Manute Bol facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Manute Bol

Bol in 2006
Personal information
Born	(1962-10-16)October 16, 1962 Turalei, Sudan (now South Sudan)
Nationality	Sudanese, American
Died	June 19, 2010(2010-06-19) (aged 47) Charlottesville, Virginia
Listed height	7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College	Bridgeport (1984–1985)
NBA Draft	1985 / Round: 2 / Pick: 31st overall
Selected by the Washington Bullets
Pro career	1985–1997
Career history
1985	Rhode Island Gulls
1985–1988	Washington Bullets
1988–1990	Golden State Warriors
1990–1993	Philadelphia 76ers
1993–1994	Miami Heat
1994	Washington Bullets
1994	Philadelphia 76ers
1994–1995	Golden State Warriors
1995–1996	Florida Beach Dogs
1996–1997	Fulgor Libertas Forlì
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1986) 2× NBA blocks leader (1986, 1989)
Career NBA statistics
Points	1,599 (2.6 ppg)
Rebounds	2,647 (4.2 rpg)
Blocks	2,086 (3.3 bpg)

Manute Bol (born October 16, 1962 – died June 19, 2010) was a professional basketball player from Sudan and America. He was also an activist who worked for human rights.

Standing at 7 feet 6 or 7 feet 7 inches tall, Bol was one of the tallest players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was known for being an amazing shot-blocker. In fact, he is the only NBA player to have more blocked shots than points scored in his career!

Bol played for the Washington Bullets and three other teams during his NBA career, from 1985 to 1995. Beyond basketball, he was famous for helping people in his home country of Sudan, especially refugees.

Manute Bol's Early Life

Manute Bol was born in Turalei, Sudan (which is now South Sudan). His parents were Madute and Okwok Bol. His father was an elder in the Dinka tribe. He gave Manute the name, which means "special blessing." Manute didn't have an official birth certificate.

His family was known for being very tall. Manute said his mother was 6 feet 10 inches tall, and his father was 6 feet 8 inches. His great-grandfather was even taller, at 7 feet 10 inches! The Dinka people, like other Nilotic groups, are among the tallest in the world.

Manute started playing soccer in 1972. But he stopped because he was too tall for the game. In his late teens, he began playing basketball in Sudan. He played for teams in Wau and Khartoum.

Manute Bol's Basketball Journey

In 1982, a basketball coach named Don Feeley visited Sudan. He coached the Sudanese national team. Feeley convinced Manute to come to the United States to play basketball.

When Manute first arrived in the U.S., he didn't speak much English. He took classes to learn the language. He also didn't have an official birth date. A coach listed his birth date as October 16, 1962.

Manute wanted to play in the NBA. The San Diego Clippers drafted him in 1983. However, the NBA said the pick wasn't valid. This was because Manute hadn't declared for the draft early enough.

Manute then went to the University of Bridgeport, a college with an English program. He played for the Purple Knights in the 1984–85 season. He was a star player, averaging 22.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 7.1 blocks per game. The team's games became very popular because of him.

Manute Bol's NBA Career

Manute Bol became a professional player in 1985. He joined the Rhode Island Gulls before the NBA draft. He decided to go pro because he wanted to earn money to help his sister leave Sudan, which was facing political problems.

Playing for the Washington Bullets (1985–1988)

The Washington Bullets picked Manute in the second round of the 1985 NBA draft. He played for the Bullets for three seasons. In his first year (1985–1986), he played 80 games. He set a career high with 5.0 blocks per game.

On December 12, 1985, Manute had an amazing game. He blocked 12 shots and scored 18 points. His 397 blocks that season set a new NBA rookie record. It's still the second-highest single-season total ever.

Manute was very thin when he joined the NBA. The Bullets helped him get stronger. In 1987, the Bullets drafted Muggsy Bogues, who was only 5 feet 3 inches tall. This meant the tallest and shortest players in the league were on the same team!

Time with the Golden State Warriors (1988–1990)

In 1988, Manute was traded to the Golden State Warriors. He played there for two seasons. With the Warriors, he started trying to shoot three-pointers often. In one season, he tried 91 three-pointers and made 20 of them.

With the Philadelphia 76ers (1990–1993)

Manute was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in 1990. He played there for three seasons. In his first year with the 76ers, he played a career-high 82 games.

He had a memorable game against his former teammate Charles Barkley. Manute made 6 of 12 three-pointers in the second half! Fans would often shout "shoot" when he got the ball far from the basket.

Short Stints with Other Teams (1993–1995)

After leaving the 76ers, Manute played briefly for the Miami Heat in 1993. He then returned to the Washington Bullets for two games. There, he helped mentor a new tall player, Gheorghe Mureșan, who was 7 feet 7 inches.

He also returned to the Philadelphia 76ers for four games. He helped mentor another tall teammate, Shawn Bradley, who was 7 feet 6 inches.

In 1994, Manute went back to the Golden State Warriors for his final NBA games. He even made three three-pointers in one game! But a knee injury ended his season and his NBA career.

Overall, Manute Bol played 624 NBA games over 10 seasons. He averaged 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game. He ended his career with 2,086 blocks, which is more than his total points (1,599).

