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How tall is an average basketball player
What Is The Average Height Of NBA Players in 2022?
Height is one of the main things that NBA recruiters typically look for in their players. It’s also what people are most curious about when it comes to basketball players.
When evaluating whether a player deserves a spot on the NBA draft board, physical measurements and test results aren’t the only determining factors. But a player’s height does highlight a few of their positive attributes as well as give an idea of the certain limitations they might have.
So, how tall are NBA players exactly? And what is the average height among them?
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Average Height Of An NBA Player By Position
You might be wondering “what’s the average height for a man in the US?” The average American male height is 5’9”, which only emphasizes how tall NBA players are.
During the 2021-2022 NBA season, the average height of NBA players was about 6’6” or 198.6cm tall, which is 8 inches taller than the US average height for males.
Biggest Hands in NBA
But one thing you should know is that not every player in a team is required to be tall. You’ll notice that most teams have significant height differences between their players. Each position has a different height requirement.
Average Height of a Point Guard
The point guard responsibilities involve handling the ball so tall players aren’t really a requirement for this position. They’re usually the ones playmakers on the court.
In 1952, point guards were often seen as the shortest players on the court with an average height of 6’. But, over the years, the average height has seen a significant change. In 1987, NBA point guards were usually about 6’3” tall.
Magic Johnson was the tallest player in this position in the history of the NBA with a height of 6’9”, although this height wasn’t exactly ideal for Johnson’s position on the court at that time.
The shortest point guard in the NBA is Muggsey Bogues at 5’3”. Instead of height, basketball IQ and playmaking skills are the main considerations for the point guard position.
These past few years the average point guard height lies somewhere around the 6’ to 6’3” range.
NBA players ranked by age
Average Height of a Shooting Guard
The team’s best shooter is placed in the shooting guard position. They should be able to shoot the ball no matter how far the distance is. Dribbling skills are also a requirement for a shooting guard.
Height isn’t too important for the shooting guard position either. Sometimes, NBA teams appoint their shortest member as their shooting guard. What’s required of this position is being able to quickly pass the ball and have the skills to see the court from a perspective that lets them make the right choices on the court.
One of the NBA's best shooting guards is James Harden, with a height of 6’4”. In 1952, the average height for a shooting guard was around 6’1”. It changed to 6’5” during the 2005 NBA season.
These days, shooting guards usually fall at around 6’3” to 6’5” tall. Corey Brewer is one of the tallest shooting guards with a height of 6’9”.
Average Height of a Small Forward
This position is important in court. They’re responsible for facing head-to-head against the players from the other team and roaming all over the court. A small forward player needs to be of average height for making small shots, playing inside and outside the court, and making long shots.
A small forward is also incredibly agile and good at shooting. In 1952, small forward players were around 6’4” tall. It gradually increased over the years, peaking at 6’8 in 2015.
The NBA's best small forward is LeBron James with a height of 6’7”. Kevin Durant is also another incredible small forward at 6’8” tall. In the recent season, the average height for this position falls at 6’7”.
How many game are in a NBA season
Average Height of a Power Forward
The responsibility of power forwards has changed over the years. Back then, they were given to the tallest players in the team since they focused mostly on rebounds and lay-ups.
Now, power forwards focus more on scoring 3-pointers. But in terms of height, some of the taller players in the team are still usually given the position of power forward, with an average height of around 6’7” to 6’11”.
Instead of height, it’s the average weight of players in this position that has seen the most change. In the last four years, the average weight decreased by around 10 lbs., allowing the players to move faster and more flexibly and improving their performance on the court.
Average Height of a Center
The center position is usually given to the team’s tallest player since they need the advantage of height in order to make rebounds and close shots. They’re usually found close to the basket, making shots and blocking the other team from scoring.
Physical strength is also needed for a center. Two of the more notable centers are Rudy Gobert and Shaquille O’Neal with their heights being at 7’, which was also the average height for a center player in 1996.
Right now, the average height of center players falls around the 6’9” to 7’ range.
Average NBA Height Table
This table showcases the average height of each team for the new NBA season.
