profile moves this offseason, Denver is banking on self-improvement, continuity and chemistry as the reasons it will take another step this season. Remember this was a team that was just one win away from the Western Conference Finals. It will be fascinating to see if the players in the team’s young core can continue to make strides in this campaign.

Mike, Jokić is entering his fifth season in the NBA, but he certainly showcased his star quality to a global audience during the playoffs last season. The 24-year-old averaged 25.1 points, 13 rebounds and 8.4 assists while shooting 50.6 percent from the floor in the postseason, a scary thought when realizing the Serbian hasn’t hit his prime yet.

As you mentioned, he was rightly named as an All-NBA First Team last campaign and it’ll be interesting to see what he works on. Malone and Connelly have mentioned Jokić’s conditioning as something the Nuggets want to continue to improve as he progresses in the league. What is exciting is Nuggets fans have a chance to see their franchise star play in the FIBA World Cup with Serbia – one of the favorites of the tournament.

We’ve NEVER heard that one. LOL. In all seriousness, there are a few spots I’ve checked out, but happy to take any suggestions from the locals on Twitter! =)

denver-nuggets-mailbag-michael-porter-jr-s-playing-time-title-hopes

Denver Nuggets Mailbag: Michael Porter Jr.'s playing time, title hopes

Bol Bol was widely expected to be a lottery pick heading into the 2019 NBA Draft. His precipitous fall stunned media observers and apparently fellow draftmates as well.

The NBA polled all NBA rookies and they picked the Nuggets rookie center (No. 44 pick) along with the Cavaliers’ Kevin Porter Jr. (No. 30) as the biggest steals of the draft. Bol and Porter Jr. both received 19 percent of the overall vote. Bol also received a few votes for the best rookie defender out of the 2019 class.

Bol, 19, had an impressive season for Oregon before injuring his left foot in a win against the University of San Diego as he averaged 21 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while shooting 56.1 percent from the field. He was also sharp from beyond the arc as he converted 52 percent of his attempts from downtown. He is the son of the late former NBA player Manute Bol and was the No. 4 ranked prospect, according to ESPN and Rivals, headed into his freshman season with the Ducks.

nba-rookie-survey-nuggets-got-steal-of-2019-draft-in-bol-bol

NBA Rookie Survey: Nuggets got steal of 2019 Draft in Bol Bol

Presented by

Western Union

Come out to the Denver Nuggets 2022-23 Draft Party Thursday, June 23rd @ 6:00 p.m. at Tom's Watch Bar, presented by Miller Lite! 

Watch your Denver Nuggets make their pick, win team signed gear, and meet Super Mascot Rocky! For more information <a href="https://www.nba.com/nuggets/watch-parties">Click Here</a>