Average Height of NBA Players in 2025
How tall is the Average NBA Player?
NBA players are among the tallest athletes in professional sports. The average height of an NBA player generally falls between 6 feet 6 inches and 6 feet 7 inches (roughly 198–200 cm), though this can vary slightly from season to season. Over time, the league has seen subtle shifts in average height depending on playstyle trends and team strategies. For example, modern basketball has emphasized speed and versatility, which has led to a gradual decline in average height compared to earlier eras dominated by big men in the paint.
Compared to athletes in other major sports, NBA players stand significantly taller. On average, they’re around 4 to 5 inches taller than NFL and MLB players and about 9 inches taller than the average adult male in the United States.
Several NBA players have measured over 7 feet tall, while some of the shortest players to ever play professionally have stood under 5 feet 7 inches.
Who are the tallest and shortest players in the NBA?
Throughout NBA history, player heights have varied widely, with some notable examples standing out on both ends of the spectrum. While exact rankings may change over time, a few players have become well-known for their height.
On the taller side, players like Gheorghe Mureșan (7 feet 7 inches), Manute Bol (7 feet 6 inches), and Tacko Fall (7 feet 5 inches) have stood well above the league average and remain memorable figures for their extraordinary size. Players over 7 feet tall are typically found playing center or power forward, though modern basketball has seen taller athletes adapt to more versatile roles.
Conversely, several successful NBA players have made their mark despite being well below average height. Notable examples include Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues (5 feet 3 inches), Earl Boykins (5 feet 5 inches), and Spud Webb (5 feet 7 inches). These athletes demonstrated that skill, speed, and basketball IQ can often outweigh physical stature.
While the number of 7-foot-tall players tends to fluctuate from season to season, it’s common to see a few dozen players in that range on active NBA rosters at any given time. Players under 6 feet tall, however, remain rare outliers in the league.
Examples of exceptionally tall NBA players
The NBA has seen a number of exceptionally tall players over the decades, many of whom became iconic due to their height and impact on the game. While this list includes some of the tallest athletes to have played in the league, it’s not definitive.
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Gheorghe Mureșan – 7’7″ (Washington Bullets, New Jersey Nets)
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Manute Bol – 7’6″ (Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, and others)
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Shawn Bradley – 7’6″ (Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets)
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Yao Ming – 7’6″ (Houston Rockets)
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Slavko Vraneš – 7’6″ (Portland Trail Blazers)
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Chuck Nevitt – 7’5″ (Houston Rockets and multiple teams)
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Tacko Fall – 7’5″ (Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers)
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Sim Bhullar – 7’5″ (Sacramento Kings)
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Pavel Podkolzin – 7’5″ (Dallas Mavericks)
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Mark Eaton – 7’4″ (Utah Jazz)
Sources
- NBA.com/players
- Wikipedia
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