Manute Bol

Manute Bol
Born	Template:Birth date Turalei, Sudan (now South Sudan)
Died	June 19, 2010(2010-06-19) (aged 47)
Occupation(s)	Professional basketball player, political activist
Known for	One of the tallest NBA players; leading shot-blocker in NBA history; humanitarian work

Manute Bol ( ; June 19, 2010) was a professional basketball player of Sudanese-American descent and a dedicated political activist. Measuring , Bol ranked among the tallest athletes ever to compete in the NBA.

Bol played collegiate basketball for the Bridgeport Purple Knights before being chosen by the Washington Bullets in the 1985 NBA Draft. His professional tenure in the NBA lasted from 1985 through 1995, during which he played for the Bullets and three other franchises. As a center, Bol earned recognition as one of the greatest shot-blockers in league history and remains the sole NBA player to retire with a higher total of blocks than points scored. Currently, he stands second all-time in blocks per game and ranks 16th in total blocked shots.

Outside of his athletic career, Bol was actively involved in humanitarian efforts, advocating for human rights in Sudan and aiding Sudanese refugees.

Early life

Manute Bol was born to Madut and Okwok Bol in Turalei, a region formerly part of Sudan and now within South Sudan. His father held the position of tribal elder among the Dinka people. The name Manute translates to "special blessing" in the Dinka language. There is uncertainty surrounding his exact birth year; his immigration documents to the U.S. record October 16, 1962—a date reportedly assigned by Cleveland State coach Kevin Mackey to meet immigration requirements. Mackey suggested that Bol may have been in his forties while playing professionally, with former teammate Jayson Williams speculating that he might have been as old as 55 at retirement.

Bol’s upbringing occurred during a relatively peaceful era in Sudan, sparing him from military conscription and allowing for a conventional childhood centered on livestock care rather than formal schooling. He twice ran away from home to pursue education despite language challenges, resisting customary Dinka initiation rites until eventually participating in the ceremony marking adulthood.

Coming from a notably tall family—his mother measured , his father , his sister , and his great-grandfather —Bol himself reached by late adolescence. Unlike many individuals of extraordinary height, he did not experience growth disorders such as gigantism.

In 1979, after a photograph of him circulated widely, Bol received an invitation to join Wau’s police basketball team. Initially reluctant, he was persuaded by a cousin to try basketball. Early experiences included accidentally knocking out two teeth on the rim, which motivated him to improve his skills.

He soon joined a Catholic basketball team based in Khartoum, where coaches focused on developing his blocking and rebounding abilities. His exceptional height rendered him almost impossible to defend against, helping lead the team to top league standings. Additionally, Bol became part of the Sudan men's national basketball team, competing throughout Africa and Europe. Although officially listed as a paratrooper to satisfy military service obligations, he did not engage in active duty.

During this period, Bol viewed NBA game footage and aspired to compete professionally in the United States. When his national team traveled to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was excluded from the roster—likely due to concerns about potential defection—which ultimately influenced his decision to relocate abroad.

Move to the United States

In 1982, Don Feeley, formerly head coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University, traveled to Sudan to coach and conduct clinics for the national basketball team. He convinced Bol to move to America to advance his basketball career.

With Feeley’s support, Bol arrived first in Cleveland. Cleveland State University’s coach Kevin Mackey noted that Bol lacked official birth documentation; Mackey assigned October 16, 1962 as his birthdate but suspected he was older. Initially unable to speak English well, Bol improved through ESL courses at Case Western Reserve University, though he never competed for Cleveland State. The university later faced probation due to improper financial aid practices involving Bol and other African athletes.

Encouraged by Feeley’s guidance, Bol entered the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. The San Diego Clippers selected him with the 97th overall pick in the 1983 NBA draft. Clippers coach Jim Lynam, informed about Bol by Feeley early on, observed that Bol hesitated about turning professional because of language difficulties. Notably, Bol’s passport listed him as 19 years old and only five feet two inches tall; he explained this discrepancy resulted from being measured while seated.

Despite these issues, the NBA nullified Bol’s draft selection because he had not declared eligibility at least 45 days before the draft date.

College basketball career

Due to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) raising concerns about his eligibility for NCAA Division I basketball, Bol enrolled at the University of Bridgeport, an institution competing in NCAA Division II and offering an English program tailored for international students. During the 1984–85 season, he played for the Purple Knights under head coach Bruce Webster, who was a personal acquaintance of Feeley. Bol posted averages of 22.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 7.1 blocks per game. Before his arrival, the team attracted crowds of only 500–600 spectators, but with Bol on the roster, the 1,800-seat gym consistently reached full capacity. That season, Bridgeport secured a spot in the 1985 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament.

