Updated: Tuesday, July 11, 2017, 6:25 PM
LAS VEGAS – The headline for the 76ers heading into summer-league ball was undoubtedly the play of top overall pick Markelle Fultz. Second most important in the minds of Sixers’ fans was what shooting guard Furkan Korkmaz looked like, as the only reference point of his game were highlight tapes from Turkey.
While Fultz is now finished with an ankle sprain and Korkmaz has proven to have some talent, but is apparently a few years away from being ready for the NBA, another name has stolen the spotlight. The Sixers drafted Jonah Bolden with the 36th overall pick last month, knowing that he’d probably play another year in the EuroLeague. Still, they were interested enough to take a chance on him. There is history, as there often is with players coming to this organization. Bolden’s father, Bruce, played for Sixers coach Brett Brown in Australia.
Bolden, however, is proving that he wasn’t selected as a favor, or a throwaway to keep someone stashed for years. He has wowed in every minute that he’s stepped on the floor in Utah and now Vegas with his all-around play.
Here is a breakdown of the 6-10 forward’s game.
Offense
*Bolden is a very willing and skillful pick-setter. When the pick needs to be held to free the ballhandler, he does it. If it is better to slip it and dive to the basket, lobs are almost always open, and when he chooses to pop he is in prime position to shoot.
*He is an exceptional ballhandler for his size. It’s a good thing to get him out of trouble and help him get out on a break, but too much of it, like with most big men, usually leads to trouble. If he needs to move with the ball to get to a better spot to outlet, it’s certainly there.
*The constant movement that Bolden has offensively really wears on defenders. Big men don’t like to move all that much on defense, but they have no option when it comes to Bolden. He is like a kid with a pure sugar diet when his team has the ball.
*Not that you usually want this from a player, especially a big man, but he is an excellent passer when he is in the air. It’s not ever encouraged for anyone to leave their feet before passing, but when he does it the results usually turn out very well.
*He has a great ability for keeping balls alive off the offensive glass. If he doesn’t get a hand on it in traffic, he is good at coming over and getting a hand on the ball in the air when someone else seems to have it secured. That’s really good hand/eye coordination.
*His three-point shooting is above average, and when he’s patient it is very good. It could probably get even more fluid with some solid work, too.
Defense
*One NBA executive said there was one word to describe Bolden and that was “live.” The ball always seems to find him at the defensive end, whether it’s him blocking shots, running down loose balls or when it’s being tapped around for a rebound. If there’s a loose ball on the defensive end of the floor, you can be sure Bolden will be near it and many times come up with it.
*Does a very good job of keeping his man in the middle of his body. Sometimes defense is that easy for a big man down low – keep the man in the middle of you, deny deep penetration and go straight up with your hands. He does all those things very well and has good timing when he does it to go up and block shots.
*Runs very well getting back on defense as it only takes him a stride or two to get to full speed. His running motion is like that of a much smaller player, with quick choppy strides that get him to full speed.
*Sometimes on defense he thinks too much like a small man instead of a big. He’ll jump in passing lanes, maybe more than he should, when perhaps he should be looking to collapse more inside. He’s just got to pick his spots better when jumping into lanes.
Intangibles
*Bolden is on his toes almost every second of every game, displaying an energy level that is so coveted by coaches from players at all positions.
*He plays with a purpose on every play. If an offensive set calls for him to get into a corner and decoy, he sells it very hard. If his pick on the opposite side of the court isn’t meant to be involved in the play, he still sets it well. He doesn’t cheat on anything.
*If he was asked to perfect one speciality – whether rebounding, shot-blocking, three-point shooting, defending – and make it his trademark in the league, you get the feeling he could do it.
Read full story: Jonah Bolden showing Sixers he can play
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