How Tall Are NBA Players?
The average NBA player is 6 feet 7 inches tall. However, there are players like Shaquille O’Neal who are 7 feet 1 inch tall and players like Muggsy Bogues who are only 5 feet 3 inches tall.
NBA Player Heights
player heights in the NBA. Heights can give us insight into how the game is played. For example, players who are taller may have an advantage when it comes to rebounding and shot-blocking. Let’s take a look at the average heights of some of the most popular players in the NBA.
The average NBA player height
The average NBA player height is 6 feet 7 inches. This is based on the average heights of players in each position, as well as the average height of all players. The average Point Guard is 6 feet 1 inch, the average Shooting Guard is 6 feet 4 inches, the average Small Forward is 6 feet 6 inches, the average Power Forward is 6 feet 8 inches, and the average Center is 7 feet0 inches. However, there are outliers in every position, with some players being much taller or shorter than the average. The tallest player in the NBA currently is Tacko Fall of the Boston Celtics, who stands at an astonishing 7 feet 5 inches tall. The shortest player currently in the NBA is Isaiah Thomas of the Washington Wizards, who stands at just 5 feet 9 inches tall.
The tallest NBA player
The tallest NBA player is currently Boban Marjanović, a 7’3” center from Serbia who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s not just tall, he’s also very big — he weighs in at 290 pounds. Marjanović is actually just the latest in a long line of very tall NBA players. Some of the other tallest players in NBA history include:
-Gheorghe Mureșan, 7’7”
-Manute Bol, 7’7”
-Rik Smits, 7’4”
-Shawn Bradley, 7’6”
-Hakeem Olajuwon, 7’0”
-Michael Jordan, 6’6”
As you can see, there have been some very tall players in the NBA over the years. But being tall isn’t always an advantage — in fact, some of the greatest players in NBA history have been relatively short. Michael Jordan, for example, was just 6’6”. So don’t let height be a deterrent if you want to play basketball at the highest level!
The shortest NBA player
Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player ever to grace an NBA court, was just 5 feet 3 inches tall. He played for four different teams during his 14-year career in the NBA, and is now an assistant coach for the Charlotte Hornets.
NBA Player Positions
The average NBA player is about 6 feet 7 inches tall. That is just an average though, so there is a lot of variation. The tallest player in the NBA is Boban Marjanovic, who is 7 feet 3 inches tall. The shortest player in the NBA is Tyrone Bogues, who is 5 feet 3 inches tall.
The average NBA player height by position
The average NBA player height varies by position. The tallest position is center, where the average height is about 6’11”. The point guard, which is the shortest position, has an average height of about 6’2”. The other positions have average heights that fall in between these two extremes.
The average NBA player height by position is as follows:
-Point guard: 6’2”
-Shooting guard: 6’4”
-Small forward: 6’6”
-Power forward: 6’8”
-Center: 6’11”
The tallest NBA player by position
In the NBA, there are five traditional positions on the court: point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center. Here is a look at the tallest NBA player at each position as of the 2019-2020 season:
Center: Boban Marjanovic, 7’3”
Power Forward: Tacko Fall, 7’7”
Small Forward: LeBron James, 6’8”
Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade, 6’4”
Point Guard: Russell Westbrook, 6’3”
The shortest NBA player by position
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), there are a variety of positions a player can take on the court. The “point guard” is usually the shortest player, and is responsible for leading the team’s offensive play and helping to set up scoring opportunities. The “shooting guard” is often taller than the point guard, and is responsible for budgeting long-range shots. The “small forward” is larger than the shooting guard but smaller than the power forward; they typically create mismatches with their opponents by darting to the hoop or shooting from outside. The “power forward” defends close to the basket and rebounds missed shots; they are usually taller than small forwards but shorter than centers. The “center”, as their name suggests, is responsible for protecting the heart of the paint; they are typically the largest player on any given team.
There have been a number of diminutive players who have found success in the NBA, defying expectations with their skill and tenacity. Among these players, Muggsy Bogues holds the distinction of being both the shortest player in NBA history, and also playing at every position during his illustrious career. Bogues was just 5’3″, making him more than a foot shorter than some of his teammates and opponents. Despite his size disadvantage, Bogues was an excellent playmaker and held his own against some of the biggest names in basketball.
NBA Player Height Comparison
The average NBA player height compared to other professional athletes
The average NBA player is 6’7” tall. That’s taller than the average Major League Baseball player (6’1”), National Hockey League player (6’2”) and NFL player (6’2”). In fact, the only professional athletes that are taller than NBA players, on average, are jockeys (5’7”) and volleyball players (6’8”).
But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, the average height of an NBA player has been increasing for decades. In 1950, the average NBA player was just 6’2” tall. By 1980, that number had jumped to 6’6” and it has continued to increase since then.
So why are NBA players getting taller? There are a few theories. One possibility is that taller players simply have an advantage in basketball. Another theory is that the pool of potential NBA players has changed over time. In the early days of the league, many of the best basketball players were also top college stars. But now, with the rise of AAU basketball and international leagues, there are more tall players to choose from.
whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that NBA players are getting taller. And it doesn’t seem like that trend is going to stop anytime soon.
The tallest NBA player compared to other professional athletes
The average NBA player is 6’7” tall. That’s two inches taller than the average American man.
But there are some players who tower over their teammates and opponents. At 7’7”, Manute Bol was one of the tallest players in NBA history. He played for five different teams over the course of his ten-year career but is best remembered for his time with the Washington Bullets/Wizards.
Other professional athletes are also quite tall, but not quite as tall as NBA players on average. The average NFL player is 6’2”, while MLB players clock in at 6’1” on average. NHL players are the shortest of the bunch at an average height of just under 6 feet tall.
So if you’re ever feeling short, just remember that you’re probably taller than most professional athletes!
The shortest NBA player compared to other professional athletes
At 5’3”, Muggsy Bogues was the shortest player in NBA history. Bogues didn’t let his lack of height stop him from becoming a professional basketball player. In fact, he used it to his advantage. As one of the quickest players in the league, he was able to blow past taller defenders and get to the basket at will. Bogues also had a very successful 14-year career in the NBA, despite being undersized.
In comparison to other professional athletes, Bogues was still quite tall. The average height of an MLB player is 6’2”, while the average NHL player is 6’1”. Even among professional golfers, who are not known for their towering stature, the average height is 5’10”. This just goes to show that even though Bogues was shorter than most NBA players, he was still taller than the average person and plenty tall enough to excel at his chosen sport.