Team
Number of Players
Average Height
Atlanta Hawks
13
199.7cm
Boston Celtics
12
200.4cm
Brooklyn Nets
13
198.5cm
Charlotte Hornets
13
202.8cm
Chicago Bulls
15
200.3cm
Cleveland Cavaliers
15
200.9cm
Dallas Mavericks
13
201.8cm
Denver Nuggets
15
200.5cm
Detroit Pistons
16
200.0cm
Golden State Warriors
13
199.3cm
Houston Rockets
18
198.6cm
Indiana Pacers
14
200. 4cm
Los Angeles Clippers
17
199.3cm
Los Angeles Lakers
14
199.1cm
Memphis Grizzlies
16
199.8cm
Miami Heat
13
200.0cm
Milwaukee Bucks
17
197.6cm
Minnesota Timberwolves
15
199.6cm
New Orleans Pelicans
15
199.1cm
New York Knicks
13
199.5cm
Oklahoma City Thunder
18
201.7cm
Orlando Magic
16
201.9cm
Philadelphia 76ers
16
198.8cm
Phoenix Suns
14
199.1cm
Portland Trail Blazers
15
198.7cm
Sacramento Kings
14
201.1cm
San Antonio Spurs
15
201.0cm
Toronto Raptors
17
199.6cm
Utah Jazz
14
197. 4cm
Washington Wizards
15
202.4cm
How Tall Is The Average NBA Player?
Every new season sees a change in the average NBA height. Players during the earlier seasons weren’t as tall as the players we currently see now.
In 1952, the average height was 6’4”. It changed to 6’7” in 1987. Although the average height decreased a little in the subsequent years, it’s still taller than it used to be back then.
Right now, the average height of NBA players is 6’6”.
Change in NBA Height Trends
Every season, the heights of NBA players are assessed and the average results are always a bit different every time. The average height for the different positions changes every year.
Since the early NBA years, the average height has steadily increased with players becoming taller and taller. This led to people believing that height is the ultimate requirement for being an NBA player.
However, in the early years, most of the taller players did not contribute as much to the game. During the 1980s, positions were then decided and assigned based on the players’ heights.
It was obvious that some positions, like the center position, for instance, required significant height advantage to perform their roles well.
Although height isn’t the ultimate requirement for becoming a basketball player, it is still essential nonetheless.
Read this article would provide you with all that you should know about the NBA season.
Have NBA Players Always Been That Tall
The height trend of NBA players from 1952 until the current year shows an increase since the first recorded season of NBA. Looking at the average height back during the early years of the NBA, we can see that players back then were almost three inches smaller than the basketball players of today.
Interestingly enough, the average height for players peaked in 1987. Since then, the average height never went past the 6’7” range. But, the average weight of players did increase which could be attributed to players becoming more athletic and muscular, instead of becoming taller.
Minimum Height Requirements for NBA
There are no official height requirements to play for the NBA. For instance, Muggsey Bogues was only 5’3” but he played for 15 seasons.
If you dream of making it into the NBA, then your height shouldn’t be a deterrent. Instead, you should focus more on improving your skills and talents to give the scouts a reason to put you on the draft board.
Who are the 10 tallest players in NBA history?
These are the top ten tallest basketball players in the history of the NBA, along with the teams they played for:
Gheorhe Muresan – 7’7” (played for the Washington Bullets and New Jersey Nets)
Manute Bol – 7’6” (played for the Washington Bullets and three other teams)
Slavko Vranes – 7’6” (played for the Portland Trail Blazers)
Shawn Bradley – 7’6” (played for the Philadelphia 76ers and three other teams)
Yao Ming – 7’6” (played for the Houston Rockets)
Chuck Nevitt – 7’5” (played for the Houston Rockets and five other teams)
Pavel Podkolzin – 7’5” (played for the Dallas Mavericks)
Sim Bhullar – 7’5” (played for the Sacramento Kings)
Tacko Fall – 7’5” (played for the Boston Celtics)
Mark Eaton – 7’4” (played for the Utah Jazz)
Shortest NBA Players in History
This list shows the players with the shortest height in NBA history but made up for it with lots of heart:
Tyrone Curtis ‘Muggsey’ Bogues – 5’3” (played for the Washington Bullets and two other teams)
Earl Antoine Boykins – 5’5” (played for the Denver Nuggets)
Anthony Jerome ‘Spud’ Webb – 5’7” (played for the Detroit Pistons)
Calvin Murphy – 5’9” (played for the Houston Rockets)
Nate Robinson – 5’9” (played for the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics)
Michael Adams – 5’10” (played for the Denver Nuggets)
Damon ‘Might Mouse’ Stoudamire – 5’10” (played for the Portland Trailblazers)
Avery ‘Little General’ Johnson – 5’10” (played for the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks)
Allen Iverson – 6’0” (played for the Philadelphia 76ers)
Chris Paul – 6’0” (played for the Los Angeles Clippers)
Correlation of Height and Victories
There is no exact correlation between a player’s height and their chances of winning a basketball game. Although it is an important aspect, the conditions for every game never stay the same and there are always different factors at play such as differences in tactics, injuries, and other factors that influence a game.
