One might think that NBA players, with their sporting success, impressive height, and vast wealth, are immune to being the butt of jokes. However, instances featuring the late Manute Bol prove otherwise. 'Nute, known for his extraordinary physical stature, once became the subject of a joke by the legendary comedian Woody Allen.
"Manute Bol is so skinny they save money on road trips; they just fax him from city to city," quipped Allen, per The Atavist Magazine.
The skinny giant
When Bol stepped into the spotlight after being drafted in 1985 by the Bullets, he quickly became famous for his unique physical traits. Standing at an impressive 7'7", he remains one of the tallest players in league history. Interestingly, when a young Manute arrived in the U.S. many years earlier, his passport falsely listed him as just 1.57 meters tall.
The cult icon was also incredibly skinny, especially when he first set foot on American soil. Weighing only 185 lbs (200 lbs during his NBA career ), he reflected on the hardships he had faced in his homeland of South Sudan, which was going through a devastating civil war.
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Humor and humanitarianism
Naturally, Bol's remarkable features provided plenty of material for stories and anecdotes. For instance, former Dallas Mavericks coach Dick Motta once remarked that the young giant would "break like a grasshopper" the first time he got hit. This kind of teasing would later become familiar to the two-time block leader, especially after a close friendship had developed with the legendary Charles Barkley, who is notorious for his banter.
One amusing tale about Manute's height involves a Holiday Inn in Seattle , which had a special room equipped with an 8-foot bed—exclusively used by the towering big man when he and his NBA team were in town for an away game. Even more jokes were made internally and externally when Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player in NBA history, joined him in Washington.
However, Nute always took it in stride, displaying a great sense of humor, often self-deprecating. The likely most iconic photos in NBA history featuring him and Muggsy capture this perfectly.
Additionally, Bol had a very generous spirit, which shone through in his many charitable acts for his African homeland. He gave so much that it ultimately led him to bankruptcy. Yet, for the 1986 All-Defensive Second Team member, it was all worth it.
"I never thought about the money I lost. It wasn't lost. It helped Sudan," remarked Bol in 2004.
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