YouTube Gold: The Strange Greatness Of Manute Bol

Bol came to the game late and had a major impact

With the US vs. South Sudan game coming Wednesday in the Olympics, it seems like a good time to take a look back at 7-7 Manute Bol, who has had a surprising and lasting impact on Duke Basketball despite, as far as we know, never stepping foot in Durham.

Bol was a Dinka tribesman in what is now South Sudan when a college coach who was doing a clinic passed through and was intrigued by Bol’s potential. He got him to come to the US to play in college but that didn’t work out because Bol basically spoke no English and had minimal education in Sudan, although he worked hard to educate himself after he came to the US.

He ultimately got to the NBA where he was a stunning shot blocker but he also developed a surprising three point game. He became a beloved figure around the league and had many friendships, including a particularly close one with Charles Barkley.

He was a passionate Sudanese patriot as well and did a lot to help people who were affected by the war there, including holding basketball camps for Sudanese kids. Among his pupils was Luol Deng, who ultimately came to Duke before moving on to the NBA. And in his turn, Deng has done a lot to help Sudanese basketball, including finding Khaman Maluach, who has also committed to Duke and who is also playing for South Sudan in the Paris Olympics at the tender age of 17.

Bol died sadly in 2010 but no one knew for sure how old he was. There is some speculation that he was already 40 when he got to the NBA, but there’s no way to know for sure.

What is for sure is that there will never be another player quite like Bol. He’s destined to be one of a kind.