Later Career (1995–1997)

After the NBA, Manute played for the Florida Beach Dogs in the Continental Basketball Association. He also played professionally in Italy and Qatar. He retired from basketball in 1998 due to a health issue called rheumatism.

Manute Bol's Player Profile

Manute Bol and Gheorghe Mureșan are the two tallest players in NBA history. Manute was officially listed at 7 feet 6 or 7 feet 7 inches tall. He was measured by the Guinness Book of World Records at 7 feet 6 and three-quarters inches.

Besides his height, Manute had incredibly long arms. His arm span was 8 feet 6 inches, which is the longest in NBA history! This made him an amazing defensive player. He set the rookie shot-blocking record and tied the NBA record for most blocks in one half (11) and one quarter (8). He blocked one shot every 5.6 minutes he played.

Manute was very thin, which made it hard for him to play offense against bigger players. He also had a hand condition that affected his shooting. So, he learned to dribble, block, and rebound mostly with his left hand.

Off the court, Manute was known for being a funny person and a prankster. His friend Charles Barkley said Manute had a great sense of humor. Manute also gave funny nicknames to his teammates. He became very good friends with his Warriors teammate Chris Mullin and even named one of his sons after him.

As of 2023, Manute Bol is still:

• First in career blocks per 48 minutes (8.6).
• Second in career blocks-per-game average (3.34).
• The only player in NBA history to have more blocked shots than points scored.

Manute Bol's Humanitarian Work

Manute Bol was very active in helping others during and after his basketball career. He said he used most of his NBA earnings to support people in Sudan, his home country, which was affected by war.

He often visited refugee camps in Sudan. People there treated him like a hero. In 2001, the Sudanese government offered him a job as minister of sport. But Manute, who was Christian, refused because he would have had to change his religion to Islam.

Later, the Sudanese government tried to stop him from leaving the country. They thought he was helping Christian rebel groups. With help from supporters in the U.S., Manute and his family were able to leave Sudan and return to America in 2002. He was welcomed as a religious refugee.

Manute started the Ring True Foundation to raise money for Sudanese refugees. He gave away most of his money (about $3.5 million) to help them. He even appeared on a TV show called Celebrity Boxing to get the show to share his foundation's phone number. He also once dressed up as a horse jockey to raise money for Sudan.

In 2006, Manute was part of the Sudan Freedom Walk. This was a three-week march from New York City to Washington, D.C. It aimed to raise awareness about the problems in Sudan, like the genocide in Darfur and modern-day slavery. Manute spoke at the start of the walk.

He also worked to bring peace and improve education in South Sudan. He partnered with an organization called Sudan Sunrise. They worked to build schools that would welcome students from all tribes and religions. Many people believe Manute gave his life for his country because he continued to help even when he was sick.

Manute Bol's Personal Life

Manute Bol had six children with his first wife, Atong, and four with his second wife, Ajok. His son, Madut, played college basketball. Another son, Bol Bol, also became an NBA player. He currently plays for the Orlando Magic.

Manute learned English after arriving in the United States. He was known for being smart and well-read. Charles Barkley said, "If everyone in the world was a Manute Bol, it's a world I'd want to live in." Manute was a Catholic.

While in Egypt, Manute ran a basketball school. One of his students was Luol Deng, who also became an NBA player. They stayed close friends.

In 2004, Manute was badly hurt in a car accident. He broke his neck. Because he had given most of his money to Sudan, he didn't have health insurance and faced financial problems.

Manute Bol's Death

Manute Bol passed away on June 19, 2010. He was 47 years old. He died from kidney failure and other health issues. He is buried in South Sudan.

Tributes to Manute Bol

Bol's memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral

Many people honored Manute after he died. His former teams and the NBA shared statements about his impact. U.S. Senator Sam Brownback spoke about him in the Senate.

People remembered Manute for his kind heart and his dedication to his country. Rory Sparrow, from the National Basketball Players Association, called him "a giant off the court." Senator Brownback said Manute "literally gave his life for his people."

Sudan's Ambassador to the U.S. said Manute "had a very great heart for his country and people." He helped those in need and worked for peace between different groups in Sudan. Tom Prichard, founder of Sudan Sunrise, said Manute's work for education and peace continues to live on.

Manute Bol's Honors

• Manute was inducted into the University of Bridgeport Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
• In 2015, the Golden State Warriors gave away 10,000 Manute Bol bobbleheads. They were 10 inches tall, the tallest in the team's history!
• The "Manute Bol Court" was built in South Sudan in 2015 by the Luol Deng Foundation.
• The Manute Bol Peace Builders Basketball Tournament is held every year in Sudan.
• In 2016, Manute was inducted into the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame.

Manute Bol's Influence

Manute Bol was so famous that he was mentioned in pop culture. In a 1993 episode of MTV's Beavis and Butthead, the characters joked about him.

He was also mentioned in many hip hop songs. These include "M.V.P." by Big L, "Spittin'" by E-40, and "Where I'm From" by JAY-Z.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular Season

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Manute Bol para niños