Marques Bolden

Marques Bolden's Biography

Marques Terrell “Joyo” Bolden, known affectionately as “Mar-KWEESS,” was born on April 17, 1998, and, as an American-Indonesian athlete, has made notable strides in his career as a professional basketball player. With stints with teams such as the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Bolden has made quite the splash in the world of sports.

Bolden’s journey into the world of competitive basketball began in college, where he played for the Duke Blue Devils. Prior to this, he stormed through his senior year at DeSoto High School, taking pride in his impressive per-game averages of 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocked shots. This prowess played a key role in leading his team to the coveted Texas Class 6A state title. His admirable performance also earned him the prestigious titles of Texas Mr. Basketball and TABC 6A Player of the Year.

Bolden’s youthful basketball career was marked with standout performances. In the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic, he boasted eight points and five rebounds. The same year at the McDonald’s All-American Game, he walked away with 13 points and seven boards – an accomplishment to be proud of.

By 2016, Bolden had established himself as a top-tier high school player, earning the 8th spot overall in the 2016 high school class by Scout.com. Other ranking platforms, such as Rivals and ESPN, placed him 11th and 16th overall, respectively. With his star clearly on the rise, Bolden committed to Duke on May 19, 2016, where he joined the ranks of fellow five-star recruits Harry Giles III, Jayson Tatum, and Frank Jackson.

Bolden’s freshman year at Duke was not without challenges. He had to sit out the first eight games of the 2016–17 season due to a leg injury, but made a triumphant return against Maine on December 3, 2016. Although he missed the NCAA Tournament due to illness, he still managed to average 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds in 24 games.

His sophomore year saw continued growth, with Bolden playing behind Wendell Carter Jr. and Marvin Bagley III, managing to average 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Bolden’s Duke coach, Mike Krzyzewski, spoke highly of his potential in 2018, predicting him as one of the best big men in the upcoming season. Bolden’s junior year in 2018–19 proved this prediction right as he participated in 35 games with the Blue Devils, where he averaged 5.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 19.1 minutes per game.

Bolden then engaged into the ruthless world of professional basketball when he joined the 2019 NBA draft. His big move commenced with an undrafted stint in the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2019 NBA Summer League.

His journey with the Cavaliers was marked with forward and backward movements, including releases, re-signings and switches to the Cavaliers’ NBA G League affiliate, the Canton Charge. Bolden also made brief appearances on the Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks teams, but was unfortunately waived from both before the start of the regular season.

Despite the ups and downs, Bolden kept his spirit high and returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers, later signing with the Milwaukee Bucks once again in 2023. However, an injury in January 2023 resulted in Bolden ending the season with the Salt Lake City Stars.

Bolden’s journey took a turn when he signed a 10-day contract with the Charlotte Hornets in 2024, a contract which was extended to a two-way contract in March that same year. This stint with the Hornets saw him recording a career high against the Cavaliers with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, and 1 steal over 30 minutes.

In addition to his successful career with American teams, Bolden also had the privilege of representing Team USA at the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit. More impressively, in 2021, he spurred the Indonesian national team to its first-ever gold medal win at the Southeast Asian Games. His work at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup was particularly noteworthy, boasting the highest minutes per game, highest efficiency per game, highest blocks per game, second-highest points per game, third highest double-doubles, and fourth highest rebounds per game.

Though his journey in the sport has been a mix of highs and lows, Marques Terrell “Joyo” Bolden has proven his worth and continues to be a significant player in the world of basketball.