Professional basketball career

In May 1985, Bol embarked on his professional career by signing with the Rhode Island Gulls, a team in the springtime United States Basketball League. While scouts felt he required additional collegiate experience before entering the 1985 NBA draft, Bol chose to enter the draft to earn funds to support his sister amid Sudan’s political turmoil.

Washington Bullets (1985–1988)

The Washington Bullets selected Bol as the 31st overall pick in the second round.

Upon arriving in the United States, Bol weighed and subsequently gained nearly before stepping onto the NBA court. The Bullets assigned him to strength conditioning under University of Maryland’s coach Frank Costello; initially, he was able to bench press only for 10 repetitions and squat for 10 repetitions. His body mass index measured at 15.3 with a waist circumference of 31" (80 cm).

Bol spent three seasons with the Bullets from 1985 through 1988. During his rookie campaign (1985–86), he participated in 80 games and achieved a career-best average of 5.0 blocks per contest. On December 12, in his first starting appearance, Bol established a franchise record for Washington by recording 12 blocks and scored a personal high of 18 points in a 110–108 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. His total of 397 blocks set an NBA rookie record and remains second only to Mark Eaton’s single-season mark of 456. That year, he led the league in blocks per game.

In recognition of his defensive impact, Bol was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1986.

The Bullets drafted point guard Muggsy Bogues in 1987, creating a unique team dynamic by pairing the tallest and shortest players active in the league.

Bol participated in NBA playoff games with Washington during the seasons of 1986, 1987, and 1988.

Golden State Warriors (1988–1990)

On June 8, 1988, the Bullets exchanged Bol to the Golden State Warriors in return for Dave Feitl and a 1989 second-round draft selection (which was later used to pick Doug Roth).

Bol's tenure with the Warriors lasted two seasons, from 1988 to 1990. During his initial year, he attempted a personal best of 91 three-point shots, successfully converting 20. He led the NBA in blocks per game during the 1988–89 season, averaging 4.3.

Philadelphia 76ers (1990–1993)

On August 1, 1990, Golden State traded Bol to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a first-round draft pick in 1991 (used later to select Chris Gatling).

Bol spent three seasons with Philadelphia between 1990 and 1993, participating in all 82 games during the 1990–91 season, followed by appearances in 71 and 58 games over the next two years. A highlight of his final season included making six out of twelve three-point attempts in a single half against his former teammate Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. Spectators frequently encouraged him to "shoot" when he held the ball far from the basket.

Later career (1993–1997)

After being released by Philadelphia in July 1993, Bol appeared in eight games for the Miami Heat during the 1993–94 campaign, scoring one two-point basket and recording six blocks in limited playing time.

Following Miami’s release of Bol in January 1994, he briefly joined the Washington Bullets before returning to Philadelphia for a short four-game stint.

In October 1994, Bol returned to the Warriors for a final NBA appearance spanning five games. On November 15, he successfully made three three-pointers in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Under coach Don Nelson, Bol demonstrated a resurgence in defensive presence and shooting prowess before a knee injury on November 22 prematurely ended his season. Golden State waived him on February 15, 1995.

During the 1995–96 season, Bol played in 22 games for the Florida Beach Dogs of the Continental Basketball Association, coached by Eric Musselman. The Beach Dogs’ matchups against the Sioux Falls Skyforce, featuring former NBA player Darryl Dawkins, were televised on ESPN.

In 1996, Bol was announced as a member of the Portland Mountain Cats in the United States Basketball League, but he never suited up for a game.

He continued his professional career overseas with stints in Italy in 1997 and Qatar in 1998 before rheumatism compelled him to retire permanently.

Player profile and accomplishments

Bol and Gheorghe Mureșan share the distinction of being the tallest players ever to compete in the NBA. Official league records list Bol’s height at either or , while measurements by the Guinness Book of World Records recorded him at 7 ft 6 in. Complementing his towering stature, Bol possessed extraordinarily long limbs (with an inseam ) and notably large hands and feet (size 16). His arm span measured , which remains an NBA record, with an upward reach extending to .

His exceptional height made Bol one of the most intimidating defensive forces in NBA history. He set a rookie record for blocked shots during the 1985–86 season and matched NBA records for most blocks within one half (11) and one quarter (eight blocks twice). On January 31, 1992, he famously blocked four consecutive shots during a single possession. He averaged one block approximately every 5.6 minutes played.

Despite his defensive dominance, Bol’s offensive contributions were limited. His slender frame restricted his ability to physically contend with more robust centers and power forwards. Furthermore, a claw hand deformity on his right hand impaired his shooting and ball-handling capabilities. To offset this limitation, he developed proficiency with his non-dominant left hand.

Off-court, Bol was well known for his playful sense of humor; teammates such as Charles Barkley fondly recalled his knack for practical jokes.

