Ranking the Greatest Players by Height
The NBA is filled with giants. Where else do you find so many people nearly seven-feet tall gathered together in one place?
An average male aged 20 or older in the United State stands just 5'9.5" while the typical height of an NBA athlete is usually around 6'7", but varies year to year.
Of course, there are outliers in these samples. Some just stand out more than others.
From the 5'3" Muggsy Bogues to the 7'7" Manute Bol, read on to discover the best current and historical players in the NBA at each and every height. In between those heights, every single number is represented with the small exception (pun intended) of the 5'4" spot.
5'3": None (Current) and Muggsy Bogues (All Time)
1 of 28Muggsy Bogues
Years Played: 1987-2001
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 7.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.0 blocks
Accolades: None of note
5'5": Earl Boykins (Current) and Earl Boykins (All Time)
2 of 28Earl Boykins
Years Played: 1998-2011
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 8.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: None of note
5'6": None (Current) and Spud Webb (All Time)
3 of 28Spud Webb
Years Played: 1985-1998
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: One-time Slam Dunk Champion
5'7": None (Current) and Keith Jennings (All Time)
4 of 28Keith Jennings
Years Played: 1992-1995
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 6.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.0 blocks
Accolades: None of note
5'8": None (Current) and Charlie Criss (All Time)
5 of 28Charlie Criss:
Years Played: 1977-1985
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 8.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: None of note
5'9": Nate Robinson (Current) and Calvin Murphy (All Time)
6 of 28Nate Robinson
Years Played: 2005-current
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 11.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: Three-time Slam Dunk Champion
Calvin Murphy
Years Played: 1970-1983
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 17.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: One-time All-Star
5'10": None (Current) and Damon Stoudamire (All Time)
7 of 28Damon Stoudamire
Years Played: 1995-2008
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 13.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: None of note
5'11": Ty Lawson (Current) and Terrell Brandon (All Time)
8 of 28Ty Lawson
Years Played: 2009-current
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 10.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.0 blocks
Accolades: None of note
Terrell Brandon
Years Played: 1991-2002
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 13.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.3 blocks
Accolades: Two-time All-Star
6'0": Chris Paul (Current) and Allen Iverson (All Time)
9 of 28Years Played: 2005-current
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 18.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 2.4 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: Four-time All-Star, Three-time All-NBA, Three-time All-Defensive
Years Played: 1996-2010
Position: Shooting guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 26.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.2 steals, 0.2 blocks
Accolades: One-time MVP, 11-time All-Star, Four-time Scoring Champion, Seven-time All-NBA
6'1": Rajon Rondo (Current) and John Stockton (All Time)
10 of 28Rajon Rondo
Years Played: 2006-current
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 10.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: One-time NBA Champion, Two-time All-Star, Three-time All-Defensive
John Stockton
Years Played: 1984-2003
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 2.2 steals, 0.2 blocks
Accolades: Hall of Famer, 10-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, Five-time All-Defensive
6'2": Tony Parker (Current) and Jerry West (All Time)
11 of 28Tony Parker
Years Played: 2001-current
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 16.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: Three-time NBA Champion, Three-time All-Star, One-time All-NBA
Jerry West
Years Played: 1960-1974
Position: Guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 2.6 steals, 0.7 blocks
Accolades: Hall of Famer, One-time NBA Champion, 12-time All-Star, One-time Scoring Champion, 12-time All-NBA, Five-time All-Defensive
6'3": Derrick Rose (Current) and Steve Nash (All Time)
12 of 28Years Played: 2008-current
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 20.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.4 blocks
Accolades: One-time MVP, Two-time All-Star, One-time All-NBA
Steve Nash
Years Played: 1996-current
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 14.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: Two-time MVP, Seven-time All-Star, Seven-time All-NBA
6'4": Dwyane Wade (Current) and Dwyane Wade (All Time)
13 of 28Dwyane Wade
Years Played: 2003-current
Position: Shooting guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 25.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.0 blocks
Accolades: One-time NBA Champion, Seven-time All-Star, One-time Scoring Champion, Six-time All-NBA, Three-time All-Defensive
6'5": Ray Allen (Current) and Oscar Robertson (All Time)
14 of 28Ray Allen
Years Played: 1996-current
Position: Shooting guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 20.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks
Accolades: One-time NBA Champion, 10-time All-Star, Two-time All-NBA
Oscar Robertson
Years Played: 1960-1974
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks
Accolades: Hall of Famer, One-time NBA Champion, One-time MVP, 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA
6'6": Kobe Bryant (Current) and Michael Jordan (All Time)
15 of 28Years Played: 1996-current
Position: Shooting guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.5 blocks
Accolades: Five-time NBA Champion, One-time MVP, 13-time All-Star, Two-time Scoring Champion, 13-time All-NBA, 11-time All-Defensive
