Despite playing against opponents often one to two feet taller, these pros still balled out.
When 5-3 Muggsy Bogues suited up for the Washington Bullets during the 1987-88 seasons, he did so alongside a teammate that is still one of the tallest players in league history, Manute Bol. The incredible 28-inch height difference is the greatest divide between two teammates, and was made possible because Bogues is still one of the shortest NBA players of all time.
But don’t let Bogues’ shorter-than-average NBA height deceive you: He, and the other 5-9 and under hoopsters on this list more than made up with talent and hard work what they may have lacked in skyscraper height.
Check out the 24 shortest NBA players to ever lace them up, including slam dunk champion Spud Webb and one the shortest players to participate in the All-Star game in Isaiah Thomas.
MUGGSY BOGUES: 5-3
Bogues holds the distinction as the shortest NBA player by a full two inches.
He played nearly 900 games with four different teams and twice averaged a career-best 10.7-assists per game. Bogues finished his career averaging 7.6 assist, 7.7 points, and even pulled down 2.6-rebounds-per game despite standing among opponents as much as two full feet taller than he was.
EARL BOYKINS: 5-5
The 5′ 5″ Boykins played for an incredible 10 NBA teams after entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Michigan.
His most productive years were in Denver where he averaged a career-high 15.2-points-per game in 2006-07. He also finished his career with an impressive 12.9-points-per-game average over 15 playoff appearances with the Nuggets.
24 SHORTEST NBA PLAYERS IN LEAGUE HISTORY
| PLAYER | HEIGHT | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| Muggsy Bogues | 5-3 | Bullets, Hornets, Warriors, Raptors |
| Earl Boykins | 5-5 | Nets, Cavaliers, Magic, Clippers, Warriors, Nuggets, Bucks, Bobcats, Wizards, Rockets |
| Mel Hirsch | 5-6 | Celtics |
| Greg Grant | 5-7 | Suns, Knicks, Hornets, 76ers, Bullets, Nuggets |
| Keith Jennings | 5-7 | Warriors |
| Herm Klotz | 5-7 | Bullets |
| Wataru Misaka | 5-7 | Knicks |
| Monte Towe | 5-7 | Nuggets |
| Spud Webb | 5-7 | Hawks, Kings, Timberwolves, Magic |
| Charlie Criss | 5-8 | Hawks, Clippers, Bucks |
| Dino Martin | 5-8 | Providence Steamrollers |
| Willie Somerset | 5-8 | Bullets |
| Howie Carl | 5-9 | Chicago Packers |
| Charlie Hoefer | 5-9 | Toronto Huskies, Celtics |
| Lionel Malamed | 5-9 | Indianapolis Jets, Rochester Royals |
| Ed Melvin | 5-9 | Pittsburgh Ironmen |
| Calvin Murphy | 5-9 | Rockets |
| Angelo Musi | 5-9 | Philadelphia Warriors |
| Ralph O’Brien | 5-9 | Indianapolis Olympians, Bullets |
| Nate Robinson | 5-9 | Knicks, Celtics, Thunder, Warriors, Bulls, Nuggets, Clippers, Pelicans |
| Gene Rock | 5-9 | Chicago Stags |
| Yuta Tabuse | 5-9 | Suns |
| Isaiah Thomas | 5-9 | Kings, Suns, Celtics, Cavaliers, Lakers |
| Kay Felder | 5-9 | Cavaliers, Bulls, Piston |