A player being tall doesn’t guarantee a victory in basketball. For example, Michael Jordan, a former NBA player who is considered a legend in the basketball scene, was 6’6” but was incredibly versatile and won six championships in eight years.
You don’t have to be the tallest in your team to be incredibly successful as a basketball player. Other skills are needed in a basketball game and height isn’t the only requirement.
Conclusion
Although the average height for NBA players has not surpassed its peak in 1987, it is still significantly larger than the average height of an ordinary American citizen.
However, this shows that the NBA isn’t all about the height of the players anymore. Instead, scouts have paid more attention to other aspects such as basketball IQ and their different skills on the court. The requirements to be drafted may vary depending on the location but height is no longer a main factor.
Modern basketball now encourages and prioritizes skill over anything else, which only makes basketball games even more enjoyable and exciting to watch.
What Is The Average Height Of NBA Players?
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When it comes to basketball players, we think of people of admirable height. That belief has been around for a long time, and it holds in most cases. Even so, perhaps not all of us know well about the average nba height and its development. If you have the same question as Scott Fujita, this article will provide you with the right answer.
Let’s check it out!
Contents
How Tall Is The Average NBA Player?
NBA average height.
The NBA average height for the 2019-20 season is 6’6”, the lowest number in the past 40 years. The last decade was the first decade in the league’s history in which player height has decreased compared to a decade earlier.
Even so, this number is still relatively high when compared to the average American male height of 5’9 1/2″. It’s almost 8 inches taller. The problem of this height reduction is primarily due to the NBA updating the height measurements of the players.
View more: NBA training camp
Starting with the 2019-20 season, NBA teams must submit their team members’ actual height numbers (excluding shoes) to their doctors. In addition, there are a few external factors that also distort the height of the player.
A specific example of such misrepresentation is word of mouth. When joking with women, Kevin Durant likes to say he’s 7 feet tall when he’s 6’9.”
Average NBA Height of Players By Position1. Point guards
NBA average height of point guards.
In 1952, the average height in the NBA of point guards was 6′. With this height, people often see point guards as the shortest and smallest players in the league. However, over the years, that height has increased significantly. In 1987, the average NBA point guard height was 6’3″.
The tallest point guard is historically Magic Johnson. He is 6’9″. This height is not too suitable for the position that Magic Johnson held at the time.
Muggsey Bogues is the shortest of the NBA’s point guards. He’s only 5’3″. People do not use height to judge the ability of point guards. Instead, they believe in the basketball IQ and playmaking skills of the players.
Over the years, there has been a significant height change to the point guard’s position. Usually, it will range from 6′ – 6’3″.
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2. Shooting guards
NBA average height of shooting guards.
In the 1950s, the heights of shooting guards and point guards were quite similar. Shooting guards are only slightly taller than point guards.
In the 1951-21 season, the average height of NBA shooting guards was 6’1.3″. From 1955 to 1957, it rose to 6’3″.
After the 1990-91 season, there was an immense growth in the height of shooting guards. Their size has reached 6’5″ and has fluctuated at this number throughout recent years.
However, there has been a change in recent years. Point guards gradually became superior to shooting guards in terms of talent, agility, and height. A good example is Simmons at 6’10”, 1 foot taller when compared to Corey Brewer.
3. Small forwards
NBA average height of small forwards.
While the name small forwards may sound a little funny, this position is essential on the court. The average height of small forwards is quite similar to the average height of NBA players. During the 1952-53 season, they were about 6’4″.
Over time, the average height of small forwards gradually increased and peaked at 6’8″ in the 2015-16 season. Right now, that number is 6’7. We can see a reasonably significant height growth in the small forwards position.
4. Power forwards
NBA average height of power forwards.
