How many 7-footers are there in the NBA? Looking at most prominent tall players in league

Over the years, the NBA has progressively embraced the small-ball style. Conventional centers are now less relevant, and contemporary big players must possess skills beyond their height to thrive in the game.

Typically, players who are 7 feet tall are confined to the power forward and center positions. A decade ago, the average height of power forwards was 6-foot-9, but in the last season, it has decreased to 6-foot-8. Similarly, the average for centers has shifted from 6-foot-11 a decade ago to 6-foot-10.

While traditionally, big men were often perceived as relying more on athleticism than skill, the emergence of "unicorns" in basketball has revolutionized the game.

How many 7-footers are there in the NBA?

Currently, there are 29 big men standing at 7 feet in the league.

They are as follows:

PLAYER	TEAM	AGE	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
Boban Marjanovic	HOU	35	7-4	290
Victor Wembanyama	SAS	19	7-4	210
Bol Bol	PHX	23	7-3	220
Kristaps Porzingis	BOS	28	7-2	240
Moses Brown	POR	24	7-1	258
Brook Lopez	MIL	35	7-1	282
Chet Holmgren	OKC	21	7-1	195
Dereck Lively II	DAL	19	7-1	230
Luke Kornet	BOS	28	7-1	250
Robin Lopez	MIL	35	7-1	281
Rudy Gobert	MIN	31	7-1	258
Aleksej Pokusevski	OKC	21	7-0	210
Alex Len	SAC	30	7-0	250
Deandre Ayton	POR	25	7-0	247
Isaiah Hartenstein	NYK	25	7-0	250
Ivica Zubac	LAC	26	7-0	240
JaVale McGee	SAC	35	7-0	270
Jakob Poeltl	TOR	28	7-0	260
Jaxson Hayes	LAL	23	7-0	220
Joel Embiid	PHI	29	7-0	280
Jusuf Nurkic	PHX	29	7-0	290
Karl-Anthony Towns	MIN	27	7-0	248
Lauri Markkanen	UTA	26	7-0	240
Mark Williams	CHA	21	7-0	240
Mitchell Robinson	NYK	25	7-0	240
Mo Bamba	PHI	25	7-0	231
Nick Richards	CHA	25	7-0	245
Santi Aldama	MEM	22	7-0	215
Walker Kessler	UTA	22	7-0	245

The tallest players in the NBA, standing at 7-foot-4, are Boban Marjanovic of the Houston Rockets and rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.

Looking at the most prominent 7-footers so far this season

Standing at 7 feet in the NBA is rare, and even rarer are players of that height who can maintain good health to have a substantial impact on the game.

Here are five of the most prominent 7-footers so far this season.

#5. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to a hot start this season, and Karl Anthony Towns is a key component, averaging 23.0 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He is also shooting 39.4% from three on 4.2 attempts per game.

#4. Chet Holmgren, OKC Thunder

Chet Holmgren, the rookie from the OKC Thunder, has showcased exceptional efficiency, boasting shooting percentages of 54.9% from the field, 50% from beyond the arc, and 89.5% from the free-throw line.

He is averaging 16.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 2.3 bpg this season.

#3. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

In a bold move last season, the Timberwolves paired Towns with Rudy Gobert in the frontcourt, defying the prevailing trend of small-ball lineups. This strategy has paid off this season, as the Timberwolves currently boast the league's best defensive rating (102.0).

Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, contributes 12.2 ppg, 12.8 rpg, and 2.2 bpg, anchoring the team's stellar defense.

#2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

In his debut season, Victor Wembanyama has lived up to the hype, showcasing versatility with averages of 19.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 spg and 2.4 bpg. Known as the "Alien," he demonstrates an all-around skill set, excelling in ball handling, playmaking, defense, and scoring.

#1. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

As the reigning MVP, Joel Embiid has been a dominant force for the Philadelphia 76ers, leading them to an 8-1 record, the best in the league so far.

Embiid's outstanding start to the season includes averages of 32.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg and 5.7 apg in nine games.