How Did Muggsy Bogues Get In The NBA?

Muggsy Bogues was one of the shortest players in NBA history, but he had a huge impact on the game. Find out how he managed to overcome the odds and make it to the big leagues.

Muggsy’s Early Life

Born Tyrone Curtis Bogues on January 9, 1965, Muggsy Bogues was one of nine children of Robert and Ethel Bogues. He was named after his father, but his friends and family called him “Muggsy” because of his small stature. Growing up in a housing project in Baltimore, Maryland, Muggsy Bogues was always the smallest kid on his block.

Born in Baltimore

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues was the shortest player ever to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at just five feet, three inches tall, Bogues overcame the trials and tribulations of his height to enjoy a successful 14-year NBA career. A tenacious defender and creative playmaker, Bogues endeared himself to fans and fellow players alike with his heart and determination on the court. After retiring from basketball in 2001, Bogues became a motivational speaker and currently serves as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Hornets.

Attended Dunbar High School

Muggsy Bogues was born Tyrone Curtis Bogues on January 9, 1965, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the shortest player ever to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), standing just five feet, three inches tall. Bogues began playing organized basketball at age seven in the city’s recreation leagues. When he was nine years old, he joined an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team called The Pee Wee Blue Devils. With Bogues at point guard, the team won nine straight AAU national championships.

Bogues attended Dunbar High School, where he played basketball with future NBA stars Reggie Lewis and David Wingate. Dunbar had an amazing record of 59 wins and 1 loss during Bogues’s junior and senior years. In 1982, as a senior, Bogues was named to the USA Today All-American first team. He also earned All-American honors from Parade magazine and McDonald’s.

Muggsy’s College Career

Before Muggsy Bogues was wowing crowds with his dribbling skills in the NBA, he was starring for Wake Forest University. As a freshman, he averaged 7.6 points per game and 2.9 assists per game. He was named to the ACC All-Freshman team. In his sophomore season, he averaged 11.2 points per game and 8.0 assists per game. He was again named to the ACC All-Freshman team. After his sophomore season, he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets.

Played for Wake Forest

Muggsy Bogues is a retired American professional basketball player. The 5-foot 3-inch (1.60 m) Bogues is one of the shortest players ever to play in the National Basketball Association, where he spent most of his career with the Charlotte Hornets. He also played for the Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors. After his retirement from playing professional basketball, he served as head coach of the Charlotte Sting of the WNBA for two seasons.

Helped team to 1982 NCAA Final Four

Muggsy Bogues’ college career began at Wake Forest University, where he quickly became one of the best players in the country. He helped lead the Demon Deacons to the 1982 NCAA Final Four, where they lost to eventual champion North Carolina. Bogues was named a first-team All-American that season, and he left Wake Forest as the school’s all-time leader in assists.

Muggsy’s Professional Career

Muggsy Bogues is one of the shortest players to ever play in the NBA, but that didn’t stop him from having a successful professional career. Bogues was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1987 and went on to play for 14 seasons in the NBA. He was known for his quickness and shooting ability, and was a key player on several winning teams. Let’s take a look at Muggsy’s professional career.

Drafted by Charlotte Hornets

Muggsy Bogues was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets as the 12th pick in the 1st round of the 1987 NBA draft. Bogues was the shortest player ever to play in the NBA at a height of 5’3″. He played for the Hornets from 1987-1988, and then again from 1989-1997. He also played for the Golden State Warriors in 1998, and the Toronto Raptors in 1999. He retired from professional basketball in 2001.

Played for Hornets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors

Muggsy Bogues is a retired American professional basketball player. The shortest player ever to play in the National Basketball Association, he also holds several records for shortest player to score, to grab a rebound, and to dish out an assist. Bogues was drafted 12th overall in the 1987 NBA draft by the Washington Bullets after a successful collegiate career at Wake Forest University. He played for four teams during his 14-season NBA career. He spent the first five-and-a-half seasons with the Bullets, followed by a season-and-a-half each with the Charlotte Hornets and Golden State Warriors, and finally five seasons with the Toronto Raptors.

During his time with the Hornets, Bogues emerged as one of the league’s best point guards and helped Charlotte qualify for the playoffs three times between 1988 and 1992. He also became known for hisimportance to the team’s offense; while he did not possess great shooting range or scoring ability, his passing skills and court vision were excellent, and he was able to use his speed and small stature to penetrate opposing defenses and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. After leaving Charlotte in 1993, Bogues struggled with injuries and ill-fitting roles on poor teams before finding success late in his career as a backup point guard on playoff teams in Toronto. He retired from basketball in 2001 after playing in just 19 games due to injuries.

Bogues has had a successful post-playing career as a coach and television analyst. He served as an assistant coach for multiple NBA teams between 2003 and 2014, including two stints with his former team, the Charlotte Hornets. He also worked as a color commentator for Charlotte Hornets games on Fox Sports South from 2008 to 2015.

Muggsy’s Post-Playing Career

After his retirement from the NBA in 2001, Muggsy Bogues had trouble finding work. He was passed over for several coaching positions, and struggled to find other employment. In 2009, he finally landed a job as a Charlotte Bobcats broadcaster, but was let go after one season. He has since been working as a motivational speaker.

Coached in the WNBA

Muggsy Bogues was an assistant coach for the Charlotte Sting of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 2002 to 2005. He then became the head coach of the expansion team Charlotte Bobcats, serving from 2005 to 2007.

Appeared in the movie Space Jam

Muggsy Bogues is a retired American professional basketball player. He was born on January 9, 1965, in Baltimore, Maryland. Bogues is best known for his time with the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he became the franchise’s all-time leader in assists and steals. He also played for the Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, and New York Knicks.

After his playing career ended, Bogues turned to coaching. He was an assistant coach for the Charlotte Sting of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA. He also served as a head coach in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and United States Basketball League (USBL).

Bogues also appeared in the 1996 movie Space Jam, which starred Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny.