The Skinny on NBA Players
Contents
The average NBA player is 6’7” tall and weighs 220 pounds. But there is a lot of variation among players. Some are much taller and some are shorter. Some are heavier and some are lighter.
The average NBA player
The average NBA player is 6’7” tall and weighs 220 pounds. He has a wingspan of about 7’3” and a vertical leap of 30 inches. The average player can run the length of the court in about 10 seconds and has a standing reach of 8’9”.
The tallest NBA players
Though it is not a requirement, many NBA players are tall. In fact, some of the tallest people in the world play in the NBA. The following is a list of the tallest NBA players of all time.
--Manute Bol 7’7”
-Gheorghe Muresan: 7’7”
-Shawn Bradley: 7’6”
--Yao Ming 7’6”
--Hakeem Olajuwon 7’0”
--Patrick Ewing 7’0”
The shortest NBA players
NBA players are typically very tall, but there have been some shorter players who have made a big impact on the game. Here are some of the shortest players in NBA history along with their height and position.
--Muggsy Bogues 5’3” guard
--Spud Webb 5’7” guard
--Chris Paul 6’ point guard
--Isaiah Thomas 5’9” guard
The heaviest NBA players
There are a lot of big men in the NBA, but some players are just bulky. Here’s a look at the heaviest NBA players according to their listed weight.
-Shaquille O’Neal: 325 lbs
--Yao Ming 310 lbs
-Jared Sullinger: 304 lbs
--Boban Marjanovic 290 lbs
--Isaiah Thomas 285 lbs
-Deandre Jordan: 265 lbs
The lightest NBA players
There are a few players in the NBA who are on the lighter side. In fact, some of the lightest players in the NBA are also some of the quickest and most agile. This can be an advantage on the court, as they can outmaneuver their heavier opponents.
Players like Tyler Ennis and Isaiah Thomas are significantly lighter than the average NBA player However, they both use their speed and quickness to their advantage. Ennis, in particular, is known for his lightning-fast moves and his ability to weave through traffic.
While being one of the lightest players in the NBA has its advantages, there are also some disadvantages. For example, these players may not be as strong as their heavier counterparts and may have trouble finishing around the basket. Additionally, they may be more prone to injury because they don’t have the same amount of muscle to protect them from contact.
Despite these disadvantages, there are many successful NBA players who are on the lighter side. With proper Strength training and conditioning, these players can overcome their lack of size and compete at a high level.
The Oldest NBA players
On average, NBA players are 27 years old. This season, there are 30 players who are at least 35 years old. The oldest player in the NBA is Vince Carter who is 42 years old and playing in his 21st season.
The average age of an NBA player has gone up over the last few decades. In 1980, the average age was 26.2 years old. In 1990, it was 26.4 years old. In 2000, it was 27.2 years old. And in 2010, it was 27.6 years old.
One big reason for the increase in the average age of NBA players is that more and more players are coming into the league with prior experience playing Professional Basketball overseas. In 1980, just 9% of NBA players had played basketball overseas before entering the league. By 2000, that number had jumped to 22%. And by 2010, it was up to 30%.
The Youngest NBA players
There are a handful of teenagers currently playing in the NBA. The youngest player in the league is Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans who is just 19 years old. Other young players include Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies (20 years old), RJ Barrett of the New York Knicks (20 years old), and Kendrick Nunn of the Miami Heat (24 years old).
What these young players have in common is that they are all extremely talented. Williamson, for example, was the number one overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft while Morant was named the 2019-2020 NBA Rookie of the Year. Barrett and Nunn are also considered to be two of the most promising young players in the league.
The fact that there are so many young players currently excelling in the NBA is a testament to the talent level of today’s youth. It will be interesting to see how these young players develop over the course of their careers.
The richest NBA players
The richest NBA players are those who have been able to capitalize on their skills and earn a large salary. While there are many ways to become wealthy in the NBA, these five players have been able to set themselves apart from the rest.
1. Lebron James Lebron James is the highest-paid player in the NBA, earning a salary of $33.3 million with the Los Angeles Lakers. In addition to his salary, James also has endorsement deals with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Nike, Coca-Cola, and Beats by Dre. His net worth is estimated to be $440 million.
2. Kevin Durant Kevin Durant is second on this list with an annual salary of $30 million. He also has a number of endorsement deals that help to boost his Net Worth to an estimated $170 million. Durant plays for the Golden State Warriors and is one of the most popular players in the league.
3. Kobe Bryant Kobe Bryant was the highest-paid player in the NBA for several years before he retired in 2016. He earned a salary of $25 million during his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers Bryant also had numerous endorsement deals that added to his wealth, which is estimated to be $350 million.
4. Michael Jordan Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time and he has used his reputation to earn a significant amount of money since he retired from playing in 2003. Jordan’s annual salary from Nike is $100 million and his net worth is estimated to be $1 billion.
5. Shaquille O’Neal: Shaquille O’Neal is another retired player who has been able to parlay his basketball career into other opportunities. He currently earns a salary of $60 million from Turner Broadcasting and also has investments in various businesses that help him maintain a net worth of $400 million
The poorest NBA players
In the NBA, there are a Number of players who make less than the league minimum salary In fact, according to Spotrac, the average NBA Player salary is just over $6 million. However, there are a handful of players who make significantly less than this average. Here is a look at the five poorest NBA players based on their 2018-2019 salaries.
1. Kobi Simmons – $874,636
2. Ante Zizic – $1,349,383
3. Jalen Jones – $1,512,601
4. Jordan Bell – $1,618,520
5. two-way contracts (players who shuttle back and forth between the NBA and G League) – $77,250
The most popular NBA players
The most popular NBA Players according to social media are Lebron James Kevin Durant and Steph Curry The least popular players are Kobe Bryant Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony