Manute Bol Fills a Rather Large Role for Warriors

There always has been an element of intrigue with Manute Bol.

He is, after all, 7-foot-7. And he does understand the game of basketball and is willing to put forth the time and energy to play it. And he can block shots and be a defensive presence.

Until this season, however, Bol generally has been regarded as some kind of basketball freak show. Wes Unseld, the Washington Bullets’ coach, had no use for him and sent him to a more-than-willing Don Nelson at Golden State last summer for Dave Feitl and a second-round draft pick.

The results have been stunning. Bol has regained his status as the NBA’s top shot-blocker, is averaging 5.2 minutes more a game than Ralph Sampson, has more three-point field goals than the entire Celtics team, has rescued Chris Mullin from loneliness and is one huge reason why the Warriors are an astonishing 40-33 this season after finishing 42 games under .500 a year ago.

“Nellie is giving me time to play and I’m making sure I play every night, hard,” Bol said recently after a brief Warriors workout. “I’m doing my job. And what about Dave Feitl? He doesn’t even play now.

“Maybe he (Unseld) traded me because there was something he didn’t like about me. All I know now is I’m happy. I won’t lead the league in scoring. I think Michael Jordan will do that. But I can lead the league in blocked shots and Michael Jordan can’t do that.”

Nelson has had a fascination with Bol since he saw him playing in the United States Basketball League a few summers back. When draft day rolled around in 1985, Nelson, coach and general manager in Milwaukee at the time, wanted to use the Bucks’ No. 1 pick to take Bol, who was turning pro after one season at the University of Bridgeport.

But he was talked out of it by someone else in the organization -- he won’t say who. Thus, when the chance to grab Bol arose last summer, Nelson was only too eager to part with Feitl.

“We even offered them anyone off our expansion roster along with Feitl,” Nellie said. “But they took a second-round pick instead. I know Wes is a more traditional coach and probably didn’t see him fitting in. But we knew Feitl was only average at best.”

Bol has been a key role player as Nelson has revamped the Warriors. Sampson is buried on the bench. Instead, Nelson generally goes with a small, quick lineup that traps and presses relentlessly. And, if the opponent is fortunate enough to beat the press, Bol is back tending goal with a pterodactyl-like wing span.

“He’s exactly what I thought he would be. Probably better,” Nelson said.

Bol also has unveiled a new weapon: the three-pointer. He has made 19 this season (in 71 attempts), and while he still has more blocks (316) than points (287), his 4.0 scoring average is a personal high.

Before this season, he was 0 for 3 in three-point field goals. Already this season he has won one game with a three-pointer and another with what Nelson has dubbed the “Space Hook.”

“Nellie has told me it’s OK to shoot more as long as it’s a good shot,” Bol explained. “Even in close games I’ll shoot it. Sometimes I even make ‘em.”

Bol also has been helpful in the development of Mullin, who has gone from alcohol rehab to All-Star status under Nelson. Mullin’s brother played at Bridgeport, and Bol was acquainted with the family before the trade.

Now, the two are tight. Practice often ends with games of one-on-one. “He wins sometimes. So do I. But he’s a pretty good shooter,” Bol said. There also is time for shooting pool and general camaraderie.

“Chris and I, we’re good friends,” Bol said. “I even have dinner with his family.”

Said Mullin, “Having him here is like having someone from home.”

Bol also is coping with fatherhood for the first time. He and his wife, Atong, have a baby daughter, Amok. He still is working on buying enough cows to pay off his father-in-law; he owed 80 and still is short. As he noted in an earlier interview with The Washington Post, “If you don’t have money or cows, it’s hard to get married (in Sudan).”

But basketball is all that matters to the growing legion of Bol fans in the Bay area. When he rises from the bench to come into a game, a cheer of “Nuuuute” is heard. He is urged to shoot every time he gets in position to do so. (He rarely does, averaging just more than four.)

Where would the Warriors be without him? Nelson wouldn’t want to even contemplate it.

Manute is averaging 4.45 blocks (with a high of 12 against the Spurs on Feb. 22) and 5.8 rebounds (third best on the team.) The Warriors are holding opponents to 46.1 percent shooting and only Utah, Detroit and Cleveland have lower figures. Last year, opponents shot 50.1 percent against the Warriors.

And Golden State already has doubled its victories from last season with nine games still remaining.

“It’s fun,” Bol said, “but we need to win some more for it to be really fun. More wins. More fun.”