South Sudan made history at their last international tournament by securing their first-ever Olympic berth, becoming the top-placed African team at the FIBA World Cup 2023. They achieved this milestone without Bol Bol, the towering son of NBA legend Manute Bol. At that time, Bol was focused on his career with the Phoenix Suns, where he impressed his teammate Kevin Durant, who will face South Sudan tonight.

Bol Bol was poised to make his international debut at the Paris Olympics, set to lead South Sudan. However, just as his moment arrived to showcase his Wembanyama-esque skills, unfortunate news emerged. South Sudan’s assistant coach, Ajou Deng, announced that Bol Bol has withdrawn from the 2024 Paris Olympics due to personal reasons.

The 24-year-old immediately left the South Sudan team, stationed in London for their exhibition games. His absence means Bol Bol will not play against his Suns teammates, Durant and Devin Booker, tonight.

The former Magic center had an unflattering season with Phoenix, averaging just 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds as an end-of-the-bench player. He did not participate in South Sudan’s opening game against Great Britain, a contest in which the African nation staged a valiant comeback.

Kevin Durant as a Mentor for Bol Bol

During his stint with the Orlando Magic, Bol Bol, a 7’2″ versatile center, faced Kevin Durant. Known as “The Slim Reaper,” Durant was among the first to recognize Bol’s talents. After their matchup, Durant praised Bol’s flexibility and unique skills as a towering, do-it-all center.

“He’s tough to deal with. I can see his confidence growing by the game, pretty much every game on the basketball court. He just needed more reps, last few years he’s been in and out of the lineup, hurt, and G League stints. I love what Jamal is doing with him over there, putting him at the point sometimes, putting him at the five, and just moving him around because he’s such a versatile player. It’s great for the league. I think you’ll start to see him continue to be more and more of an impact player as time goes on,” Durant said in 2022.

In an interview with Arizona Sports, Bol revealed the significant influence Kevin Durant has had on him during their time with the Phoenix Suns last season. The two-time Finals MVP played a key role in Bol retaining his spot with the Suns. It would have been a remarkable moment to see the three teammates on the floor together, competing as opponents.

Unfortunately, Bol might not get another opportunity to share the floor with Kevin Durant on the global stage. Will South Sudan manage to hold their ground without Bol Bol against Team USA? Let us know your comments below!