Top 10 shortest NBA player

The 5 feet 6 inch, Mel Hirsch is perhaps the first guy who made his name in NBA despite being considered as one of the shortest NBA player. One of his notable achievement is to play for Boston Celtics.

What is it with short people in the NBA today? Even the average point guard is 6 feet tall while the shooting guards and small forwards stand high up at nearly 6 feet 6 inches.

But there were players who had to make do with their physical inferiority. Instead, they depended upon their aptitude in the game, which one may label as more pivotal than just physical significance.

Players such as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant have always caught the glee of our eyes for their immense potency on the court whereas certain players on the opposite end of the spectrum leave us in awe with their ability to compete on a court filled of giants.

This article takes a look at the top 10 shortest NBA player of all time, with several of them playing the position of point guard.

Note: the article categorises a “Top 10” depending on the player’s popularity and quality, and not a descending countdown of the players in terms of height. The factors taken into account in the article in order to be listed were a height of at most 6 feet and below, year and position drafted, teams played for, statistics and popularity.

10 shortest NBA player

10. Isaiah Thomas, 5’ 9”

acramento has not seen any glory days in the several years the Maloofs ran it, but one of the sparks in that reign was finding Thomas as the pearl amongst the sands. Drafted as the last pick in 2011, he is now an All-Second Team Rookie and the pioneering force in the shambles of a team assembled in California’s capital.

A definite highlight of his career was the game he took over in the 4th quarter against New Orleans in March, 2012 to announce his eminency in the league.

9. Fred Scolari, 5’ 10”

#9, at Sportskeeda’s list for top 10 shortest NBA player is Fred Scolari.

Scolari paves his way to this list for his All-Star mentions twice in the 50s. Always ridiculed for his overweight and unfit appearance, Scolari drove into the net far too easily with his muscle and wit.

A man of Italian heritage, Scolari was also aggressive in his defensive mindset. Fouling often, he preferred to frustrate his opponent by halting plays and formation setups. Several coaches loathed facing him up in the front court, especially given his enigmatic persona on court.

His career might have lasted for roughly five seasons in today’s NBA calendars, but back in the 50s, he was revered and played in the league for the Pistons, Bullets and the Celtics.

8. Damon Stoudamire, 5’10”

#8, at Sportskeeda’s list for top 10 shortest NBA player is Damon Stoudamire.

In 1995, Stoudamire was picked 7th overall by a Raptors team in desperate need of a sensation. Sporting a tattoo of a mouse on his arm, Stoudamire lit up the league with a monstrous rookie campaign.

He deservingly earned the nickname, “Mighty Mouse” winning “Rookie of the Year” in 1995-96. After a string of injuries and nifty performances, Stoudamire ended up at the Blazers where he scored a franchise record 54 points against the Hornets.

As of now, Stoudamire is an integral part of the NBA coaching staff, last seen at the Grizzlies.

7. Brevin Knight, 5’ 10”

#7, at Sportskeeda’s list for top 10 shortest NBA player is Brevin Knight.

Knight was an undrafted NBA player fresh out of Stanford. He plied his trade in a host of teams, most prominently the Hawks and the Bobcats.

Mostly providing backup on the bench, Knight played over 700 NBA games and totaled up over 5000 points in his career. A standout in his career was his ability to distribute the ball in the perimeter, where he averaged over 6 assists per game while at the same time governing his fortress in defense.

Brevin Knight can be best described as the craftsman who the NBA never noticed as much as it could have in early 2000s.

6. Avery Johnson, 5’ 10”

#6, at Sportskeeda’s list for top 10 shortest NBA player is Avery Johnson.

Johnson is perhaps better known today for his work on the sidelines as a head coach but back in the 90s, he reached a star status by shooting the game winning shot in an NBA Final Series.

Despite being undrafted, Johnson’s career panned out over 1000 games in the NBA – a feat not many of the greatest of players can be proud of. “The Little General” was renowned for his commanding presence in the team lineup, and his machismo charm to motivate those around him. In 2009, he was honoured with being inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame and his number being retired at the AT&T Center.