The position of power forwards has changed quite a bit since 1952. In the past, power forwards were very experienced in creating rebounds and post-ups. Perhaps that is why they are the tallest NBA players in the league.
However, now a power forward player focuses more on scoring three-pointers. Statistically, this position’s three-pointer hit rate is 327 percent higher.
In terms of the height growth of power forwards, you will not see much change. It falls on average between 6’7” to 6’11”.
The average weight of power forwards is the part that changes the most. It has lost 10 lbs in the last four years. The weight loss has improved their performance, allowing them to move more flexibly and faster.
5. Centers
NBA average height of centers.
The NBA players who play centers are the ones with the highest average height on the roster. However, when the NBA is gradually becoming perimeter-oriented, the effect of the center NBA player is no longer as significant as before.
In the 1950s, the average center height was only 6’8″. However, the number started to increase to 6’11 gradually”. The average height of center players in the NBA peaked in 1995-96 at 6’11.9″.
Some of the players who play this position are incredibly tall. We can cite a few examples such as Yao Ming, Shawn Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, or Gheorghe Muresan. They have a giant height of over 7′.
The average weight of centers is also increasing over time. It had a run from 1996 to 2004 with 229 pounds.
Have NBA Players Always Been That Tall?
Average basketball player height.
Because of the nature of the game, basketball players will be taller than ordinary people. Although training plays an important part, genetics is the key to the height of NBA players.
If they have had an unprecedented height from a young age and showed interest in basketball, they will inevitably appear on the court. Such people will often have brilliant achievements later.
Therefore, the nature of NBA players is that they must have a standard height. To learn more about the height growth of NBA players, you can watch this video.
In tournament history, the average heights of players have also varied. From 1952 until now, there has been an increase of about 3 inches in the average player height. Thanks to the continuous improvement of their training and nutrition regimes, it is understandable that they will get taller over time.
After that, the height of players continued to increase until it peaked in 1987 at 6’7″. This number has not changed much in recent years. The main reason is probably because of the change in the NBA’s measurement.
While the average height hasn’t changed much since 1987, the average weight of all positions has increased. The peak of the average weight was in 2011 when they reached 221 lbs. This number shows us the growing trend of NBA players in favor of strength, muscle, and sport.
However, the trend has changed as basketball gradually becomes a perimeter-oriented game with a faster pace. So players are starting to lose weight compared to 2011.
Final Words
The average NBA player height is currently flat at 6’7″. This number is still quite large compared to the average height of an ordinary citizen. In the NBA, however, it says more than that.
The focus on NBA players is no longer just about height. Instead, attention has been paid to other aspects such as control of the game or basketball mindset. Depending on the location, the requirements will vary.
Because of these new surprises and changes that the NBA in particular and the basketball game in general always make us feel excited to watch.
how tall should a basketball player be, why are basketball players tall
Danila Chezhin
Professional basketball players are all very tall people. This stereotype has probably existed since the birth of the orange ball game. But to what extent does this thesis reflect the real state of affairs? Do short people really have no chance to play basketball professionally? Let's test the myth for strength. What is the best height for basketball?
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How tall do you need to be to play basketball?
Growth is what coaches first of all pay attention to when recruiting young players for basketball clubs. As a result of proper physical development, it is easier for naturally tall children to gain a foothold in the basketball team. It should be understood that high growth, although it is very important for a basketball player, is by no means a dogma. The history of the game knows a lot of examples when undersized athletes achieved great success, actively using other strengths. Suffice it to recall the great 160-centimeter point guard Mugsy Bogz, who played 14 seasons in the NBA. Bogz is one of the leaders in the world's major basketball league in assists and steals. Bogz's example is far from the only one.
The average height of an NBA player since the league's inception has hovered around 190 centimeters. The average figure is large, but it cannot take into account the peculiarities of basketball tactics and the peculiarities of a particular historical era of sports. According to the rules of the game, a team of five people enters the basketball court at the same time. Each of the five solves its own problems and, accordingly, each has its own growth requirements. For example, the center player, whose main goal is to fight under the ring for picking up the ball, is the tallest - around 210 cm. And for basketball players who play the ball on the perimeter, on the contrary, high growth can become an obstacle. Handling the ball in dribbling requires flexibility and dexterity in body control. Point guards in basketball are called "little guards". Height at 180-190 cm is normal for them. So it’s impossible to answer the question “what height is needed for basketball” with accuracy - the data for each position will differ markedly.