Throughout his NBA career, Bol averaged 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists, and an impressive 3.3 blocks per game over an average of 18.7 minutes per contest. Over ten seasons and 624 games played, he accumulated totals of 1,599 points, 2,647 rebounds, and 2,086 blocks. As of 2019, he ranked second all-time for career blocks per game and stood as the only player whose total blocked shots exceeded points scored.

Humanitarian efforts and activism

Bol dedicated a substantial portion of his NBA income—estimated at $3.5 million—to supporting initiatives related to Sudan and its ongoing civil conflict. He often traveled to refugee camps housing Sudanese displaced persons, where he received a warm welcome. In 2001, the Sudanese government offered him the position of minister of sport; however, he declined because the role required him to convert to Islam.

Subsequently, the government imposed travel restrictions on Bol, accusing him of backing the Dinka-led Christian rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Army. With support from U.S. advocates such as Senator Joe Lieberman, funds were gathered to facilitate Bol’s travel to Cairo. After spending six months negotiating refugee status with officials at the U.S. consulate, Bol and his family returned to the United States in 2002 and settled in West Hartford, Connecticut.

To continue raising funds for Sudanese refugees, Bol established the Ring True Foundation. In 2002, during his appearance on Celebrity Boxing aired by Fox TV—where he won a third-round victory over former football player William "The Refrigerator" Perry—the foundation’s phone number was displayed to encourage donations. Later that year, Bol signed a one-day contract with the Indianapolis Ice of the Central Hockey League; despite being unable to skate, this stunt generated publicity that helped raise money for Sudanese children.

In April 2006, Bol took part in the Sudan Freedom Walk, a three-week march from New York City’s United Nations headquarters to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. This event was organized by his longtime friend Simon Deng with the goal of raising awareness about genocide in Darfur and broader human-rights violations occurring in Sudan. During the walk, Bol spoke at gatherings in New York City and Philadelphia.

Bol also championed reconciliation and education efforts in South Sudan. Since 2005, he collaborated with Sudan Sunrise to foster unity by constructing schools that admitted students regardless of their tribal or religious backgrounds. His dedication to peace-building and educational programs in South Sudan was featured in a New York Times article highlighting these initiatives.

Personal life

Bol fathered six children with his first wife, Atong, and four more with his second wife, Ajok. His son Madut played collegiate basketball at Southern University, graduating in 2013. Another son, Bol Bol, is currently an NBA player. Bol practiced Catholicism.

Before learning English, Bol was fluent in both Dinka and Arabic and quickly adapted to American culture; he was known for his intelligence and extensive knowledge. Charles Barkley complimented him for having diverse interests beyond basketball.

While living in Egypt, Bol operated a basketball school in Cairo where he mentored Sudanese refugee Luol Deng, who later became an NBA player and maintained a close bond with him.

Bol encountered legal troubles including arrests in 1988 for driving under the influence and resisting arrest. In 2004, he was taken into custody for assault and disorderly conduct after an incident involving his daughter; police indicated he was intoxicated and sustained injuries during the event.

Later that year, Bol endured a serious car accident in Connecticut that resulted in a broken neck. The other driver involved died; authorities reported that driver was intoxicated and operating a vehicle with a suspended license. Having donated much of his fortune to causes supporting Sudanese people and lacking health insurance, Bol faced financial difficulties after the crash and spent three months hospitalized. Following his recovery, he moved to Olathe, Kansas.

In 2006, Bol and his wife Ajok were arrested following a domestic dispute at their residence.

Death

On June 19, 2010, Bol passed away due to acute renal failure compounded by complications from Stevens–Johnson syndrome at the University of Virginia Medical Center located in Charlottesville, Virginia. His final resting place is in South Sudan.

Memorial service and honors

Bol's funeral was held on June 29, 2010, at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC. He was laid to rest in a custom-made casket measuring eight feet in length. During the service, U.S. Senator Sam Brownback stated, "I cannot recall anyone who leveraged their fame for a nobler cause than Manute Bol. He dedicated it to his people." NBA Development Vice President Rory Sparrow commented, "'His heart was immense and filled with empathy for others.'"

After Bol's passing, numerous tributes recognizing his contributions to basketball and humanitarian work emerged from across the U.S. and internationally. His former franchises and the NBA released statements acknowledging his influence both on the court and in Sudan. Senator Brownback also honored Bol with remarks on the floor of the United States Senate.

Recognitions

• In 2010, Bol was inducted into the University of Bridgeport Athletics Hall of Fame.
• The Golden State Warriors commemorated Bol on January 27, 2015, by distributing 10,000 Manute Bol bobbleheads—the tallest bobbleheads in franchise history at 10 inches.
• The Luol Deng Foundation established the "Manute Bol Court" in South Sudan in 2015.
• The Manute Bol Peace Builders Basketball Tournament is an annual event held throughout Sudan.
• In 2016, Bol was inducted into the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame.

