Who is the Tallest NBA Player Ever?
We take a look at the tallest NBA players in history and see just how they measure up.
Introduction
In basketball, height can be an important asset. The taller a player is, the easier it is for them to shoot over defenders and block shots. As a result, many of the tallest players in NBA history have been some of the most successful.
So, who is the tallest NBA player ever? The answer may surprise you. While there have been some very tall players in the NBA over the years, none of them come close to the height of one man who never even played a single game.
Gheorghe Muresan
At 7’7”, Romanian-born Gheorghe Muresan is the tallest player in NBA history. He played for the Washington Bullets/Wizards from 1993 to 2000. In his best season, 1996-97, he averaged 14.5 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game.
Shawn Bradley
At 7-foot-6, Shawn Bradley was one of the tallest players in NBA history. He played center for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks during his 12-year NBA career. Bradley retired in 2005 after suffering a number of injuries that limited his playing time in recent years.
Yao Ming
The tallest player in NBA history is 7’6″ Yao Ming, who played for the Houston Rockets from 2002 to 2011. Standing nearly a foot taller than the next tallest player in NBA history, Shaquille O’Neal, Yao was an absolute force in the paint during his playing days. Though injuries limited Yao to just nine seasons in the NBA, he left a lasting impact on the game and is widely considered one of the best players in Rockets history.
Manute Bol
Manute Bol was a Sudanese-American basketball player and activist. He was one of the tallest men ever to play in the National Basketball Association, at 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m), and is believed to have been the first player to be drafted into the NBA primarily for his defensive ability. He is remembered for his shot-blocking and his unusual shooting form, as he shotwith his hand above his head.
Conclusion
At 7’7”, Manute Bol was the tallest player in NBA history, and he holds the record for the most blocked shots in a season. However, there have been many other tall players throughout the years who have made their mark on the game.
Players like Yao Ming (7’6”), Shawn Bradley (7’6”), and Ralph Sampson (7’4”) were all extremely tall and had successful NBA careers. But even they pale in comparison to some of the tallest players ever to step on an NBA court.
Players like Boban Marjanovic (7’3”), Gheorghe Muresan (7’7”), and Hasheem Thabeet (7’3) were all taller than Yao Ming, but they never had the same level of success. In fact, Thabeet is often considered to be one of the biggest busts in NBA history.
So who is the tallest player in NBA history? The answer may surprise you. At 7’8”, Sun Mingming is the tallest player ever to play in the NBA. However, he only played in five games for the Houston Rockets during the 2004-05 season and was never able to consistently crack the rotation.
