Analyst Believes Bol Bol Will Contend for Defensive Player of the Year

NBA champion Kendrick Perkins believes Phoenix Suns PF Bol Bol will be a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.

Stars are everywhere for the Phoenix Suns, though it could be a bench player that rises to the occasion. 

There's no doubting the impact players such as Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal will make over the course of the next 82 regular season games, though many are also excited about the supplemental help the team received in free agency and even their most recent trade.

Keita Bates-Diop is expected to contend for the final starting spot in the lineup while Yuta Watanabe looks to be a high motor defensive piece. Eric Gordon brings a veteran shooter off the bench while other puzzle pieces are exciting, too. 

The addition of Bol Bol can often be overlooked with such lofty names, though there's plenty of reason to be excited about the former Orlando Magic forward joining the Valley. His rare combination of size, length and athleticism makes him quite a fun project considering he's only 23. 

It's unlikely he sees much of the floor this season barring injury, though one NBA analyst has some lofty expectations for him.

From ESPN analyst and former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins:

"I think he's the sleeper. He's gonna show up and show out this season for the Phoenix Suns and I feel like he's gonna be one of those guys that's gonna be up for the race - a candidate off the bench for Defensive Player of the Year."

"[Bol Bol's] the sleeper. He's gonna show up and show out this season for Phoenix Suns... [He's going to be] a candidate off the bench for Defensive Player of the Year."

Thoughts on this Kendrick Perkins statement? 🤔

(via @ESPNNBA) pic.twitter.com/gGd1ZIVIEX

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 28, 2023

The likelihood of that happening is... quite low, and Perkins has received some major backlash for that take. Perhaps Frank Vogel and his defensive prowess will shine in every corner of the roster, and the Suns certainly wouldn't complain about that.