Why are most basketball players still tall?
Although, as we found out above, height is an important, but far from a determining component of anthropometry for playing basketball, the average height of players still stands out from the average for people in general. This indicator is achieved largely due to the fact that there are a lot of abnormally tall people in basketball. If you look at the top tallest players in history, there will be basketball players over 230 centimeters tall. For example, the well-known center of African origin Manute Bol - 231 cm. Or the Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, who played in the NBA for the Houston Rockets - 229cm.
In modern basketball, where the emphasis is increasingly on perimeter work and three-point shots, the importance for teams of players 220 centimeters tall and above is steadily declining. However, almost every club still has at least one such player. Due to their presence, a high average height of basketball players is formed.
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Does basketball make children grow taller?
Like any sport, basketball, with the right approach, in childhood improves the overall physical and emotional state. As for increasing the intensity of growth, basketball can play a role here too. It is clear, however, that game training by itself will not bring the desired effect. Other factors are also important, such as proper nutrition, recovery procedures, and so on.
What is the best age to play basketball?
Age limits for admission of children to basketball clubs are usually the following:
minimum threshold - 4 years
maximum - 12-13 years old
But here, as in the case of growth, there are no rules that cannot be broken. At first, the coaches of sports schools lay down the basic skills of the game and carry out general physical training. If you wish, you can learn basic things even at the age of 15-16. And physical strength can be acquired in other disciplines. It is not uncommon for people to come to basketball at a young age from other sports. For example, in American university sports, where baseball players, volleyball players, and football players often become basketball players.
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The shortest and smallest basketball players in the world: top 10 - Go-Sport
Top 10 shortest basketball players in the world
June 20, 2019
The average height of basketball players is 185-190 centimeters. At the same time, in the history of world basketball there were many talented players with growth below 175 centimeters. We have compiled the top 10 shortest basketball players in the world.
10. Willie Somerset (173 cm)
Willie Somerset, photo: nasljerseys.com
Willie Somerset was the shortest professional basketball player in the 60s of the last century who managed to play in the NBA. However, in the main basketball league of the world, Somerset spent only one season in 1965/66, playing for the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards), and even then he went to the floor in only eight meetings, having managed to score 45 points. At the same time, Somerset became the lowest basketball player who played in all three major North American basketball leagues: the National Basketball Association (NBA), the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). During his career, Somerset changed eight clubs, in 19In 1971, he won the CBA championship title with the Scranton Apollos, was named the most valuable player of the season in the same year, and participated in the ABA All-Star Game in 1969.
Willie Somerset is not the only 173 cm basketball player. Don Martin, who played for the Providence Steamrollers in the late 40s, was the same height. And Charlie Criss became one of the legends of the Atlanta Hawks of the 70s and 90s, having played more than 400 games in the NBA.
9. Justin Lundako (172 cm)
Justin Lundako has the shortest height among basketball players who played in Russian leagues. Justin began his career at the age of 20 in Dynamo Maikop, where even with such a small stature he attracted attention with a productive game and spent an average of about 16 minutes on the court. However, Justin did not become a big star, eventually switching to business. In recent years, Justin Lundako was seen as a member of the KubGTU student basketball team, took part in amateur street basketball competitions.
Justin Lundako is the shortest Russian basketball player, he is a Russian citizen and lives in Krasnodar.
8. Nate Robinson (170-172 cm)
Nate Robinson, photo: theringer.com
Nate Robinson's height is a hot topic of debate. Different sources indicate from 175 to 172 cm. But those who met Nate in everyday life claim that his real height is closer to 170 cm, and extra centimeters are added due to sneakers. From early childhood, Robinson was distinguished by outstanding jumping ability, so already in his school years he easily scored from above, which attracted the attention of basketball scouts. In parallel, Robinson played football and even received a college scholarship thanks to this, but eventually chose basketball and made his NBA debut in 2005 as part of the New York Knicks. He then played for seven more NBA clubs, but in 2016, Nate began to lose competition for a place in the lineup and changed the New Orleans Pelicans to the Israeli Hapoel.
Robinson is playing for the Lebanese Omenetman in 2019 and hopes to return to the NBA.
