Manute Bol NBA Age at Draft and Debut
Manute Bol was born on October 16, 1962, and entered the NBA draft in 1985 at age 22. He was selected by the Washington Bullets in the second round, 31st overall, and made his NBA debut later that year at age 22. His unusual path from Sudanese refugee to NBA player is documented by the NBA's official history pages NBA History.
Bol played his first full NBA season in 1985-86, meaning he was 23 for most of that campaign. He spent his first four seasons with Washington, from age 22 through age 25, before moving to other teams. His early career coincided with the league's expansion era, when teams actively recruited tall international prospects.
Manute Bol Age During Peak NBA Seasons
Washington Bullets and Philadelphia 76ers Years
From 1985 to 1990, Manute Bol was between 22 and 27 years old while playing for the Washington Bullets and Philadelphia 76ers. His best statistical seasons came while he was 23 to 25, when he averaged over 3.5 blocks per game and established himself as one of the league's premier shot blockers Basketball Reference.
At age 26 in the 1988-89 season, Bol recorded a career-high 5.0 blocks per game with the 76ers. He remained a starting-caliber center through age 27, though his scoring remained minimal while his defensive impact stayed high. His age coincided with the late 1980s NBA, when pace and block rates were higher than in later decades.
Manute Bol Final NBA Seasons and Retirement Age
Late Career Teams and Final Appearances
Manute Bol played his final NBA seasons between ages 28 and 31, suiting up for the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and briefly the Miami Heat. His last full NBA season was in 1994-95, when he was 32 years old and appeared in 48 games for the Kings ESPN NBA Player Page.
After leaving the NBA at age 32, Bol pursued other professional opportunities and humanitarian work. His career spanned 10 NBA seasons, from age 22 to 31, with a total of 624 regular-season games. His age at retirement placed him among the taller, longer-tenured big men of his era, and his records remain referenced by centers and scouts today Forbes NBA Legacy.