01. However, his game was sharp enough that he enjoyed a long career in the league. include Spud Webb, Isaiah Thomas, and Earl Boykins. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Muggsy Bogues (@therealmuggsy) Khalid had a promising future as a professional basketball player, coming fresh off an NCAA championship-winning team prior to the draft. (The guy he beat, Dominique Wilkins, was a monstrous 68.). Are you enjoying this article? 1 Shortest NBA Players Of All Time. The average height of the basketball players used to be 67 from the era between 1985 and 2006. Through hard work and dedication, they proved that heart is more important than height. A post shared by NBA THROWBACK (@back2da_pastof_nba). Explore more crossword clues and answers by clicking on the results or quizzes. Webbs face was everywhere for a moment as he starred in commercials for Coca-Cola, Chips Ahoy!, Hardees Hamburgers, Sunkist Oranges, Pony Shoes, and Churchs Fried Chicken, among others. Currently, the shortest player in the NBA is Houston Rockets guard Chris Clemons. Pro basketball is a tall mans game, theres no getting around it. Crossword Clue. At 5-foot-9 Isaiah Thomas measures as the shortest basketball player currently in the. He played in the Continental Basketball Association after graduating from New Mexico State University. Ever. That injury wound up changing the course of Thomass career, as he played through the injury and seemingly made it worse, to the point that he eventually needed surgery and had a hard time not only regaining his former All-Star form, but even staying on the court. Contrary to popular belief, height is not necessarily might in the NBA. Thats cool. Instead, he began his professional career in the Continental Basketball Association, playing for the Scranton Apollos and then for the Washington Generals. After he got retirement, he served as a coach for various schools in Tennessee and Virginia. Despite not being picked in the 1997 NBA draft, Brooks played well professionally in the minor leagues before beginning a decade-long career in the NBA. Isaiah Thomas (5 Feet 9 Inches) The 5-foot nine-inch point guard started his professional career by being selected by the Sacramento Kings in the 2011 NBA draft. His position as a guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves wasnt valued however, as theyd already drafted two players for the same position. Web Top 10 Shortest WNBA Player Shannon Bobbitt. The Shortest NBA Players of All Time Photo Courtesy: Shinya Suzuki/flickr Even though height is almost synonymous with basketball players, not all professionals are seven feet tall. Over 14 seasons in the NBA, Bogues averaged a stunning 7.6 assists per game. He was discovered at a local New Jersey playground and consequently enrolled at Trenton State College in 1986. Not only is he officially the shortest NBA player of all time, standing over a foot shorter than pretty much everyone else on the court he was pretty damn good! Men of Modest Height May contain affiliate links (what's this?). Like other players on the list, Webb did not let his height get in the way and made his mark. His team didnt do well, so he changed their name to New York Nationals, which were again renamed back to Washington Generals. The closer you are to the net, the easier it can be to score, block and grab rebounds. He may not have racked up many impressive career statistics, but he was an important trailblazer in what would eventually become the NBA. And hey, if a 57 guy can win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, then theres absolutely nothing that your height should ever hold you back from. Let's get to the short list! You cant have any list of incredible short athletes without including Muggsy. Do you think height matters for a basketball player? Some of the shortest players in NBA history are listed below with their height and professional career time frame. You aint seen nothin until youve checked out the official heights of NBA players. He played for 14-year in NBA and he is the most played athlete in the league with 5-foot-9 shorter. Even those who dont follow the NBA likely know who Bogues is, either from his well-known standing as the leagues shortest-ever player, or maybe even more so for his role in the original Space Jam movie. He may not stack up height-wise to the real heroes like Muggsy Bogues and Spud Webb, but Paul has authored an absolutely dominant career despite standing a head shorter than most of his contemporaries. Height: 5 feet, 7 inches. 8. He became the ambassador for spreading love in the game. The shortest NBA player ever is Check out the ranking of the 20 shortest NBA players in history. From there, fame followed, as it usually did for dunk-champs back in the day. He earned his selection in the NBA because of his sharpshooting and passing skills. He played for the Boston Celtics back during the days of the NCAA and only played during the 1946-47 season. When he finished his collegiate career, he was then the ACC all-time leader in steals and assists. The high-flying Webb who also contends for the coolest nickname on this list along with Muggsy burst through the stratosphere and grabbed everyones attention when he won the NBA Slam Dunk contest in 1986. In 2006, Robinson became the second player under six feet to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and is now a three-time champion. