Bolden muscles back in

Jonah Bolden’s return to the court has been one of the surprise stories of the NBL off-season.

Just two years after initially walking away from the game, the former Philadelphia 76er and Boomers representative will suit up in the NBL, and has followed in the footsteps of his father – Bruce – in joining the Sydney Kings.

Bolden looks set to be a crucial part of this new-look Kings side under incoming head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah, and has joined returning guard and former league MVP Jaylen Adams, ex-Taipan DJ Hogg and former Chicago Bull Denzel Valentine as big name signings ahead of NBL24.

He initially stepped away from the game at the age of 25, and has returned at age 27. He says there’s one major part of the life of a professional athlete he missed in his time off-court.

“It’s definitely something I missed, the consistency and repetition,” Bolden told The Pick and Roll. “Obviously professionally players are professional for that reason.

“They do it day in, day out, taking some time off – you forget what it really takes to get to that level.

“Being back now, day after day with lifting, conditioning, shooting on the court and scrimmaging, it definitely brings back good memories.

“Some muscle memory has been reactivated.”

For the full story head to >> Around the world and back again: Jonah Bolden on returning home and basketball expectations ahead.