What can Philadelphia 76ers fans expect from Jonah Bolden in his freshman campaign?
A second-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017, Jonah Bolden spent last season with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. The 22-year-old’s season was overwhelmingly positive, playing a legitimate role for a high-level European team. There were some inevitable hiccups, but he looked the part of an NBA prospect.
The hype surrounding him died down in Summer League, as Bolden’s second Vegas run was marred by inconsistency and offensive question marks. Once considered a hyper-versatile stretch four, his lackluster shooting touch and ill-advised turnovers left some evaluators concerned.
Brett Brown wasn’t deterred, though, signing Bolden to a four-year rookie contract and dealing Richaun Holmes to the Phoenix Suns, clearing the way to occasional playing time for the Australian native. Bolden will, at the very least, have a chance to fill Holmes’ role, if not more.
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While Summer League wasn’t pretty, there is still considerable reason for optimism when it comes to Bolden’s long-term outlook. That starts with his first Summer League in 2017, when his defensive instincts shined. He looked much better then, so it’s reasonable to expect his effectiveness to fall somewhere in between.
One reason for Bolden’s struggles could be rest, or a lack thereof. He was coming off a long season overseas, meaning his Vegas competition was well-rested in comparison. That would explain his sluggish nature on offense.
If that’s the case, things should be back to normal in October. That would ideally mean Bolden can step off the bench in short bursts, giving Ben Simmons an above-rim threat and occasional spot-up shooter at the five.
Bolden has also shown some offensive flexibility in the past, pushing the ball up court in transition and making high-level passes. Those areas of his game were less than perfect in Vegas, but again, that shouldn’t be the basis for your evaluation heading into next season.
With that said, Bolden’s value is still rooted in defense. His ability to survive switches and protect the rim are traits that make him more valuable than the aforementioned Holmes, who struggled with defensive awareness.
If Bolden wants consistent minutes, he’ll need to prove himself as an impact defender — something that will be admittedly difficult for a rookie. He needs to provide value that Amir Johnson and Mike Muscala can’t, which will start with his switch-friendly nature and shot-blocking presence.
As Johnson’s decline steepens, his offensive value will continue to drop. If Bolden is even comparable as a defender, his theoretical versatility on offense could push Brett Brown to make the switch.
Depending on how long Zhaire Smith is sidelined, there’s a very real chance that Bolden is the Sixers’ best rookie. Landry Shamet and Shake Milton both fill important niches on offense, but Bolden was largely considered a steal when drafted.
The Sixers don’t have a pressing need for frontcourt depth, but he might end up being their best overall prospect outside Zhaire and Markelle Fultz. Next season will be our first (real) taste of how far he has progressed in one season with Maccabi.
Rough 2018-19 stat line projection: 5.0 PPG / 4.0 RPG / 1.5 APG / 0.5 SPG / 0.8 BPG / 50 FG% / 28 3FG% / 65 FT%