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The 5 feet 10 inches guard then spent years bouncing between teams, including the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns in a frenzy of signings and transactions. One of the shortest NBA players, Malamed, passed away at age 64 from a heart attack on September 17, 1989. 15. In a sport where the average height is 6 feet 7 inches, however, Michael Adams still struggled to get noticed because of his size. He achieved the title of NBAs smallest player and the oldest rookie. Mel held the record for being the shortest NBA player of history for a solid 40 years before Boykins and Bogues came into the picture. Norm Sloan, the teams head coach, had fears regarding Monte Towe, but he proved them wrong with his brilliance and excellence on the court. He later played professionally in Europe for a short time before embarking on a high-school and college coaching career. Basketball is the prerogative of tall players, for obvious reasons. He got his chance with the Golden State Warriors, and boy did he make the most of it. Criss is not the only player to have played in the NBA with a height of 58. Avery Johnson initially went undrafted in 1988 but went on to have a 16-year long career in the NBA. He received the highest basketball honor in 1993 when he was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. When he was drafted by the New York Nicks in the 1947 draft, he became the first non-white player and first Asian player in the league. Despite his solid scoring and passing skills, however, Boykins was never drafted. Chris Paul continues to be a big name in basketball. Boston Celtics . Towe played for Denver Nuggets from 1976 to 1977. Despite his small statures hes proven himself to be an all-around exceptional player. Following his departure from playing basketball at Seton Hall, he went undrafted before signing with the Houston Rockets. Like his other mates with short stature, Grant proved his skill through the practical approach. He registered at the North Carolina State University for graduation but ended up joining the NC State Wolfpack team. What is even more impressive, Spud Webb won one of these events in 1986. Wataru Misaka broke more than height barriers when it came to basketball. The shortest player to ever play for an NBA squad is pretty well known, and with a spectacularly great name to boot. Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/nonstopFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/. Tyrone is an American former basketball player. Unfortunately, he missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury, but nonetheless went on to play for solid teams such as the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. From 1947 to 1948, Misaka joined New York Knicks as a point guard. He completed his graduation in 1943 and became a navigator in the US Army Air Corps. He is the shortest basketball player ever to play in the National Basketball Association. In the history of the NBA, the five top shortest players are Muggsy Bogues with 53 height, Earl Boykins (Height 55), Mel Hirsch (Height 56), Spud Webb (Height 56), and Greg Grant (Height 57). Muggsy Bogues: 5'5" (1987-2001) Earl Boykins: 5'5" (1998-2012) Mel Hirsch: 5'6" (1946-1947) Greg Grant: 5'7" (1989-1998) Red Clotz: 5'7" (1942-1989) Impact of height over the performance of NBA players He was selected by the Atlanta Hawks as the 18th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft but was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks that night. Towe was soon made the team lead and managed to bring a national championship win for his university. Muggsy Bogues, Earl Boykins, Mel Hirsch, Spud Webb, and Greg Grant may have been the shortest players in the history of the NBA, but they were still able to make a name for themselves. This boy from Japanese ancestry had a tough life and lived throughout. He went to Brooklyn College and became a part of the basketball team there. Here is a list of each team's shortest player: Atlanta Hawks Sharife Cooper, Lou Williams, Trae Young: 6-foot-1 Boston Celtics Payton Pritchard: 6-foot-1 Brooklyn Nets Jevon Carter, Patty Mills, Marcus Zegarowski: 6-foot-1 Charlotte Hornets Ish Smith: 6-foot Chicago Bulls Devon Dotson: 6-foot-2 Cleveland Cavaliers Monte Towe Towe had just one season as well but got in 51 games for the Nuggets in 76-77. His game winning shot back in college at UCLA is arguably one of the most famous plays in NCAA history. Although he is only 5 feet 10 inches, his basketball skills completely outshined his height. Team: 1975-1977 Denver Nuggets. Bogues' presence in the NBA is still . These players might be short, but that has