The Tallest Basketball Players in the NBA
Contents
Basketball is a tall man’s game. The average height of an NBA player is around 6’7″. But there are some players who tower above the rest. Here are the tallest players in the NBA.
Introduction
Basketball is a sport that requires a combination of height, speed, strength, and agility. The tallest players in the NBA have an advantage over their shorter counterparts, giving them the ability to shoot over defenders and block shots
While some of the tallest players in the NBA are centers, there are a few tall point guards and power forwards as well. These players use their height to their advantage, making them some of the best players in the league.
Here is a list of the tallest players in the NBA, sorted by height.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal, standing at 7-foot-1, is one of the tallest basketball players in the NBA. He played for six teams during his 19-year career and was a 15-time All-Star. He won four NBA championships three with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat
Yao Ming
Yao Ming at 7’6”, was one of the tallest players in the NBA during his time. Standing a full two feet taller than the average player, Yao towered over his opponents. He was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 2002 and quickly became one of the most popular players in the league. Yao was a nine-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA team five times. He retired in 2011 due to injuries.
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain is often considered one of the best basketball players of all time. He played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers During his 14-year career, he set several records that still stand today. He is the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a single game, and he holds the record for the most rebounds in a single game (55). At 7’1″, Chamberlain was one of the tallest players in the NBA, and he used his height to his advantage on the court.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Former Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon is widely considered one of the best basketball players of all time. Standing at 7’0”, he was a force to be reckoned with in the paint. In his 18-year NBA Career Olajuwon was a 12-time All-Star, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and two-Ime Nba champion. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Patrick Ewing
At 7’0”, Patrick Ewing was one of the most dominant big men in the NBA during his time with the New York Knicks He was a nine-time All-Star and won Olympic gold with the “Dream Team” in 1992. Ewing was also named Rookie of the Year in 1986 and Defensive Player of the Year in 1989.
David Robinson
David Robinson is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for his entire career. Robinson is widely considered one of the greatest centers ever to play the game and is known for his gentle off-court demeanor and military service. At 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 m) tall, Robinson was too tall to enlist in the United States Marine Corps at age 17, so he obtained an appointment to attend the United States Naval Academy, where he excelled in both academics and basketball. He is a two-time NBA Champion a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, a 10-time NBA All-Star and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo was born on June 25, 1966, in Leopoldville, Zaire (now Kinshasa, Congo). Standing 7’2” tall and weighing 290 pounds, he played center for the Georgetown Hoyas from 1988 to 1991. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament in his final year with the team. In 2001, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson is a retired American basketball player He is widely considered one of the greatest college players of all time, winning three consecutive College Player of the Year Awards, and being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four in 1983. After his junior year, he was declared ineligible for further collegiate play due to his involvement with a sports agent He then went on to play four seasons in the NBA before injuries forced him to retire in 1988. At 7’4″, he is one of the tallest players in NBA history
Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore (born September 21, 1949) is an American retired Professional Basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a two-time ABA All-Star, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
Gilmore stands 7’2″ (218 cm) tall, and previously held the distinction of being the tallest player in ABA history. When he retired from the NBA in 1988, he was the tallest player ever to have played in that league. As of 2019, he is one of only four players taller than 7 feet 0 inches (213 cm) to have played in at least 500 NBA games