Over the weekend former NBA legend Manute Bol passed away at the age of 47. Selected by the Washington Bullets in the 1985 draft, Bol went on to play 9 seasons in the NBA and was a natural shot blocking force in the middle due to menacing 7’7″ frame. Regarded by those he played with as a great guy and noted for his humanitarian efforts in his native Sudan. Former teammate Charles Barkley remembers Bol with Don Lemon of CNN as one of the funniest people he ever played with and how Manute Bol would always send money back home to aid his family living through a civil war.
Before Bol became ill, he was doing charity work in Sudan with Sudan Sunrise which builds schools in his native country and if you can spare the money, please make a donation to support his vision.
Over the course of his career, Bol averaged 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 3.3 blocks per game while only playing an average of 18.7 minutes per game. A true specialist, Bol finished his career with totals of 1,599 points, 2,647 rebounds, and 2,086 blocks, having appeared in 624 games over 10 seasons. As of 2010, Manute Bol remains first in career blocks per 48 minutes (8.6), almost 50% beyond second-place Mark Eaton (5.8), second in career blocks-per-game average (3.34), fourteenth in total blocked shots (2,086) and the only player in NBA history to block more shots than points scored, blocking 2,086 shots and scoring 1,599 points.
Rest in peace Manute Bol.
