Manute Bol, 7-foot-6 Former NBA Player, Dies in Virginia at 47

Manute Bol, a 7-foot-6 Sudanese center who played 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association from 1985-95, died this morning at a hospital in Virginia. He was 47.

Bol was hospitalized in May after returning from Sudan and was being treated for severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition, the Associated Press reported.

“Sudan and the world have lost a hero and an example for all of us,” said Tom Prichard, executive director of Sudan Sunrise, the humanitarian group that was founded by Bol after his NBA playing career.

Bol entered the NBA in 1985 as a second-round draft pick of the Washington Bullets and led the league with 397 blocked shots as a rookie. He had 2,086 blocked shots in his career with Washington, the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat, averaging 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks. After retiring, he helped raise money for people in Sudan through his foundation and with publicity stunts as a hockey player, boxer and jockey.

‘He was a person who was continually giving of himself through his generosity and humanitarian efforts in order to make the world around him a much better place,” 76ers President Ed Stefanski said in a statement. “He will always be remembered.”