5 heaviest NBA players in 2024-25 NBA season

The new NBA season is just around the corner, and fans are gearing up to see their team lift the Larry O'Brien trophy. The league is evolving every season, and players are getting more conscious about their weight and health.

However, there are still some heavy athletes in the league who use their weight to their advantage on the court. Here are the five heaviest NBA players ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.

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Heaviest NBA players heading into the 2024-25 NBA Season

#5 Joel Embiid - Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid (Source: Imagn)

Joel Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, holds the fifth spot on this list. The 76ers star weighs in at 280 lbs (127 kg) and plays as a center. Standing seven-foot-zero, Embiid's height combined with his heavy build allows him to force his way into opponents' defenses and score easy layups.

It also helps him secure rebounds and protect the rim. Last season, Embiid averaged 33.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game to lead the 76ers to playoffs qualification. However, he only played 39 games last season.

#4 Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic (Source: Imagn)

The reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic follows Embiid as the fourth heaviest player in the league right now. The Nuggets star weighs in at 284 lbs (128.8 kg) and plays as a big man for the Nuggets. Jokic is the perfect example of using one's bodyweight advantageously on the court.

Jokic averaged 28.7 points, 13.4 points and 8.7 assists, helping his team reach the Western Conference semifinals last season. Although the Timberwolves ended the Nuggets' playoff journey last season, Jokic won his third MVP honor.

#3 Zion Williamson - New Orleans Pelicans

Zion Williamson (Source: Imagn)

Zion Williamson was reported to have lost some weight ahead of the new season. However, he still makes the list of heaviest players in the league. Weighing in at 285 lbs (129.2 kg), Williamson's weight is an important factor behind his dominance on the court.

Standing six-foot-six, the Pelicans star uses his weight to his advantage to make explosive drives to the rim. Last season, he averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game to earn his team a playoff qualification.

#2 Jusuf Nurkic - Phoenix Suns

Jusuf Nurkic (Source: Imagn)

Phoenix Suns big man Jusuf Nurkic comes in as the second heaviest player on this list. The Bosnian basketball star weighs in at 290 lbs (131.5 kg), standing seven foot, Nurkic uses his build as an elite rim protector.

Last season, he averaged 10.9 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game helping his team make the playoffs.

#1 Zach Edey - Memphis Grizzlies

Zach Edey (Source: Imagn)

The heaviest active player in the league right now is former Purdue big man Zach Edey. The Memphis Grizzlies drafted him as the ninth pick in the 2024 Draft as he prepares for his debut in the league in his rookie year.

Weighing in at 299 lbs (135.6 kg) and standing seven-foot-four, Edey has the potential to be an impenetrable wall on the court. Ja Morant's recovery has put the Grizzlies in a good spot ahead of the 2024-25 season. If Edey can master using his weight in plays, he could have the rookie year many players dream of.