Nate Robinson is the smallest basketball player among those who managed to win the NBA All-Star Game dunk contest twice and the only one in the world who was able to do this three times in his career (2006, 2009 and 2010).
7. Wat Misaka, Monty Taw, Keith Jennings, Greg Grant (170 cm)
There are four players on the seventh line of our ranking of the shortest basketball players, whose height is officially 170 cm.
Wat Misaka played only three games with the New York Knicks in the 1947-48 season and scored seven points, but never reached the proper level and ended his professional career.
Monty Thau also played too little - only two seasons with the Denver Nuggets in the mid-1970s, after which he switched to coaching. At the same time, his personal track record is somewhat richer than that of Misaki. Monty won the 1974 NCAA Collegiate Championship and was an ABA All-Star in 1976 year.
Monty Tau, photo: newsobserver.com
Keith Jennings played in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors, but stayed with the Warriors for only three seasons, having managed to play 164 games and score 1090 points. Then Jennings went to travel around Europe, having managed to change three French and two Spanish clubs, looked into Turkey, where he played for Fenerbahce, and even appeared in the unique St. Petersburg Lions project, which lasted only one season. Jennings then switched to coaching.
Greg Grant had the longest career of the four, playing in the NBA from 1989 to 1996. Grant changed 6 clubs, played 274 matches and scored 767 points. Subsequently, Grant played in the Mexican team "Mexico Aztecas" and the Puerto Rican "Capitanes de Arecibo", and also "dusted" in the lower American leagues.
Greg Grant, photo: tcnjsignal. net
6. Herm Klotz (170 cm)
Herm Klotz is the shortest champion in the NBA. Klotz won his title in the ABA, which is considered the forerunner of the major basketball league of our time. It happened in season 1947/48, and this season was the only one in Klotz's career that was held at the highest level. Herm Klotz played for the Baltimore Bullets, but played only 11 games in which he scored 15 points. Before that, Klotz performed well at the level of college basketball, but this was not enough for a successful career in the NBA.
5. Spud Webb (168-170 cm)
Spud Webb (center), photo: si.com
Anthony Jerome Webb (Spud Webb) is a legend among undersized basketball players. Back in high school and college, Webb, whose height, according to various sources, was 168 or 170 cm, was distinguished by incredible speed and good jumping ability, which allowed him to score more than 10 points per game and regularly score from the top. At 19In 1985, Webb was drafted by the Detroit Pistons, but immediately traded to the Atlanta Hawks, where the short defender played until 1991. Then Webb played for the Sacramento Kings, returned to Atlanta, moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and even made a year-long voyage to the Italian Verona.
Spud Webb is the shortest basketball player ever to win a dunk contest. Webb did this as part of the 1986 All-Star Game.
4. Mel Hirsch (168 cm)
Mel Hirsch is the shortest basketball player among those who lasted no more than one season in professional basketball. Hirsch began his basketball career in the army, from 1943 playing for the officer team of his squadron. After being retired, Hirsch tried his hand at professional sports and played the 1946–47 season with the Boston Celtics. However, Hirsch did not play much, in his asset only 13 matches appear, in which the former military man scored 19 points. Both high competition and health problems prevented him from continuing his career. At 19Mel Hirsch died of leukemia in 1968.
Earl Boykins (165 cm)
Earl Boykins, photo: wikipedia. org in the 2000s, the dominance of tall guys. At the same time, Boykins was not selected in the draft, but this did not prevent him from entering into short-term and annual contracts with NBA clubs. In 1999, Boykins played five games for the New Jersey Nets, then played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. Boykins played for the Denver Nuggets from 2003 to 2007. This is his longest spell at the same club. Earl then went back to changing clubs almost every season, and in 2008/09even played in the Italian Virtus.
Earl Boykins played 644 games in the NBA, scoring 5752 points, becoming one of the top scorers under 175 cm.
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Barney Sedran (surname Sedransky) was born in New York in 1891. Sedran is the shortest basketball player of the first half of the 20th century. Sedran began his professional career around 1910 and ended in early 1910s.20s, moving on to coaching. According to some reports, Sedran was the highest paid basketball player of his time, but the exact amount of his salary is unknown.
In 1962, Barney Sedran was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and became the shortest player to be so honored.