not messed with their ability to play well. His full name is actually Tyrone Curtis Bogues, so Muggsy is just a tremendous nickname and not his actual given name, but both his game, name, and stature stood out every time he was on the court. Martin won the NBA championship five times and NBA All-Star 7 times. They were (and are again, after a brief hiatus) called the Washington Generals, and Klotz was a founding member who played in the games until he was 68 years old even winning once or twice! Shelley, a four-year veteran who . Currently, he is serving as the head coach of the United Faith Christian Academy Basketball Team. However, El-Amin was let go at the end of his contract and never found another permanent team to play for. Spud Webb is perhaps most well-known for winning the Sprite Slam Dunk contest in 1986. Spudd Webb played a total of 814 games in the NBA and put his mark in the sports through his talent. The professional basketball player was born in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 16, 1921. Tell us below! Strange Americana: Why Is Eggnog a Christmas Season Staple? Plus, he was exceptionally good at defending, so they always said that he was mugging them. Like many players on this list, his height influenced his athletic career greatly, inspiring Grant to write an autobiography about his unlikely journey to the NBA. Web Who are the shortest NBA basketball players of all time. His transition into the league was effortless, and he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first year. He was then traded to the Portland Trailblazers in 1998. His long NBA career is impressive enough given he stands nearly a foot shorter than many of his opponents, but whats even cooler is that Robinson sought out personal slam dunk training from the original himself: 57 Spud Webb. 3 Current Short NBA Players. Top 10 Super Cute Basketball Players To Watch Out In [year], Top 10 Worst Players In The NBA Of All Time | [year] Updated, Nets, Cavaliers, Magic, Clippers, Warriors, Nuggets, Bucks, Bobcats, Wizards, Rockets, Suns, Knicks, Hornets, 76ers, Bullets, Nuggets, Knicks, Celtics, Thunder, Warriors, Bulls, Nuggets, Clippers, Pelicans. Hirsch is one of the shortest players in the history of the NBA. At 5'3, Muggsy Bogues is the shortest NBA player of all time. He currently plays with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Brevin Knight is now a retired player, but in his prime, his talent as a guard was undeniable. Spud Webb - 5'7". Grant played for the Philadelphia 76ers as a point guard from 1991-1993. His defensive skills in particular have been praised, as he has led the league in steals six times. Men of Modest Height basketball, NBA, short athletes. At 5 feet 8 inches, his height was an issue for teams, so he went undrafted in the 1970 draft. At 5'3", Bogues is the shortest player in the history of the NBA. Think football players are big? Home Solar Panel Installation: Pros and Cons to Consider, A Comprehensive Guide to Installing Home Solar Panels, 29 of the Best Christmas-Themed Episodes of TV, Get the Most Out of Google Chrome With These Tips, The NBA at 75: Looking Back on Some of the Leagues Landmark Moments, 5 NBA Teams Who Could Surprise Us in 2022-23, 5 Bold Predictions for the 202223 NBA Season, Why Tanking in the NBA Is Actually Good for Fans. All of the players listed here have played or play the position of point guard. Its easy to see why height is a huge advantage in basketball. After retiring, he went to Trenton, New Jersey, to run a sports academy. Despite his significant lack of height, he was still drafted 12th overall in 1987 by the Washington Bullets and later played for several other teams. He was eventually selected by the Atlanta Hawks and then traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers the same night. Who Is The 3rd Shortest Nba Player Of All Time. Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry are among the marquee players with the smallest heights on their teams. The discrimination he faced as a Japanese-American was bigger than basketball, and his trailblazing accomplishments earned him an induction into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and paved the way for other Asian-American basketball players like Yao Ming and Jeremy Lin. In the 1997 draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers quickly picked him up as their 16th overall pick. Even after retirement, a few of them became coaches and training managers. He has since moved on to play as a point guard for the Washington Wizards. He improved his skills through intense training and became theNBA Slam Dunk Contest championin 1986. Webb actually led the NBA in free throw shooting percentage during the 1994-95 season, when he shot greater than 93% from the charity stripe. Tra di noi, ci sono plurivincitori di fantabasket sempre impegnati per darvi notizie e consigli aggiornati. He was selected 5th overall in the 2005 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets. Who was the shortest NBA All Star (Its a tie) Impossible