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Have you ever wondered what happened to the legacy of some of those you admire from time past. I recall checking about the children of people like Marie Curie, Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King. There is always a soft spot for the offspring of those who have left a mark on the World, and we will like to see them do well, or carry on the legacies of their parents.

Ever heard of Manute Bol? The late NBA Player wasn't exactly popular for his basketball skills even though he did spend more than a decade in the league between 1985 and 1995. Instead, he is better known for being one of the tallest ever NBA basketball players (7 ft 7) as well as his relentless humanitarian efforts in his native South Sudan which even left him broke before his untimely death.

It was no surprise that quite a few people became curious when one of his children, Bol Bol was drafted with the 44th pick of the 2019 NBA draft. Despite being a late second round pick, the 7ft 2 Bol Bol had shown glimpses of true star power during his early high school years and appeared on his way to becoming a lottery pick, but injuries derailed him and he fell off the radar.

Everyone loves a happy ending, but most times the NBA doesn't seem to provide that. Players toil and sweat day in day out during their formative years to even make it to the league, yet the majority comes up short. Even for those who make it, Just a handful of them find true success per draft year.

Sometimes it may be absolutely no fault of theirs. Players struggle with a lot of things when entering the NBA from injury to very limited opportunity. It is only the lottery picks that are expected to receive sufficient playing time go prove themselves and develop from the get go, while others hope (and pray?) that they get lucky.

Imagine if two time NBA MVP, Nikolai Jokic, who was a late second round draft pick, had not been given the opportunity to prove that he belonged in the NBA. It would've been a monumental loss of basketball and the Denver Nuggets in particular. Such has been the fate of too many NBA players that have come in as late draft picks.

Back to Bol

For Bol Bol, a series of injuries as well as lack of playing hampered his ability to feature in the NBA, thus raising concerns about his NBA future. The Nuggets with MVP Nikola Jokic were a club side focused on winning now, therefore a rookie who was coming as a late second round pick with a history of injury problems just wasn't making the team, not when winning an NBA trophy was the goal.

It felt like Bol was on his way out of the NBA before being handed a lifeline by the Orlando Magic, one of the worst teams in the league who are seeking to rebuild their team. Despite an injury during the off-season, the magic stayed patient and signed him with clear intentions of giving Bol and opportunity to play.

So far, he has made the most of the opportunity, leading the NBA new season in blocks while being a useful asset on both the attacking and defensive ends. While it is too early to predict stardom, he certainly is proving that he belongs in the NBA.

After I read about the legacy his father set, I'll say I am rooting for him to succeed and perhaps surpass his father both on and off the basketball court