Joining basketball to later end up in the NBA is a dream many basketball players hope to achieve, and players will take any opportunity that arises. The Golden State Warriors’ Manute Bol showed great talent on the court as a player and off as a political activist. His consistency in multiple spaces had people in awe, with no one suspecting that his “age” was a lie. Bol was born in Sudan and had no official documentation of his birth. His interest in the NBA gave him leeway to enter the NBA with a fabricated birthdate, and he later soared to incredible heights in the NBA as an unmatched blocker.
Manute Bol’s birthday was fabricated for NBA suitability
Seeing great potential in the Sudanese player, Cleveland State University coach Kevin Mackey, who coached Bol in 1985, said that he had made up Manute Bol’s date of birth due to missing documentation when Bol entered the US. Mackey explained:
“I gave him his birthday because they didn’t know how old he was. Bol had no idea of his age, and the kid who came over with him didn’t know how old he was. No one knew how old he was.”
Bol’s birthdate was recorded as October 16, 1962. NBA opportunities decrease with age, and acknowledging this, Mackey recorded Bol’s age as younger than his likely 30-something years. Mackey said:
“At 19, the future is bright; at 35, the doors close.”
This narrative is one that stands as a long-discussed mystery in the NBA, however, Bol’s career remains celebrated.
Immigration to the United States and sports opportunities for Bol
Finding his space in North American basketball was not an easy navigation as a player from Sudan. While there were language differences and enrollment issues that hindered him from playing for Cleveland State, head coach Mackey sought to give Manute Bol a home in basketball. Mackey used his relationship with an immigration officer to get Bol’s documentation granted, which allowed him entry into the NCAA.
Joining Division II school Bridgeport, Mackey justified the changing of the date of birth, saying:
“We knew we couldn’t get him into college, but what were we supposed to do? Send him back? His people were starving there.”
Coach Mackey was touched by Bol’s story, offering him hope and the opportunity to bring a change to the people in Sudan and inspire aspiring players from disadvantaged countries.
Manute Bol’s NBA legacy and skills in shot-blocking
Eventually, witnessing what coach Mackey saw in the player, many saw the amazing skills Manute Bol held and he went on to last a decade in the NBA. The decade provided him the chance to shine as one of the NBA’s greatest shot-blockers with a record wingspan of 2.59 meters. Blocks were clearly his specialty, with blocks of 2,086 compared to points of 1,599. Bol stands as the only player to reach this figure in the league. Bol led the most blocks in 1986 and 1989.
With a rocky start in basketball, the player looked past the “impossible” and maintained tunnel vision regarding his aspirations and showed great resilience in the face of his struggles. Manute Bol continued to adapt well to a new environment. Jayson Williams said:
“Bol was 55 when he retired from the NBA.”
The player achieved the dreams he came to the NBA for, and brought hope to the people of Sudan and aspiring basketball players.
Manute Bol’s journey as a basketball player goes against the narratives about origin and the age of the player. Although his position in the NBA came at the cost of ethics, Manute Bol continued to show the people in Sudan and other parts of the world that anything is possible. With the help of coach Mackey, the player’s influence thrived off and on the court, and as a humanitarian, Bol’s legacy stands tall in the NBA.