Unusual 2019-2020 NBA facts 63%. His shot at joining the league on a permanent basis seemed to come in 2003 when he was signed by the Detroit Pistons, but he was waived prior to the season. He spent two years in the Army after college and did his duty for the nation. Height: 5'9. Instead, he played for the squadrons basketball team until he got his chance in the league. Hirsch held the honorable title of shortest pro basketball player ever for decades until Muggsy Bogues came along to take the throne, competing for just one season in the Basketball Association of America. Here is a list of each team's shortest player: Atlanta Hawks Aaron Holiday: 6-foot Boston Celtics Payton Pritchard: 6-foot-1 Brooklyn Nets Chris Chiozza: 5-foot-11 Charlotte Hornets Terry. Measuring in at 5-foot-3 makes Muggsy Bogues the shortest NBA player of all time. Only two players under six feet have ever won (well get to the other one soon), so it was a huge shock to the NBA world at the time when Spud busted out some truly insane moves to win in a landslide. For the word puzzle clue of who is the 3rd shortest nba player of all time, the Sporcle Puzzle Library found the following results. Isaiah Thomas is 59. Boykins also became the shortest player in league history to score 30 points when he did so in 2004 for the Denver Nuggets, notching 32 points. A post shared by Nate Robinson (@naterobinson). Teams were wary to draft him due to his height, but in 2011, he was selected by the Sacramento Kings as the final pick. Charlie Criss - 5-foot-8 (Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks) Charlie Criss played eight seasons in the . Playing at just 57 and about 140 pounds, Grant was a Division III standout at The College of New Jersey before being drafted by the Phoenix Suns. He went to Brooklyn College and became a part of the basketball team there. His short stature was difficult to ignore, and he went undrafted in 1991 despite his successful college career. Red only played for one year in the NBA no small accomplishment for a 57 guy but its what he did after his primetime days were over that makes him noteworthy. But that didn't stop him from straight up ballin'. Regardless, he was still able to snag the 18th pick in 2009. But shorter players have some interesting advantages when theyre quick, aggressive and willing to play bigger than their size. You may recall that Robinson also went into boxing for one fight, losing in a knockout to Jake Paul in 2022. Although hes the second shortest NBA player, he takes the number one spot as the shortest player to have scored 30+ points. Here is a list of each teams shortest player: Atlanta Hawks. He is known as the shortest-ever player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, and was the all-time leading scorer for the same Rockets when he retired in 1983, with the record standing for 11 years until it was broken by a fellow Hall-of-Famer, Hakeem Olajuwon. Muggsy Bogues, 1987-2001: 5-foot-3 Earl Boykins, 1998-2012: 5-foot-5 T-3. Lets have a look at the shortest NBA players in [year]. Compared to some of the other players on this list, 5 feet 10 inches might not seem short. As a result, he went undrafted and was forced to enter the NBA as a free agent. In fact, Robinson is a three-time Sprite Slam-Dunk Competition Champion, proving that height isnt always a factor when it comes to basketball prowess. He finished in the top 10 in steals three times and in the top seven in assists in six straight seasons, from 1989 to 1995, playing for the Toronto Raptors, Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, and most notably, the Charlotte Hornets. He was also named NBA's best defensive player in the 1950s. Who is the shortest player in the NBA? He was soon traded to the Denver Nuggets, and after 6 years, began bouncing from team to team. The shortest player in NBA history is Muggsy Bouges, who is only 1.60m tall. Criss was always very quick with the ball, and his coach Hubie Brown was very proud of him. He is not the only one but Dino Martin and Willie Somerset both measured 58. He is currently playing overseas. Although he lasted only one season with 13 games, his presence in the game would leave an impact on the game's history. He closed his career at 36 years old with an average of 7.7 points and 7.6 assists per game. Clemons made his debut in 2019 with the Rockets. Monte Towe, like many of those previously listed, first achieved great success as a basketball star in college. Muggsy Bogues Earl Boykins Mel. