Manute Bol
Manute Bol (/məˈnuːt ˈboʊl/ mə-NOOT BOWL; d. June 19, 2010) was a Sudanese-American professional basketball player and political activist. Listed at 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) or 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) tall, Bol was one of the tallest players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Bol in 2006 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Turalei, Sudan (now South Sudan) |
| Died | June 19, 2010 (aged 47) Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S. |
| Nationality | Sudanese, American |
| Listed height | 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Bridgeport (1984–1985) |
| NBA draft | 1985: 2nd round, 31st overall pick |
| Selected by the Washington Bullets | |
| Playing career | 1985–1997 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 10, 11, 4, 1 |
| 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 | |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 1,599 (2.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,647 (4.2 rpg) |
| Blocks | 2,086 (3.3 bpg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
After he played college basketball for the Bridgeport Purple Knights, Bol was selected by the Washington Bullets in the 1985 NBA draft. Bol played for the Bullets and three other teams over the course of his NBA career, which lasted from 1985 to 1995. A center, Bol is considered among the best shot-blockers in the history of the sport and is the only NBA player to retire with more career blocked shots than points scored. As of December 2022, he ranked second in NBA history in blocked shots per game and 16th in total blocked shots.
Bol was notable for his efforts to promote human rights in his native Sudan and aid for Sudanese refugees.