NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal stirs the pot after delivering one of the most intriguing hot takes of 2023. During an episode of NBA on TNT, The Diesel made a comment that shook NBA fans and even his co-host, Charles Barkley. In his own words, Shaq said: “Bol Bol is the first 7-foot-4 guy that we’ve seen come out with the handles, shoot the three’s, yes. Ya’ll acting like ya’ll ain’t never seen a guy like that before. Bol Bol is the first guy”. Is Shaq right? Is Bol Bol really the first version of Victor Wembanyama? Let’s find out.
Shaq compared Wemby to Bol Bol and Chuck lost it 👀 pic.twitter.com/VIQfj8i61r
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) November 1, 2023
Victor Wembanyama vs Bol Bol: The Comparison
Although Wembanyama and Bol are towering above the others, they have different career paths. The former was drafted first overall and is expected to achieve the grand scheme of things in the NBA while the latter was selected 44th, late in the 2019 draft. Both come from a family of basketball players. Wembanyama‘s father, mother, and siblings all play the sport while Bol Bol is the son of the late great Manute Bol.
Some believe that Wemby and Bol are both 7 feet and 4 inches tall and possess the same basketball genetics. But, in reality, there is a fine line between their games, one that would justify why one is better than the other. Below is a tabled comparison of Wemby and Bol’s physical attributes.
| Victor Wembanyama | Bol Bol | |
| Height | 7’3.5″ | 7’2″ |
| Weight | 210 lbs | 220 lbs |
| Age | 19 | 23 |
| Wingspan | 8’0″ | 7’8″ |
| Standing Reach | 10’0″ | 9’6″ |
| Vertical | 32″ | — |
| Hands | — | — |
| Position | Center/Power Forward | Center/Power Forward |
| Nationality | French | Sudanese-American |
Looking at their comparison, in hindsight, they are pretty much the same player. Both play the same position and even have a very similar playstyle. Wemby, before being drafted, was already slated to become a superstar as he was arguably the biggest prospect since LeBron James. Bol Bol, on the other hand, was already making waves on the internet and was dubbed as a unicorn.
Both Victor Wembanyama and Bol Bol are extremely tall big men who have the same movement as today’s guards – athletic, fluid, quick, and coordinated. The African stud, just like the French rookie, can create his own shot and has even good handles for a guy of his stature.
Even though Shaq’s hot take may sound hilarious, it seems like he somehow has a point. Looking back on his final year in Oregon, Bol Bol’s emphatic performances created a picture of what Kevin Durant would be if he was taller.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oioWaren3_4&pp=ygUdQm9sIGJvbCBoaWdobGlnaHRzIGJlZm9yZSBuYmE%3D
Some were calling him “insanely skilled”, “an impressive player”, and that he was going to be a “problem” in the NBA. He might have been, but we have yet to see that. The biggest difference between Wembanyama and Bol is that Wemby is an elite defender who has shown to have a great basketball IQ. Bol Bol can block shots, too, but does not have the same defensive awareness as the Spurs rookie. In addition, Shaq also mentioned that Wembanyama is more consistent than Bol Bol, which is very factual.
Had Bol Bol been given an opportunity to develop into a star, there’s no saying he could have been a better player than he is today. Sure, he is an excellent baller and you could say that he was Victor Wembanyama before Victor Wembanyama. But, the truth is, Wemby is one of one. If we are going to dig deeper, it’s more believable to say that Kristaps Porzingis, another European star, was the prototype. A 7-footer who moves like a guard and has the hands of a shooter.
