The Tallest & Shortest NBA Players Ever

The NBA has drafted an impressive cast of characters over the years. The NBA was born out of a union between the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA) on August 3, 1949. Over time, the NBA has been credited with having some of the tallest athletes in all of sport. A question that many tall folks routinely get asked is the following, ‘Do you play basketball?’ Sometimes it’s a yes, sometimes it’s a disdainful and unapologetic no. We’re about to take you court side to reveal the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the height of players.

The NBAs Tallest Athletes

Let’s start with the shortest of the tallest NBA players first and then work our way down to the shortest of the shortest NBA players. Get ready; the list is coming up next!

 •    Rik Smits 7’4’’
Rik Smits played for the Indiana Pacers over the course of an illustrious career during the 1980s. He was a #2 selection in the 1988 NBA Draft. He was tall, he was fast, and he was extremely busy on the court. He averaged a total of 14 pts and 6 rebounds per game. This native of the Netherlands ranks among the tallest ever, but he’s not alone at that height…

•    Ralph Sampson 7’4’’
Ralph Sampson is an NBA Hall of Famer. This is one athlete who was as graceful on court as he was talented with the ball. He was the #1 pick in the 1983 NBA Draft. He was so productive that he scored an average of 21 pts and 11 rebounds per game. He racked up numerous awards over his long career, including the Rookie of the Year, and the illustrious title of All-Star.

•    Chuck Nevitt 7’5’’
Charles Goodrich Nevitt stood tall and he stood proud. This NBA superstar played for several teams during his career. These include the Houston Rockets, LA Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Miami Tropics, Chicago Bulls, and the San Antonio Spurs. He was part of the LA Lakers team that won the NBA Championship title in 1985. He began in 1982/83 and continued with the NBA through 1993/94.

•    Sim Bhullar 7’5’’
Anyone who ever saw Sim Bhullar play knows that he was a giant on the court. At an imposing 7’5’’ tall and weighing in at 360 pounds, he was an absolute behemoth of an opponent; a brick wall. Unfortunately, he didn’t have any longevity to his career and featured for just 3 games. He averaged 0.7 points per game, with 0.3 total rebounds, and 0.3 assists.

•    Shawn Bradley 7’6’’
Unlike Sim Bhullar who barely made an impression in the NBA, Shawn Bradley from Germany had staying power. Granted he wasn’t the most prolific scorer in the game and he wasn’t technically perfect, but he played for 12 seasons with three great teams – the Dallas Mavericks, the New Jersey Nets, and the Philadelphia 76ers. He played in 832 games, scoring 8.1 points per game with 6.3 total rebounds per game, and 0.7 assists per game.

•    Gheorghe Muresan 7’7’’
 Gheorghe Dumitru Muresan played in the NBA between 1993 and 2000. He was drafted to the Washington Bullets in the 2nd Round, and was the 3rd pick, and 30th overall. Born in Romania in 1971, Gheorghe Muresan goes by the nickname My Giant. He played in a total of 307 games, averaging 9.8 points per game, with 6.4 total rebounds per game, and 0.5 assists per game. He scored most during his time with the Washington Bullets.

The NBAs Shortest Players

•    Isaiah Thomas 5’9’’

In everyday life, if you were 5’9’’ you’d probably not be considered short at all. But for Isaiah Thomas of the Sacramento Kings, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and more recently the Washington Wizards, you’re probably not the biggest man in the pack. The man’s height is irrelevant as far as talent goes. He has played 525 games+ with an average of 18.1 pts per game, with 2.5 total rebounds per game, and 5.0 assists per game. Not too shabby at all!

•    Charlie Criss 5’8’’
Charlie Criss fondly recalls the time when his parents would laugh at his desire to play in the NBA. However, he played like a champ in the 70s and 80s, and averaged 8.5 pts per game with teams like the Milawaukee Bucks, the Atlanta Hawks, and the San Diego Clippers. As a point guard, he had great skills, and his performances over 418 games were proof of that.

•    Spudd Webb 5’6’’
Spudd Webb was legendary! His height is beguiling because his skills were incomparable on the court. Born Anthony Jerome Webb, this point guard was a 4th round pick for the Detroit Pistons in the 1985 NBA Draft. He played in 814 games, averaging 9.9 pts per game, with 2.1 total rebounds per game, and 5.3 assists per game. His career lasted for 12 seasons and he was definitely made of the right stuff.

•    Mel Hirsch 5’6’’
Melvin M. Hirsch was a guard for the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, the NBA wasn’t formed at the time. He played in 13 games and averaged 1.5 pts per game, with 0.8 assists. He was a veteran and he routinely competed in competitive games with fellow servicemen.

•    Muggsy Bogues 5’3’’

Here’s one you’re never going to forget! Muggsy Bogues a.k.a. Tyrone Curtis Bogues was just 5’3’’ tall. It’s stunning that he made it into the NBA at that height but the man is a legend. He has played in 889 games, averaging 7.7 pts per game, 2.6 total rebounds, and 7.6 assists. His career began in the 1987/88 season with the Washington Bullets, and ended in 2000/01 with the Toronto Raptors.

Of course there are scores of other NBA players who should be mentioned here, including Boban Marjanovic, Manute Bol, Yao Ming, Earl Boykins, Greg Grant and others. We hope you enjoyed reading this as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

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*Photo Credit Attributed to Eugene Hoshiko and AP