Former NBA Player Manute Bol Dies At 47 - ESPN

Skip to main content Skip to navigation < > Former NBA player, humanitarian Bol dies at 47Laurens' weekend preview: Ronaldo's return, Inter-Juve in potential Serie A title deciderMarseille18hJulien LaurensOhtani's focus on 'being healthy,' shot at Cy YoungLos Angeles Dodgers6hAlden GonzalezTotsuka outduels James for Olympic halfpipe gold10hTyson aims to lift U.S. boxing, starts amateur invit'l6hWrexham into FA Cup last 16 for 1st time since '97Wrexham9hESPN News Services'I blew it': Malinin falls twice in Olympic shocker8hD'Arcy MaineNeto hat trick sees Chelsea cruise to win at HullHull City Chelsea9hPASources: Spurs finalizing Tudor as interim bossTottenham Hotspur15hJames OlleyPaul announces NBA retirement after 21 seasonsLA Clippers11h76ers' Edgecombe named MVP in Rising Stars winPhiladelphia 76ers2hVincent GoodwillPurpose and togetherness: What the soccer world can learn from FA Cup heroes MacclesfieldMacclesfield FC15hConnor O'HalloranSalford City hoping their rebrand, Man United alums can help push for global recognitionSalford City2dMark OgdenSlam dunks, global games, emerging stars: What to watch on All-Star Weekend1dNBA insidersNBA All-Star 2026: Team Vince defeats Team Melo to win Rising Stars championship gameWashington Wizards2hESPN staffNBA All-Star Game uniforms through the years -- from short shorts to '90s flair, sleeved jerseys and moreWashington Wizards18hBrianna WilliamsChelsea coach Rosenior shows ruthless side in homecoming at Hull to prove credentialsChelsea8hJames OlleyThe language of basketball: How international NBA players think about the game18hTim MacMahonWe answered one big question for every NFL team's offseason: What's next for all 32San Francisco 49ers19hNFL NationWhich NFL teams can turn it around quickly? Tiering the 18 non-playoff teams' rebuild timelinesWashington Commanders2dJeremy FowlerWhy didn't your favorite MLB team get a _____? Most surprising offseason decision for all 30 clubsCleveland Guardians18hBradford DoolittleMLB offseason grades: Tigers bring Verlander back to Detroit on one-year dealAtlanta Braves3dBradford Doolittle and David SchoenfieldQuang Hải masterclass leaves Tampines' ACL Two dream hanging by a threadTampines Rovers3dGabriel TanCostly defeat at Sanfrecce leaves JDT's ACL Elite hopes in jeopardyJohor Darul Ta'zim4dGabriel TanPremier League superlatives: The 25 best and worst players at different skillsManchester City19hRyan O'HanlonTransfer rumors, news: Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United eye UCL standout StankovicManchester United21hESPNMMA divisional rankings: Kyoji Horiguchi makes big leap into men's flyweight top 104dBrett OkamotoF1 2026 car launches: All pictures of new cars as full grid completed4dESPN

• ESPN.com news services

Multiple AuthorsJun 20, 2010, 03:53 AM

• 
• Email
• Print

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Manute Bol, a lithe 7-foot-7 shot-blocker from Sudan who spent 10 seasons in the NBA and was dedicated to humanitarian work in Africa, died Saturday. He was 47.

Bol died at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, where he was being treated for severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition, Tom Prichard, executive director of the group Sudan Sunrise, said in an e-mail.

"Sudan and the world have lost a hero and an example for all of us," Prichard said. "Manute, we'll miss you. Our prayers and best wishes go out to all his family, and all who mourn his loss."

Bol played in the NBA with Washington, Golden State, Philadelphia and Miami, averaging 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks for his career. He led the league in blocks in 1985-86 with Washington (5.0 per game) and in 1988-89 with Golden State (4.3 a game).

"Manute's impact on this city, our franchise and the game of basketball cannot be put into words," 76ers president and general manager Ed Stefanski said in a statement. "He ... was continually giving of himself through his generosity and humanitarian efforts in order to make the world around him a much better place, for which he will always be remembered."

The funeral for Bol will be held Tuesday at the Washington National Cathedral in the nation's capital and will be open to the public, Prichard said.

Bol joined the NBA with Washington in 1985 and played three seasons there. He returned to the team briefly toward the end of his career. The Wizards lauded him as a "true humanitarian and an ambassador for the sport of basketball."

"Despite his accomplishments on the court, his lasting legacy will be the tireless work and causes he promoted in his native Sudan and the cities in which he played," the club said in a statement.

After the NBA, Bol worked closely as an advisory board member of Sudan Sunrise, which promotes reconciliation in Sudan.

Bol was hospitalized in mid-May during a stopover in Washington after returning to the United States from Sudan. Prichard said then that Bol was in Sudan to help build a school in conjunction with Sudan Sunrise but stayed longer than anticipated after the president of southern Sudan asked him to make election appearances and use his influence to counter corruption in the county.

He said Bol had undergone three dialysis treatments and developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a condition that caused him to lose patches of skin. Prichard said the skin around Bol's mouth was so sore he went 11 days without eating and could barely talk.

Prichard said it's believed Bol contracted the skin disease as a reaction to kidney medication he took while in Africa.

Janis Ricker, operations manager of Sudan Sunrise, said Saturday the organization will continue its work building the school in Bol's home village in southern Sudan. She said Bol's goal was to build 41 schools throughout Sudan.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.