Regular season

|- | | align="left" | Washington | 80 || 60 || 26.1 || .460 || .000 || .488 || 6.0 || 0.3 || 0.4 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 5.0* || 3.7 |- | align="left" | 1986–87 | align="left" | Washington | 82 || 12 || 18.9 || .446 || .000 || .672 || 4.4 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 3.7 || 3.1 |- | align="left" | 1987–88 | align="left" | Washington | 77 || 4 || 14.8 || .455 || .000 || .531 || 3.6 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 2.7 || 2.3 |- | align="left" | 1988–89 | align="left" | Golden State | 80 || 4 || 22.1 || .369 || .220 || .606 || 5.8 || 0.3 || 0.1 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 4.3* || 3.9 |- | align="left" | 1989–90 | align="left" | Golden State | 75 || 20 || 17.5 || .331 || .188 || .510 || 3.7 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 3.2 || 1.9 |- | align="left" | 1990–91 | align="left" | Philadelphia | 82 || 6 || 18.6 || .396 || .071 || .585 || 4.3 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 3.0 || 1.9 |- | align="left" | 1991–92 | align="left" | Philadelphia | 71||2||17.8|| .383|| .000|| .462||3.1||0.3||0.2||2.9||1.5 |- | align="left" | 1992–93 | align="left" | Philadelphia |58||23||14.7|| .409|| .313|| .632||3.3||0.3||0.2||2.1||2.2 |- | align="left" | 1993–94 | align="left" | Miami |8||0||7.6|| .083|| .000|| –||1.4||0.0||0.0||0.8||0.3 |- | align="left" | 1993–94 | align="left" | Philadelphia |4||0||12.3|| .429|| –|| –||1.5||0.0||0.5||2.3||1.5 |- | align="left" | 1993–94 | align="left" | Washington |2||0||3.0|| .000|| –|| –||0.5||0.0||0.5||0.5||0.0 |- | align="left" | 1994–95 | align="left" | Golden State |5||2||16.2|| .600|| .600|| –||2.4||0.0||0.0||1.8||3.0 |- class=sortbottom | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career |624||133||18.7|| .407|| .210|| .561||4.2||0.3||0.2||3.3||2.6 |}

Playoff Performance

|- | style="text-align:left;" | 1986 | style="text-align:left;" | Washington |5|||5|||30.4||| .588||| –||| .375||| 7.6||| 0.2||| 0.6||| 5.8||| 4.6 |- | style="text-align:left;" | 1987 | style="text-align:left;" | Washington |3|||0|||14.3||| .400||| .000||| .000|||3.0|||0.0|||0.0|||1.6|||2.6 |- |- style=text-align:left;1988 NBA Playoffs (1988) |- style=text-align:left;1987-88 Washington Bullets (Washington) |- (Participated in 5 games without starts; averaged 8.8 minutes per game; shooting percentage: .571; free throw accuracy: 1.000; averaged 2.4 rebounds; assists, steals, blocks, and points not recorded) |- |- style=text-align:left;1989 NBA Playoffs (1989) |- style=text-align:left;1988-89 Golden State Warriors (Golden State) |- (Appeared in 8 games with no starts; averaged 18.5 minutes on court; field goal percentage: .194; three-point shooting: .091; free throw percentage: .286; grabbed 3.8 rebounds per game; other stats such as assists, steals, blocks, and points not noted) |- |- style=text-align:left;1991 NBA Playoffs (1991) |- style=text-align:left;1990-91 Philadelphia 76ers (Philadelphia) |- (Took part in 8 games without starting any; averaged 13.6 minutes per contest; field goal success rate: .500; free throw percentage: .667; averaged 2.3 rebounds per game; assists, steals, blocks, and points data unavailable) |- class=sortbottom |- Career Playoff Totals |- Games played: 29; Games started: 5; Average minutes: 17.1; Field goal percentage: .386; Three-point percentage: .087; Free throw percentage: .444; Average rebounds: 3.8; Assists average: 0.1; Steals average: 0.2; Blocks average: 0.27; Points per game average: 0.28

Collegiate Career

Season	Institution	Games Played	Field Goal %	Free Throw %	Rebounds Per Game	Assists Per Game	Steals Per Game	Blocks Per Game	Points Per Game
1984–85	Bridgeport	31	.611	.595	13.5	1.4	.3	7.1	22.5 Related Topics List of NBA annual blocks leaders List of NBA single-game blocks leaders List of NBA single-season blocks per game leaders List of tallest players in NBA history List of tallest people External Resources Player Profile (InterBasket)