5. Nate Robinson, 5’ 9”

#5, at Sportskeeda’s list for top 10 shortest NBA player is Nate Robinson.

A ubiquitous presence, Robinson has captivated audiences wherever he has played at. Be it his athleticism at the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest or his spurring performances as a point guard, Nate Robinson will be a name forever enshrined in the images of the NBA.

In the 2013 playoffs, Robinson steered the Chicago Bulls past the Brooklyn Nets with a 34 point game winning performance. The series following that, he caught cameramen everywhere with a humiliating block on LeBron James.

Next plying his talent at Denver, Robinson has a few years to go before he calls it quits in the NBA. Till then, he will always be a mouthful to watch for his talent, energetic personality and endurance to slam the ball in the net over and over again.

4. Michael Adams, 5’ 10”

#4, at Sportskeeda’s list for top 10 shortest NBA player is Michael Adams.

Back in 1985, when the NBA had more than two rounds of the draft, Adams was picked up early by Sacramento in the third. He, however, had his best days elsewhere in another Western Conference team called the Denver Nuggets.

For 79 games in a row, Michael Adams attempted at least a single three point shot and for four seasons, he attempted more shots from the arc than anybody. Averaging a double-double for a huge part of his career with the Nuggets, Adams rejuvenated a Nuggets team with a 54 point showing in 1990-91.

In 1996, with the then Charlotte Hornets, Michael Adams retired having amassed over 9, 500 points and nearly half as many assists.

3. Anthony “Spud” Webb, 5’ 7”

#3, at Sportskeeda’s list for top 10 shortest NBA player is Anthony “Spud” Webb.

If Nate Robinson is the most popular short man of today’s game, Webb was the elite force back in the 80s and 90s. A regular in the Slam Dunk contest, “Spud”, as he was affectionately nicknamed, usurped the gigantic Dominique Wilkins to win the battle in his rookie campaign.

Playing at the Hawks, Kings and the Magic – more prominently with the former – Anthony Webb drew a cult following for his “fear nobody” mentality as he dunked on almost every fast break opportunity, with several cameras just waiting to get a glimpse of it.

Between 1990 and 1995, Spud’s prime years, he averaged 13.6 points and 6.5 assists per game. Statistically, his best years were at the Sacramento Kings but till today, he adheres to a cult status following at the Atlanta Hawks.

2. Calvin Murphy, 5’ 9”

#2, at Sportskeeda’s list for top 10 shortest NBA player is Calvin Murphy.

Calvin Murphy was a player many feared to stand up to despite his short stature. His aggressiveness sparked several outbursts on the court but he made his presence more stipulating for his All-Star deserving performances.

An All-Star in 1979 and the NBA Finalist in 1981, Calvin Murphy is the shortest player to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Over 1000 games and as many as 17,949 points, Murphy set the NBA on fire during 14 years of mainstay in the league.

An incredible free throw shooter, he was well known for his accuracy, having recorded the second highest free throw percentage season in ’81 and going as many as 78 attempts before missing one.

1. Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues, 5’ 3”

#1, at Sportskeeda’s list for top 10 shortest NBA player is Tyrone Bogues.

The shortest ever player to play in the NBA is also the best among the lot. Manipulative and sneaky with height, Bogues’ game comprised of steals, assists and pace.

In 1988, during an expansion draft, the Charlotte franchise drafted Bogues, after which he did not look back for 15 years. A Hornets’ favorite, Bogues was often seen as the guy who should have made a deep run in the playoffs instead of scrambling towards even earning a playoff berth.

In an era which was the most popular for the Charlotte franchise as a whole, Bogues stood out not only for his height but his talent, that even the tallest of players including Patrick Ewing, were forced to fear him. During his prime, he averaged as many as 8 PPG and APG, and 39 blocks.