The NBA has a history filled with controversies, especially regarding player backgrounds. A notable case is Sudanese-born Manute Bol, who faced ambiguity around his age upon arriving in the U.S. Many African-born athletes lack birth certificates due to poverty and bureaucratic issues. Kevin Mackey, who recruited Bol, assigned him a birthdate, suspecting Bol could be significantly older than he claimed. Bol, standing at 7’7″, had an impressive career, leading the NBA in blocks but passed away in 2010. There’s speculation that he played in his mid-40s or early 50s, adding to his legacy as a unique player in NBA history.
The NBA’s history is rife with controversial situations — it’s abundant with them. From performance-enhancing drugs and scandals to connections with criminal activities and sports betting, numerous issues have surfaced at different moments in the league’s timeline.
Most of these controversies involve players, and some situations are especially unusual. Among the many stories, the case of Sudanese-born former Center Manute Bol stands out, as nearly everything was uncertain when he arrived in the United States, including his age.
The challenges
It’s crucial to recognize that this issue is not unique to African-born athletes. Their birth registration systems differ significantly from those in other parts of the world, often leading to children being born without a birth certificate.
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The lack of a birth certificate is not a deliberate act of negligence but stems from various factors such as poverty, a lack of awareness about registration, geographical barriers, and bureaucratic obstacles. These challenges frequently hinder parents from registering their children or obtaining essential services or, in Bol’s case, having verified proof of his age before the NBA draft.
A more recent instance of this situation post-2010s involves former Milwaukee Bucks lottery selection Thon Maker, chosen 10th in the 2016 NBA draft. Maker’s age became a significant point of contention before the draft, with many speculating he was older than the 19 he claimed, possibly nearing 23. This controversy was fueled by various sources, including a 2010 yearbook indicating he graduated that year, an expired passport showing a different date of birth, and conflicting details about his education.
Despite being touted as a promising athlete, Maker faced early challenges and only spent three years with the Bucks. He was then traded to the Detroit Pistons and had a brief tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers before leaving the league. It’s never been conclusively established whether Maker truly misrepresented his age, but indications suggest this could be a genuine possibility.
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Mackey’s controversial call
Before making his way to the NBA, Bol was recruited by Kevin Mackey to attend Cleveland State University. His height of 7’7″ alone drew attention from NBA scouts, and in combination with his natural athleticism, wingspan, and potential to dominate defensively, Mackey eagerly welcomed him into his program.
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However, Kevin was aware of the uncertainties regarding Manute’s personal details. Nevertheless, he proceeded. Anticipating Bol’s rising stock ahead of an NBA career, Mackey controversially assigned him a birthdate.
“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,” he recounted.
“I wanted to make sure he was young enough because he didn’t have an age. I think he was in his 40s; I really do. But there’s no way of ever really knowing. Every athletic door is open at 19; every athletic door is closed when you’re 35. He was probably 40 or 50 years old when he was playing in the NBA,” he added.
An impressive career
Tragically, Bol passed away in 2010 due to acute kidney failure and complications from Stevens-Johnson syndrome — 15 years after retiring from the NBA.
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To this day, he remains one of the most fascinating players in league history. Bol’s prowess on the court was undeniable — he led the NBA in blocks twice, in 1986 and 1989, and retired as the only player to have more blocks than points, finishing with 2,086 blocks and 1,599 points.
Given the enigma surrounding his age, it’s plausible that Bol was competing in the NBA at an age between his mid-40s and early 50s. If this is true, it elevates his career’s impressiveness and possibly positions him as an early example of an athlete who successfully defied aging before the advancements of modern medicine and sports science.
Ultimately, his true age remains a mystery, but former Philadelphia 76ers teammate Jayson Williams has alleged that Bol was 55 when he left the Association.
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Regardless, Mackey had such faith in him that he was willing to stake his reputation on offering Bol a chance at a professional sports career.
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