Manute Bol Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics

Manute Bol was a South Sudanese professional basketball player, political activist, and TV personality, best known as one of 2 tallest players in NBA’s history, as well as one of the best shot-blockers, being the only person in the NBA that totaled more blocked shots than scored points. Manute played his 1st professional match for Rhode Island Gulls (1985) and was then signed to Washington Bullets (1985–1988), after which he played for Golden State Warriors (1988-1990), and Philadelphia 76ers (1990-1993). In 1993 and 1994 Manute played for Miami Heat, and in 1994 came back to Washington Bullets and Philadelphia 76ers, and then played for Golden State Warriors again in the 1994-1995 season.

Manute was also known for honors such as being part of NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1986 and being the 2-times NBA blocks leader in 1986 and 1989, and as of 2010, being the 1st in career blocks per 48 minutes with a score of 8.6. Between 1995 and 1996, he took part in 22 games for Florida Beach Dogs, and the next year traveled and played in Italy while in 1998 he moved to Qatar to play. Unfortunately, his rheumatism illness progressed and forced him to retire from playing professionally in late 1998. Manute was also recognized and honored for his political and social activism activities, all with the intent to bring prosperity, justice, and help to his home country of Sudan.

Age

Manute Bol had no formal record of his birthdate and didn’t know it himself. His Cleveland State University coach listed October 16, 1962, for the sake of paperwork but believed he was much older.

Died

Manute Bol died on June 19, 2010, at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, from acute kidney failure and complications from Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Nationality

Education

Manute attended the English department at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, United States.

In order to be eligible for the NCAA Division I basketball, Manute Bol had to enroll in the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States. He studied at the NCAA Division II English program for foreign students in 1984.

Occupation

Professional Basketball Player, Political Activist, TV Personality

Shirt Number

• 10 – Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Rhode Island Gulls
• 11 – Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Bullets
• 4 – Washington Bullets
• 1 – Washington Bullets
• 50 – Florida Beach Dogs

Girlfriend / Spouse

Manute Bol has dated –

1. Along – Manute rarely spoke of his 1st wife but it was known that they had 6 children, one of which was Madut Bol, born December 19, 1989, who played college basketball at the Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, and graduated in 2013.
2. Ajok Giugwol/Kuag (1998-2010) – Manute had 4 kids with his 2nd wife, to whom he was married until his death, June 19, 2010. One of his sons, Bol Bol, born November 16, 1999, played basketball for the Oregon Ducks in the 2018-2019 season. He declared himself for the NBA draft in 2019, and the sports analysts projected he would be a 1st-round pick. Manute also became good friends with Chris Mullin, his Golden State Warriors teammate, and named one of his sons after him.

Sexual Orientation

Straight

Distinctive Features

• Extremely tall physique
• Very thin and frail body frame
• Fuller Lips
• Large, wide nose

Brand Endorsements

Manute supported or founded charity organizations such as –

• Ring True Foundation (2001)
• Sudan Sunrise (2005)
• Sudan Freedom Walk (2006)

Religion

Christianity

Best Known For

• Playing for basketball clubs such as Rhode Island Gulls (1985), Washington Bullets (1985–1988), Golden State Warriors (1988-1990), Philadelphia 76ers (1990-1993), Miami Heat (1993-1994), Golden State Warriors (1994-1995), and Florida Beach Dogs (1995-1996)
• Being one of 2 tallest basketball players in the history of NBA alongside , who was also around 7 ft 7 in or 231 cm
• Winning the NBA All-Defensive Second Team honor in 1986 with Washington Bullets, and being a 2-times NBA blocks leader (1986, 1989)
• Being the only player in the NBA’s history to have more lifetime blocked shots (2,086) than scored points (1,599)
• His political activity to bring funding and prosperity to his home country of Sudan, and donating most of his own profits to the cause

First Basketball Match

After being signed to Rhode Island Gulls in May 1985, Manute Bol played his 1st basketball match in the spring season of the United States Basketball League under coach Kevin Stacom.

First TV Show

Manute Bol made his first TV show appearance as a guest/himself in an episode of the comedy talk-show Late Night with on January 27, 1986.

Personal Trainer

Manute Bol went through the standard set of workouts any professional player did. He mixed exercises that focused on speed, or stamina, as well as in combination with post-workout . Due to his height, his joints were in the biggest danger of an injury. He made sure to keep them healthy, as well as prevent tendon damage by focusing on their elasticity.

Manute Bol Facts

1. His name is pronounced muh-NOOT BOHL, and means “special blessing.”
2. Manute claimed to have killed a lion with a spear in his village in Sudan.
3. People from Manute’s ethnic group, the Dinka, are statistically among the tallest population of the world.
4. His mom was 6 ft 10 in or 208 cm tall, his dad and sister were 6 ft 8 in or 203 cm, while his great-grandfather reached a height of 7 ft 10 in or 239 cm.
5. Another basketball player, Ring Ayuel, is also from Manute’s hometown and was measured at a height of 7 ft 4 in or 223.5 cm.
6. Manute didn’t learn of his real height until 1979, as he had no way of measuring himself in the village that he was born in.
7. He tried playing soccer in 1972 but realized he was too tall and abandoned it.
8. Between 1982 and 1983 he had an $80-a-month job in the Sudanese military while playing basketball for the Sudanese National basketball team.
9. A coach from the United States, Don Feeley, convinced Manute to travel to Cleveland, Ohio, and enroll in Cleveland State University so he could play college basketball. Manute only knew Dinka and Arabic and didn’t speak or write English.
10. Even after months of classes, he couldn’t pass the required English test so he couldn’t qualify to officially enroll in the university and never played a game for them.
11. There was a funny remark about Manute’s passport. He was listed as 19 years old, even though he didn’t know his birthdate, but was also listed as 5 ft 2 in or 157.5 cm of height. Manute stated that he was measured by Sudan officials while he was sitting down.
12. Manute was the 31st overall pick in the Round 2 of the 1985 NBA draft by the Washington Bullets.
13. On March 3, 1993, during a game of Philadelphia 76ers vs Phoenix Suns, Manute hit 6 3-pointers in a half, which was just shy of an NBA record.
14. In July 2004, Manute had a terrible car accident in Colchester, New London County, Connecticut, United States. He broke his neck after being ejected from a taxi, and it took him at least a year or two to recover.
15. At the time of his car accident, Manute donated a majority of his profits to his home country of Sudan and had no health insurance.
16. He was stranded in Sudan in 2001 after the government prevented him and his family to leave due to suspicions of supporting a Christian rebel movement. The U.S. consulate officials raised money for plane tickets and got him to Cairo, Egypt, where he founded a basketball school.
17. Manute took part in the Celebrity Boxing TV show in 2002 and fought a football player named William “The Refrigerator” Perry so he could donate the proceedings to Sudan.
18. In the fall of 2002, he signed a 1-day contract with the Indianapolis Ice hockey club, even though he couldn’t skate at all. The publicity helped raise money for children in Sudan.
19. His wife, Ajok claimed that his son, Bol Bol, didn’t inherit anything from her and was “100% identical to his father.” This made Bol very proud, as he was pursuing a professional career in basketball himself.
20. He wasn’t active on social media.

Featured Image by sportstv4 / YouTube