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2016 and 2017 and received All-NBA Team Honors while playing that season for the Boston Celtics. Contents hide. Though he would have towered over Muggsy by a whole 2 inches, Boykins might grab the honor of being the smallest NBA player ever; he weighed only about 133 pounds in his playing days. Muggsy is a legend, the guy was extremely athletic and could compete with guys a foot taller than him, imagine that. He is known as the shortest NBA player to dunk. Wrapping Things Up: 5 Shortest Players to Ever Play in the NBA. Michael Anthony Jerome known as Spud Webb is one of the shortest players in the NBA in history who played for several NBA teams from 1986 until 1998. They remain the only NBA players under six feet to take the dunk championship. Who are your favorites among the top 10 Shortest NBA Players? Born with poverty, Webb grew up in a small two-bedroom home, and basketball was his inspiration since his childhood. He never found a permanent home and eventually ended up using his basketball skills to help coach the Oklahoma City Thunder. Greg Grant didnt have a traditional entry into competitive basketball. Shortest NBA player of all-time The Big and Small of Things 85% MICHAEL JORDAN Who is the greatest NBA player of all time? Oh, Lebron James made another highlight reel dunk? Towe's coaching career has lasted much longer than his NBA . Starting off the list is Earl Boykins the second shortest NBA player of all time. A post shared by JCBarnettSchoolofJumpShooting (@jcbarnett_jumpshooting). Thomas has continued to persevere and play, trying to stick in the NBA once again, most recently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Charlotte Hornets this season. Despite his slight frame being a little out of place in such a physical game, Boykins is the shortest player in NBA history to ever score more than 30 points in a game. Muggsy Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history, listed at 5'3". Muggsy Bogues 5-3. Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download). Calvin Murphy is the shortest player in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame at 5-foot-9.Allen Iverson, who is 6-foot even, is the shortest player to be named league MVP.Isiah Thomas led the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back NBA titles at 6-foot-1, while the 5-foot-9 Isaiah Thomas took the league by storm in 2016-17 with the Boston Celtics, earning his "King in the Fourth" moniker and . A few years later, he led his division in scoring and was drafted as the 52nd overall pick for the NBA, landing on the Phoenix Suns team. Moreover, the Hall of Famer's career stats came to rest at a breathtaking 27.4 points (fourth all-time), 13.5 rebounds (10th all-time) and 4.3 assists per game, with his most impressive single . But there have been plenty of short-statured guys to take the league by storm, zigging when everyone else was zagging, getting low and weaving around their lumbering opponents to rack up points, steals and assists. While his first year was his best, he averaged 8.5 points and 3.2 assists per game. For the word puzzle clue of shortest all time nba player, the Sporcle Puzzle Library found the following results. As a result, he was the all-time assists and . He spent his entire 13-year career in a Houston Rockets uniform playing as a guard. Robinson came into the league as a first round pick and lived up to the billing for over a decade. The shortest basketball player in NBA history is Tyrone Curtis Bogues. Garner was, however, able to play professionally in a number of places overseas, including France, Israel, Greece and Lithuania. He also earned a pretty special distinction in his one season playing for the Chicago Bulls, as he became the fourth player to score at least 25 points and dish nine assists in a playoff game for the Bulls, joining legends Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, along with Derrick Rose. Spud Webb won the whole NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1986, and hes only 57! Nate Robinson is the smallest basketball player ever to win the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest twice and the only player in the world to do so three times in his career (2006, 2009, and 2010). Standing at the height of the average man, Kay Felders 5 feet 9 inches stature didnt open any doors for him when it came to basketball. Overall, he averaged about 3.3 points per game. In the 2019 NBA draft, Clemons went undrafted but afterward found his way in the rockets summer league team. The aforementioned second-shortest player to win an NBA Slam Dunk contest, he actually added to his place in history by winning the dunk contest two more times to become the leagues first-ever three-time slam dunk champ. Shane Larkin - 5-foot-11 Shane Larkin #0 of the Brooklyn Nets heads for the net | Elsa/Getty Images Barretts career had a rocky start. In case you've just realized your growth spurt might not come, don't ditch your jersey yet. He thinks to himself, 'Oh yeah?' He's been that way all his life," explains his wife, Kim. Former basketball player Louis Red was known for his eye-catching red hair and his short stature in NBA. Anthony "Spud" Webb, 5' 7". The shortest NBA player to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is Calvin Murphy at 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m). Remember, Iversons six-foot frame puts him a good eight inches below the average player. Web Who was the shortest player ever to play in the NBA. 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