updates | March 25, 2026

Manute Bol May Have Played in the NBA at 50 Years Old | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

NEW YORK CITY - 1994: Manute Bol #10 of the Miami Heat looks on during a game played circa 1994 at Madison Square Gardenin New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is conseNathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images

Former NBA center Manute Bol may have challenged Father Time during his playing days by suiting up in his fifties.

Kevin Mackey, a former Cleveland State coach, introduced the Sudanese player to the United States and chose an age upon Bol's entry into the country, per Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.

"I gave him his birthday because they didn't know how old he was," Mackey said.

Based on the public record, Bol played his final season at 32 years old for the 1994-95 Golden State Warriors and died at 47 years old. However, Mackey's story about the issued birthdate clouds the validity of the 7-footer's age. 

"He was probably 40, 50 years old when he was playing in the NBA," Mackey added.

This may go down as a compelling NBA mystery for those willing to trace Bol's roots back to his native country.