Bol Bol's Absence Impacts South Sudan Team Ahead of Paris Olympics

Phoenix Suns ' Bol Bol ruled out of South Sudan men 's national basketball team roster for Paris Olympics

The South Sudan men 's national basketball team received a major blow as Phoenix Suns player Bol Bol will not be part of their roster for the Paris Olympics due to undisclosed personal reasons . This news was confirmed by assistant coach Ajou Deng ahead of an exhibition game against Team USA in London.

The absence of Bol Bol , who was included in the initial 25 - man roster for the team 's training camp in Kigali , will be felt by South Sudan as they aim to showcase their talent on the global stage . Despite his absence , the team managed to defeat Great Britain 84 - 81 , highlighting the depth of quality in the squad even without key players like Bol.

Bol Bol 's presence in the team would have had symbolic significance , given his father Manute Bol 's impact on basketball in South Sudan . The elder Bol 's legacy in the NBA helped inspire a generation of basketball players in the nation , which gained independence in 2011 . However , the federation still faces challenges in convincing top talents to represent the country.

Challenges faced by the South Sudan Basketball Federation in recruiting top talent

The federation has encountered difficulties in recruiting players like Jo Lual - Acuil , the Basketball Africa League MVP , who initially declined to participate in the pre - Olympic training camp . Similarly , other players like Thon Maker have represented other countries internationally , making it challenging for them to switch allegiances to South Sudan.

Despite these challenges , the team boasts experienced players like Carlik Jones and Wenyen Gabriel , who bring valuable skills to the squad . The final roster for the Paris Olympics is yet to be announced , with the team set to face the USA in a showcase game to finalize their lineup.

Phoenix Suns ' Bol Bol 's NBA journey and impact on South Sudan basketball

Bol Bol recently re - signed with the Phoenix Suns on a one - year deal after a solid performance under former head coach Frank Vogel . His contributions on the court have been notable , averaging 5.2 points , 3.2 rebounds , and 0.6 blocks in limited minutes per game.

While Bol will miss the Olympics , his Suns teammate Kevin Durant is set to return to action for Team USA after recovering from a calf strain . Durant 's presence will be crucial for Team USA as they prepare for the upcoming exhibition games against South Sudan and Germany before the start of the Paris Olympics.