In basketball, the taller a player is, the better, both in offence and defence, talk of gathering the rebounds, reaching the rim, and even making the blocks. Indeed, height is paramount in the game, but some players have defied this. In this article, find the shortest players to have ever played in the NBA.
1. Tyrone Curtis ‘Muggsy’ Bogues – 5 ft 3 in
The shortest player to have played in the NBA is Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues, who was 5 ft 3 in during his stint in the NBA for Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat. Despite his height, ‘Muggsy’ notched an impressive 39 career blocks.
2. Earl Boykins – 5 ft 5 in
The second shortest man in the history of the NBA is Earl Boykins, who is 5 ft 5 in. At first, the guard wasn’t drafted to any NBA team but enjoyed a few short-term spells before landing contracts with the likes of Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, and Washington Wizards.
3. Melvin “Mel” Hirsch – 5 ft 6 in
The third shortest player in the history of NBA is Melvin Hirsch, who joined the Boston Celtics in 1946. Standing at 5 ft 6 in, he played 13 games and had a total of 19 points.
Anthony “Spud” Webb – 5 ft 7 in
While “Spud” may not be a household name in the NBA, the former guard is the most successful among those mentioned in this list. At 5 ft 7 in, the 1986 NBA slam-dunk contest winner played for the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, and Sacramento Kings.
5. Greg Grant – 5 ft 7 in
This is another explosive player who was drafted into the NBA in 1989. At 5 ft 7 in, Grant plied his trade with the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Orlando Magic.
The above are the shortest players to have played in the NBA.