Since cementing himself as the eventual No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, some basketball observers have compared Victor Wembanyama to Bol Bol given their size and abilities.
Watching the two play, they can each do a little bit of everything on the court and have had some absurd highlights because of their skill sets and heights. Wembanyama is listed at 7 feet, 3 inches barefoot and 225 pounds, while Bol is one inch shorter and five pounds lighter.
Because they have some similarities, the conversation regarding the two often comes to debating which player is better. The topic was broached Thursday on FS1 with host Craig Carton and Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway Sr. on the “Carton Show.”
Hardaway took Bol over Wembanyama.
“I think he is better than Victor (Wembanyama),” Hardaway said. “Bol Bol has better physical talent and (is) ready to play in the NBA right now than Victor is.”
Prior to becoming the top pick this year by San Antonio, Wembanyama had a tremendous season with Metropolitans 92.
The 19-year-old was named MVP and Defensive Player of the Year of the LNB Pro A after averaging 20.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, three blocks and 2.4 assists in 44 games. He led the league in scoring and shot 46.8% from the field, including 27.2% from 3-point range.
On the other hand, Bol is coming off his best year as a pro.
The former 44th pick in 2019 averaged a career-high 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and one assist on 54.6% shooting from the field in 70 games with Orlando. He was eventually waived by the Magic and signed by Phoenix.
Certainly, Bol has already played in the NBA for four years so he has a leg up on Wembanyama in terms of experience. But comparing the two players based on experience isn’t exactly an apples-to-apples kind of situation for a variety of reasons. It’s still fun to talk about, though.
2024 NBA Rookie of the Year: The updated odds after summer league
Hall of Famer Jerry West names special quality about Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama outlines next 2-3 months after summer league exit
Story originally appeared on Rookie Wire