Shortest NBA Players: Basketball is a sport dominated by big men. So it’s no wonder that the NBA, the world’s most gifted basketball league, is full of athletic giants. A basketball player’s average height is roughly 6’7″.
That is not to say that if you are not a great, supertall athlete, you cannot make it to the league. Today, we’ll look at the top five shortest NBA players in history as well as the top five shortest players in the NBA right now. These players show that size does not necessarily matter when it comes to playing high-level basketball. Their passion, hard work, and tenacity have motivated numerous young athletes to follow their objectives, regardless of the hurdles they may face.
Check Out The 5 Shortest NBA Players
1) Muggsy Bogues
Muggsy Bogues is a retired American professional basketball player who was born on January 9, 1965. Despite his diminutive stature, he is most recognised for his fierce defence and outstanding ball-handling ability. He is the NBA’s smallest player, being only 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m) tall.
Bogues was born and reared in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, where he was a member of one of the top high school basketball teams in the country. He went on to play for Wake Forest University, where he was a brilliant point guard who established the ACC record for most career assists.
The Washington Bullets selected Bogues 12th overall in the 1987 NBA Draught. He played one season with the Bullets before joining the Charlotte Hornets in 1991. Bogues’ finest years as a professional basketball player were spent with the Hornets. He shared the court with Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning, and he helped the Hornets reach the playoffs three times in four years.
Bogues was noted throughout his career for his ability to steal the ball and his superb passing skills. During his 14-year NBA career, he averaged 7.7 points, 7.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
Bogues left professional basketball in 2001 to become a basketball coach and motivational speaker. In addition, he has appeared in a number of films and television programmes, including “Space Jam” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Despite his tiny frame, Muggsy Bogues has become an NBA icon.
2) Earl Boykins
Earl Boykins is a former professional basketball player who rose to prominence despite being one of the league’s smallest players. Boykins, who is 5’5″, had to rely on his extraordinary speed and agility to compete against guys considerably bigger and more physically imposing than him.
Boykins, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1976, attended Eastern Michigan University. In the 1998 NBA draught, he went undrafted but was subsequently signed by the New Jersey Nets. Boykins played for a variety of teams throughout his career, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Orlando Magic, and the Milwaukee Bucks, but he is arguably most remembered for his stint with the Denver Nuggets.
Boykins became a fan favourite in Denver because of his aggressive style and ability to score despite his small stature. He was recognised for his lightning-fast crossovers and ability to easily blow past opponents. Boykins scored a career-high 32 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Nuggets to an unlikely comeback victory against the Dallas Mavericks in 2004.
Despite his stature, Boykins was a relentless defender, disrupting passing lanes and harassing opposing ball-handlers with his speed and agility. He won the NBA’s Hustle Award two times, which is presented to the player who exhibits the most devotion and hard effort on the floor.
Boykins retired from the NBA after 13 seasons in 2012. He concluded his career with 8.9 points per game, 3.2 assists, and 0.6 steals.
3) Melvin M. Hirsch
Melvin M. Hirsch was a member of the Boston Celtics of the BAA (Basketball Association of America, which evolved into the present NBA). Mel was a standout at Brooklyn College, and after graduation, he joined the US Army and worked as a navigator on the C-47 aircraft. He had a limited NBA career, appearing in only 13 games and averaging 1.5 and 0.8 points per game.
4) Spud Webb
Spud Webb is a former NBA player known for his extraordinary quickness and exceptional talents on the floor despite his small stature. Spud Webb beat the odds by becoming one of the most adored players in NBA history despite standing only 5 feet 7 inches tall.
Webb was born in Dallas, Texas on July 13, 1963. He attended Wilmer-Hutchins High School, where he excelled as a basketball player. Despite his little frame, Webb was a gifted athlete with exceptional leaping ability and lightning-fast speed.
Webb went on to play basketball for Midland College after high school, where he was awarded an NJCAA All-American. He subsequently went to North Carolina State University, where he excelled on the court again. He was drafted in the fourth round of the NBA draught by the Detroit Pistons in 1985, but he was released before the season began.
Webb then joined the Atlanta Hawks and instantly became a fan favourite. In 1986, he competed in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and stunned the world by overcoming much taller opponents, including Dominique Wilkins, to win. His triumph catapulted him to stardom, and he became considered one of the finest dunkers in NBA history.
Despite his tiny stature, Webb had a long and successful NBA career. He played for numerous teams before retiring in 1998, including the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic. He concluded his career with 9.9 points per game, 5.3 assists per game, and 1.1 steals per game on average.
Webb stayed active in the NBA after retiring, serving as a coach and a commentator. He also founded the Spud Webb Celebrity Golf Tournament to benefit numerous philanthropic causes.
5) Greg Grant
Greg Grant is a retired American basketball player who rose to prominence in the 1990s with the National Basketball Association (NBA). Grant, who was born in Trenton, New Jersey on August 12, 1966, played point guard for five different NBA clubs throughout his career.
Grant’s NBA career began in 1989 when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Phoenix Suns. Grant was recognised for his agility and ball-handling ability, which allowed him to flourish as a playmaker on the court despite his tiny size (he stood at only 5’7′′). He played with the Suns for one season before joining the New York Knicks in 1990.
Grant’s tenure with the Knicks was brief, as he was quickly traded to the Charlotte Hornets before finishing the 1991-92 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He then played for the Washington Bullets and Denver Nuggets before retiring in 1996.
Grant averaged 2.8 points and 2.7 assists per game throughout his career. While he was hardly a superstar, he did establish himself as a motivated and capable player who overcame physical constraints to make an impression in the game.
Grant currently works as a basketball coach and trainer, passing on his skills and experience to the next generation of basketball players.
Before we wrap off this blog, here’s a shout-out to the NBA 2022-23 season’s Shortest NBA Players players who are still competing in this league of huge super athletes:
- Facundo Campazzo (5’10”)
- Jordan McLaughlin (5’11”)
- Chris Paul (6’0”)
- Tyus Jones (6’0”)
- Kyle Lowry (6’0”)
Stay Connected to Sportsermon.in for basketball updates, Shortest NBA Players, basketball predictions, basketball live updates, basketball predictions updates and more.