Michael Jordan
Years Played: 1984-2003
Position: Shooting guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.8 blocks
Accolades: Hall of Famer, Six-time NBA Champion, Five-time MVP, 14-time All-Star, 10-time Scoring Champion, 11-time All-NBA, Nine-time All-Defensive
6'7": Paul Pierce (Current) and Julius Erving (All Time)
16 of 28Paul Pierce
Years Played: 1998-current
Position: Small forward
Career Per-Game Stats: 22.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks
Accolades: One-time NBA Champion, Nine-time All-Star, Four-time All-NBA
Julius Erving
Years Played: 1971-1987
Position: Small forward
Career Per-Game Stats: 24.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.7 blocks
Accolades: Hall of Famer, One-time NBA Champion, Two-time ABA Champion, One-time NBA MVP, Three-time ABA MVP, 11-time NBA All-Star, Five-time ABA All-Star, Seven-time All-NBA, Five-time All-ABA, One-time ABA All-Defensive
6'8": LeBron James (Current) and LeBron James (All Time)
17 of 28Years Played: 2003-current
Position: Small forward
Career Per-Game Stats: 27.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.8 blocks
Accolades: Two-time MVP, Seven-time All-Star, One-time Scoring Champion, Seven-time All-NBA, Three-time All-Defensive
6'9": Kevin Durant (Current) and Magic Johnson (All Time)
18 of 28Kevin Durant
Years Played: 2007-current
Position: Small forward
Career Per-Game Stats: 25.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks
Accolades: Two-time All-Star, Two-time Scoring Champion, Two-time All-NBA
Magic Johnson
Years Played: 1979-1996
Position: Point guard
Career Per-Game Stats: 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 11.2 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.4 blocks
Accolades: Hall of Famer, Five-time NBA Champion, Three-time MVP, 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA
6'10": Blake Griffin (Current) and Bill Russell (All Time)
19 of 28Blake Griffin
Years Played: 2010-current
Position: Power forward
Career Per-Game Stats: 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks
Accolades: One-time All-Star
Bill Russell
Years Played: 1956-1969
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, unknown steals, unknown blocks
Accolades: Hall of Famer, 11-time NBA Champion, Five-time MVP, 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, One-time All-Defensive
6'11": Dwight Howard (Current) and Tim Duncan (All Time)
20 of 28Years Played: 2004-current
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 18.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 2.2 blocks
Accolades: Three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Five-time All-Star, Five-time All-NBA, Four-time All-Defensive
Tim Duncan
Years Played: 1997-current
Position: Power forward
Career Per-Game Stats: 20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.3 blocks
Accolades: Four-time NBA Champion, Two-time MVP, 13-time All-Star, 13-time All-NBA, 13-time All-Defensive
7'0": Dirk Nowitzki (Current) and Hakeem Olajuwon (All Time)
21 of 28Dirk Nowitzki
Years Played: 1998-current
Position: Power forward
Career Per-Game Stats: 23.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks
Accolades: One-time NBA Champion, One-time MVP, 10-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA
Hakeem Olajuwon
Years Played: 1984-2002
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 3.1 blocks
Accolades: Hall of Famer, Two-time NBA Champion, One-time MVP, 12-time All-Star, Two-time Defensive Player of the Year, 12-time All-NBA, Nine-time All-Defensive
7'1": Tyson Chandler (Current) and Wilt Chamberlain (All Time)
22 of 28Tyson Chandler
Years Played: 2001-current
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 8.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.3 blocks
Accolades: One-time NBA Champion, One-time All-Defensive
Wilt Chamberlain
Years Played: 1959-1973
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, unknown steals, unknown blocks
Accolades: Hall of Famer, Two-time NBA Champion, Four-time MVP, 13-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, Two-time All-Defensive, Seven-time Scoring Champion
7'2": Roy Hibbert (Current) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (All Time)
23 of 28Roy Hibbert
Years Played: 2008-current
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.5 blocks
Accolades: None of note
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Years Played: 1969-1989
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 2.6 blocks
Accolades: Hall of Famer, Six-time NBA Champion, Six-time MVP, 19-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 11-time All-Defensive
7'3": Hasheem Thabeet (Current) and Zydrunas Ilgauskas (All Time)
24 of 28Hasheem Thabeet
Years Played: 2009-current
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 2.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.9 blocks
Accolades: None of note
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Years Played: 1997-current
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.6 blocks
Accolades: Two-time All-Star
7'4": None (Current) and Ralph Sampson (All Time)
25 of 28Ralph Sampson
Years Played: 1983-1992
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.6 blocks
Accolades: Four-time All-Star, One-time All-NBA
7'5": None (Current) and Chuck Nevitt (All Time)
26 of 28Chuck Nevitt
Years Played: 1982-1994
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 1.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 0.1 steals, 0.7 blocks
Accolades: One-time NBA Champion
7'6": None (Current) and Yao Ming (All Time)
27 of 28Years Played: 2002-2011
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.9 blocks
Accolades: Six-time All-Star, Five-time All-NBA
7'7": None (Current) and Manute Bol (All Time)
28 of 28Manute Bol
Years Played: 1985-1995
Position: Center
Career Per-Game Stats: 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.2 steals, 3.3 blocks
Accolades: One-time All-Defensive
* * *
Adam Fromal is a syndicated writer and Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