1. Mugsy Bogz (160 cm)
Mugsy Bogz, photo: postandcourier.com
Tyrone Curtis "Mugsy" Bogz is officially the shortest basketball player in the world. His height is only 160 cm, but this did not prevent him from being effective on the site. The career of the shorty, nicknamed the "robber" began at 1987, when he was selected by the Washington Bullets in the draft under the 12th number, for which Bogz played only one season. Bogz then moved to the Charlotte Hornets, where he played from 1988 to 1997. At the end of his career, Bogz spent two seasons each with the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors. In addition to being the shortest player in the NBA, Mugsy Bogz also holds the title of the shortest world champion, which he won as a student at the 1986 World Cup in Spain. After the end of his career, Bogz went into business, managed to train the Charlotte Sting women's team and wrote an autobiographical book, In the Land of the Giants.
Out of Contest
For current NBA players, the shortest title in the 2018-19 season is held by guard Isaiah Thomas of the Denver Nuggets. Officially, his height is 175 cm, but the real height, according to some experts, may be 1-2 centimeters lower. Thomas is still continuing his career, but has already managed to chalk up several interesting achievements.
Isaiah Thomas is the shortest multiple All-Star, the shortest player to score 50 points in a single game, and the shortest player to record a triple-double.
Isaiah Thomas, photo: sportsspectrum.com
Also noteworthy is Calvin Murphy, who played in the NBA in the 1970s, but due to his "too tall" height of 175 cm, did not make it into our rating. Despite his height, Murphy set a number of unique achievements. He became the shortest player inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame to play during the NBA era. Murphy is also the lowest among basketball players whose number has been retired.
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During the 1980s, positions were then decided and assigned based on the players’ heights. 
Although it is an important aspect, the conditions for every game never stay the same and there are always different factors at play such as differences in tactics, injuries, and other factors that influence a game.
The requirements to be drafted may vary depending on the location but height is no longer a main factor.
Point guards
Shooting guards
During the 1952-53 season, they were about 6’4″.
The weight loss has improved their performance, allowing them to move more flexibly and faster.
The main reason is probably because of the change in the NBA’s measurement.
The history of the game knows a lot of examples when undersized athletes achieved great success, actively using other strengths. Suffice it to recall the great 160-centimeter point guard Mugsy Bogz, who played 14 seasons in the NBA. Bogz is one of the leaders in the world's major basketball league in assists and steals. Bogz's example is far from the only one. 
Handling the ball in dribbling requires flexibility and dexterity in body control. Point guards in basketball are called "little guards". Height at 180-190 cm is normal for them. So it’s impossible to answer the question “what height is needed for basketball” with accuracy - the data for each position will differ markedly. 
At first, the coaches of sports schools lay down the basic skills of the game and carry out general physical training. If you wish, you can learn basic things even at the age of 15-16. And physical strength can be acquired in other disciplines. It is not uncommon for people to come to basketball at a young age from other sports. For example, in American university sports, where baseball players, volleyball players, and football players often become basketball players. 
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Gilloise - Braga 
At the same time, Somerset became the lowest basketball player who played in all three major North American basketball leagues: the National Basketball Association (NBA), the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). During his career, Somerset changed eight clubs, in 19In 1971, he won the CBA championship title with the Scranton Apollos, was named the most valuable player of the season in the same year, and participated in the ABA All-Star Game in 1969. 
However, Justin did not become a big star, eventually switching to business. In recent years, Justin Lundako was seen as a member of the KubGTU student basketball team, took part in amateur street basketball competitions. 
He then played for seven more NBA clubs, but in 2016, Nate began to lose competition for a place in the lineup and changed the New Orleans Pelicans to the Israeli Hapoel. 
At the same time, his personal track record is somewhat richer than that of Misaki. Monty won the 1974 NCAA Collegiate Championship and was an ABA All-Star in 1976 year. 
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Then Webb played for the Sacramento Kings, returned to Atlanta, moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and even made a year-long voyage to the Italian Verona. 
org in the 2000s, the dominance of tall guys. At the same time, Boykins was not selected in the draft, but this did not prevent him from entering into short-term and annual contracts with NBA clubs. In 1999, Boykins played five games for the New Jersey Nets, then played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. Boykins played for the Denver Nuggets from 2003 to 2007. This is his longest spell at the same club. Earl then went back to changing clubs almost every season, and in 2008/09even played in the Italian Virtus. 
