Facts

How Tall is The Average NBA Player? Broken Down By Position

Basketball is a big man’s game. But how tall do you have to be to reach the top of the sport?

Tyler O'Shea

Published

November 9, 2022

Breaking down the average height of NBA players by position for the 2024-25 season.

NBA/Memphis Grizzlies/Joker Mag

Basketball is a tall man’s game. But how tall do you have to be to reach the top of the sport?

According to official data from Stathead, out of 456 active players, the average height of an NBA player is 6 feet 6.58 inches (199.59 centimeters).

That’s over 4 inches taller than the average NFL player, 4.79 inches taller than the average MLB player, and 9.48 inches taller than the average American male (5 feet 9.1 inches).

Here is a complete breakdown of the average height by position – plus a bonus for undersized ballers searching for inspiration.

Average Height of an NBA Guard

At 5'8", Yuki Kawamura is the shortest active NBA player.

The average height of an NBA guard is 6 feet 4.44 inches (194.15 centimeters).

Guard sees the most disparity in height – with an entire 14 inches separating the tallest from the smallest.

Ben Simmons (6’10”) stands over a foot above Yuki Kawamura (5’8”), the league’s smallest active player.

Average Height of an NBA Forward

The average height of an NBA forward is 6 feet 8.33 inches (204.04 centimeters).

There’s plenty of overlap between small forwards who also play the 2, which explains the lower average height than most would expect.

At 6’4″, Jae’Sean Tate is the shortest forward in the NBA today. The 2021 NBA All-Rookie First Teamer is 8 inches shorter than Lauri Markkanen (7’0″), who is among the tallest forwards in the game.

Average Height of an NBA Center

The average height of an NBA center is 6 feet 11.3 inches (211.58 centimeters).

Notoriously the tallest position on the team, a center’s job is to protect the basket and snatch rebounds. But while there are plenty of 7-foot centers in the NBA, we’re also seeing smaller players make an impact.

At 6’8″, Daniel Theis is the smallest center in the NBA today. The 4-time Basketball Bundesliga All-Star is a full 8 inches smaller than fellow center Victor Wembanyama, the league’s tallest player (7’4″).

What About Undersized Players?

Nate Robinson, Isaiah Thomas and more of the shortest players in NBA history

If you’re a young basketball player reading this list, it’s easy to get discouraged. But these numbers don’t tell the whole story.

In fact, there are plenty of short guys who succeeded at the NBA level.

Take Earl Boykins, for example. He was so small that his dad would sneak him into their local rec center in his gym bag. At 5-foot-5 and 135 pounds, he spent the better part of two decades in the NBA.

Hungry for more? Check out our list of over 15 of the shortest NBA players of all-time. There are plenty of underdog stories that will show you what’s possible.

Sure, height helps. But your heart is what counts the most.

Like underdog stories? Join our free Underdog Newsletter to keep up with the best stories that you won’t see on ESPN.

In this article:NBA

Written By Tyler O'Shea

Division III baseball alum (McDaniel College), founder of Joker Mag, and author of The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (And Yourself). Since launching in November 2017, my stories have been featured on platforms such as FOX Sports, SB Nation, and The Sporting News, reaching over 1.5 million readers worldwide. The seed was planted way back in 7th grade when I got cut from the baseball team. Instead of giving up, I found hope and inspiration in stories of undersized athletes who defied expectations. I ultimately played baseball through college, earning Honorable Mention on the All-Centennial Conference team in my senior season. Today, my mission is simple: To share stories that give people the same feeling I felt when I was that undersized ballplayer searching for hope, inspiration, and evidence that my dream was possible. Like my mom always told me, you can do anything you set your mind to. Sometimes we just need a little extra push. And that’s why I’m so passionate about sharing these stories with the world.