Jonah Bolden quit the NBL to pursue a crypto career – he reveals the hardest part of coming back
After trading basketball for blockchain, former NBA forward Jonah Bolden reveals the stark reality of his NBL comeback – and what has been the toughest part of returning.
Jonah Bolden always knew coming out of retirement following three years pursuing his cryptocurrency business was going to be a challenge, but he didn’t think it was going to be this difficult.
Bolden hardly touched a basketball during his hiatus from hoops as his focus shifted from the hardwood to his hard drive.
He was just 25 when he made the call to walk away in 2020 following a NBA stint with Philadelphia and three further games at Phoenix.
Bolden’s decision was driven by a desire for more personal and professional growth outside of basketball’s demanding time commitment.
The son of NBL great Bruce Bolden had success starting companies Bolden Ventures and Mative Labs before returning to hoops in 2023.
Bolden joined the Sydney Kings with a mindset to jump straight back on the bike, but his body wasn’t ready for the rigours of pro hoops.
He felt the same during his stint with the New Zealand Breakers last season before an off-season stint in Puerto Rico.
Now after penning a one-year deal with defending NBL champions the Illawarra Hawks, 29-year-old Bolden concedes he misjudged how long it would take to find his feet again following an extended period on the sidelines.
“I definitely underestimated how hard it would be to come back,” said Bolden, who played 61 NBA games for Philadelphia and Phoenix.
“At this level in the NBL guys have been playing from a young age and non-stop.
“That muscle and brain memory all plays into it when you take some time off and then come back.
“Mentally you still feel like you’ve got it, but it’s not until you get back out there playing again that you feel the difference in the few years off.
“That’s comparatively to guys who haven’t stopped playing.
“It is that time off compared to guys who have been living in the gym and in that team environment.”
Bolden did his best to push through form slumps at the Breakers last season, but deep down he knew something had to change.
It’s why he took a step back and had an honest conversation with himself about how he had let his high standards slip upon returning to the game.
Bolden spent time in the NBA and EuroLeague, but he came to the realisation he couldn’t just hang his hat on those achievements without putting in the extra hours.
This especially became apparent following his three-year lay-off from basketball.
Bolden understands time stands still for no one and he is determined to fulfil his potential with Illawarra this season.
“No doubt, so this season I’m looking to come in, push myself to the edge and get back to where I feel I should be as a player,” he said.
“That is when I took a step back and re-evaluated myself this off-season.
“I really wanted to come in and do what is needed to get back to the level I know I can play at and it is a day-by-day mentality for now.
“I’ve pushed myself on that as well, so sometimes maybe I’ve been over questioning myself.
“So, it is all about getting back to what got me there and that is the one percenters, living in the gym.
“Those habits consistently are what builds up muscle memory.”
Bolden had interest from across the basketball globe for this season, but he was lured to Illawarra following the club’s championship success.
He has watched the Hawks for years and couldn’t be more impressed with the team’s progression.
Bolden believes Illawarra coach Justin Tatum is also the perfect man manager to help him rediscover his finest form.
“It was a long process, but it came down to me enjoying my basketball and I loved Illawarra’s growth from a team and coaching standpoint,” he said about the Hawks, who will unveil the club’s NBL25 championship banner against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Saturday night.
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“I spoke to JT before signing and I got a bit more of a feel for his style. I also spoke to the players and it all just fell into place.
“Missing home also played into it, but it wasn’t a major factor.
“If the opportunity fell somewhere else I would have considered it, but I feel like the culture at the Hawks can help me navigate the pros, cons, good and bad days.”
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