5 shortest NBA players heading into the 2021-22 season

Being tall is almost considered to be a pre-requisite for the game of basketball, but some NBA players of relatively shorter stature have shown that even they can excel at the game.

Muggsy Bogues and Isaiah Thomas are some of the players that come to mind, and in this article, we will take a look at the five shortest players going into the 2021-22 NBA season.

The 5 shortest players in the NBA as of August 2021

Here is a list of the five shortest players in the league going into the 2021-22 NBA season. The likes of Tremont Waters and the Denver Nuggets' Facundo Campazzo feature on this list.

#5 - Carsen Edwards, Boston Celtics - 5'11''

Carsen Edwards during Denver Nuggets v Boston Celtics

Carsen Edwards was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2019 NBA draft. He was traded to the Boston Celtics along with Ty Jerome in exchange for Australian swingman Matisse Thybulle, and has played for the 17-time NBA champions since.

Summer work Carsen Edwards - Boston Celtics @Cboogie_3 @celtics pic.twitter.com/kcZb3m0G9W

— Aaron Miller (@EBTMiller) July 27, 2021

Carsen Edwards played 31 games during the 2020-21 season, averaging 4 points in 9 minutes per game. Edwards is known for his shooting and passing abilities, and plays as a point guard for the Celtics. Edwards will be a fringe player for the Celtics for the upcoming season and will come off the bench.

#4 - DJ Augustin, Houston Rockets - 5'11"

DJ Augustin during Milwaukee Bucks v Utah Jazz

The Houston Rockets signed DJ Augustin to a 3 year, $21 million deal in 2020, securing a back-up point guard for the upcoming season. Augustin has played 20 games for the Houston Rockets since joining from the Milwaukee Bucks following the PJ Tucker trade.

He averaged 7 points and 3 assists per game for the Rockets, shooting an impressive 38% from downtown.

UNDERRATED HANDLES!HBD @augustinDj14 pic.twitter.com/hifo4lcvJD

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 10, 2020

The Houston Rockets are expected to start with the young guard duo of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green in the backcourt, meaning that Augustin will initiate offense for the second unit off the bench. Augustin is also known for his 3-point shooting ability and should have a productive season with the Rockets.

#3 - Markus Howard, Denver Nuggets - 5'10

Denver Nuggets v Charlotte Hornets

After going undrafted, Markus Howard managed to get a two-way deal with the Western Conference powerhouse Denver Nuggets in 2020. He followed it up with another two-way deal and is likely to be on Michael Malone's team for the upcoming season as well.

Howard played 37 games for the Denver Nuggets last season, putting up 2 points per game on 37% shooting from the field. Malone mostly uses Howard in unimportant games and garbage time, but the guard can expect to get a bigger role if he impresses in the training camp.

#2 - Tremont Waters, Boston Celtics - 5'10"

LSU v Michigan State

A point guard by trade, Tremont Waters comes second on the list of the NBA's shortest players going into the new season. Waters signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics in 2020, and will likely sign a similar deal to be a part of the roster for the upcoming campaign.

Waters averaged 3 points and 2 assists in the limited game time he saw last year, playing just 26 matches with 9.2 minutes played per NBA game. Waters should try to force his way into Ime Udoka's plans, and with the potential he possesses, he just might.

#1 - Facundo Campazzo, Denver Nuggets - 5'10

Australia v Argentina Men's Basketball - Olympics: Day 11

Facundo Campazzo is mostly known for his exploits outside of the NBA but adjusted well to the Denver Nuggets' style of play in his debut season last year. Campazzo is a traditional point guard who likes to make plays in the half-court and possesses a quality of leadership.

He also displays active hands on defense more often than not, which makes him a steals threat to ball-handlers.

Campazzo averaged 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists per game in his first year in the NBA, and Malone can expect better output from him considering he will be in his second season with the team.