The Best Short NBA Players of All Time
Contents
In honor of NBA All-Star Weekend, we’re looking back at the best Short players in NBA history These guys may not have had the height, but they more than made up for it with their incredible skills and athleticism.
Introduction
In basketball, taller players have always been coveted. But that doesn’t mean that shorter players can’t be successful. In fact, some of the best NBA players of all time have been on the shorter side. Here are the 10 best short NBA players of all time.
Muggsy Bogues
Muggsy Bogues is one of the best short NBA players of all time. He was drafted in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets and he played point guard for 14 seasons in the NBA. Bogues is best known for his speed and quickness, which allowed him to be an effective player despite his smaller stature. He is also recognized for his durability, as he played in more than 1,000 games during his NBA Career
Spud Webb
Standing at just 5’7”, Spud Webb was one of the shortest players in NBA history Despite his diminutive stature, Webb was an excellent player, and was even voted to the All-Star game in 1986. He is perhaps best remembered for winning the Slam Dunk Contest in 1986, defeating his taller teammate Dominique Wilkins
Earl Boykins
Earl Boykins was one of the best Shooting Guards of his time. He was known for his Three-point shooting and his ability to drive to the basket. He was also one of the shortest players in the NBA, standing at just 5’5”. Despite his size, he was a two-time All-Star and a member of the USA basketball team that won the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics.
Calvin Murphy
Calvin Murphy is one of the best short NBA players of all time. He was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1970 NBA Draft by the San Diego Rockets. At only 5’9″, he was one of the shortest players in the league.
Murphy wasn’t just a good player because he was short. He was an excellent shooter and a great scorer. In his 13-year nba career, he averaged 17.9 points per game He is also the Rockets’ All-time leading scorer, with 18,335 career points.
Thanks to his shooting prowess, Murphy was able to overcome his lack of height and become one of the best players in Rockets history.
Nate Robinson
Nate Robinson is one of the best short NBA players of all time. Standing at just 5’9″, he was drafted by the New York Knicks in 2005 and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his high-flying dunks and playmaking ability. He would go on to have a successful 11-year career in the NBA, winning an Slam Dunk Contest title and even becoming a member of the All-Star team in 2010. Although he is now retired from the NBA, Nate Robinson’s legacy as one of the best short players to ever play the game is secure.
Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas is one of the best short NBA players of all time. At just 5’9”, he’s had a huge impact on the game of basketball
Thomas was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft He played three seasons for the Kings, before being traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2014. He played one season for the Suns, and was then traded to the Boston Celtics in 2015.
Thomas quickly became a star in Boston, and was named an All-Star in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, he was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month four times, becoming just the third player in NBA history to do so. He was also named Second Team All-NBA that year.
In 2018, Thomas was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers He played just 15 games for the Cavaliers before being traded again, this time to the Los Angeles Lakers. He finished out the season with the Lakers, before signing with Denver Nuggets in 2019.
So far in his career, Thomas has averaged 19 points and 5 assists per game He’s a two-time All-Star, and was named Second Team All-NBA in 2017.
Allen Iverson
Standing at just six feet tall, Allen Iverson was one of the shortest players in NBA history Despite his lack of height, Iverson was an incredibly talented player who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Iverson began his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996 and quickly became one of the league’s most popular players. He was named Rookie of the Year after averaging 23.5 points per game during his first season, and he went on to be named NBA Most Valuable Player in 2001.
Iverson is widely regarded as one of the best short players in NBA history and his impact on the game is still felt today.
Chris Paul
Chris Paul, who is just 6 feet tall, is one of the best short NBA players of all time. He has been named an All-Star nine times and is a four-time All-NBA First Team selection. Paul has also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA
Conclusion
In conclusion, there have been many great short NBA players throughout history. These players have proved that height is not necessarily an obstacle to success on the court. While some of the players on this list are still active, others have already retired. However, all of them have made a significant impact on the game of basketball and will be remembered as some of the best short players to ever play in the NBA.
