The 15 shortest players in NBA history – From tallest to shortest

The NBA is the land of the giants, with the average height of a player being 6ft6 in today's game. Despite the sheer size difference, some players have found a way to get into the NBA while being shorter than the average height of the general public. Here are the shortest NBA players in history.

Willie Somerset played eight games in the NBA for the Baltimore Bullets during the 1965-66 season, averaging 5.6 points. He made a name for himself in the ABA from 1967 until 1969, averaging 22.8 points in 135 games, earning an All-Star appearance.

Dino Martin played for the Providence Steamrollers in the Basketball Association of America, the direct predecessor to the NBA. In 1946, his rookie campaign, he averaged 12.2 points.

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Memphis Grizzlies guard Yuki Kawamura has become a fan favourite in the NBA for his smiling persona. In his first NBA season, the Japanese guard has averaged 3.3 minutes of play and 1.3 points. He has represented Japan at the FIBA World Cup and the Olympics.

Jacob Gilyard has played in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Brooklyn Nets, with his best season coming in Memphis during the 2023-24 season. He started 14 of 37 games he played in and averaged 4.7 points. He is also the NCAA All-time leader in steals (466).

After being voted MVP of the Continental Basketball Association twice, Charlie Criss got his shot at the NBA seven years after finishing his college career. In the words of Sports Illustrated, "He was the NBA's smallest player and oldest rookie." Criss played for the Atlanta Hawks.

In 1972, Monte Towe enrolled at North Carolina State University, and despite being undersized, he helped lead them to a National Championship in 1974. Towe was drafted by the Denver Nuggets and played there from 1976 until 1977.

Nowell plays in the G-League for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and has made one NBA appearance in his career, playing for the Toronto Raptors. He holds the NCAA Division 1 single-game assists record, with 19 versus Michigan State in the NCAA Sweet 16.

Wat Misaka was a Japanese American who suffered more discrimination for his ethnicity than his height during the 1940s. He helped the Utah Utes win the 1944 National Championship before joining the US Army. Upon leaving the army, he played for the New York Knicks between 1947 and 1948, becoming the first Asian American to play in the NBA.

Louis 'Red' Klotz is most famous for forming the Washington Generals, which have competed against the Harlem Globetrotters in exhibitions for more than 50 years. Before that, Klotz played for the Baltimore Bullets, playing 11 games from 1947 until 1948.

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Keith Jennings played in the NBA for three years, playing solely for the Golden State Warriors from 1992 until 1995. In 164 games, he scored over 1,000 NBA points, averaging 6.6 PPG. In Europe, he played for Real Madrid and Fenerbahçe.

Greg Grant played in the NBA for seven years, competing for six teams. Grant played in 274 NBA games, averaging 2.8 points and 2.7 assists before retiring in 1998. Jim Lynam, manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, said: "He's a spark plug, a guy who can come off the bench and get the crowd involved and change the flow of it."

Hirsch joined the Boston Celtics in 1946 when the league was still called the Basketball Association of America. He played 13 games and scored 19 points for the Celtics.

Despite his miniature stature, Spud Webb is arguably the most well-known player on the list due to his success in the NBA. He played over 800 games and averaged 10 points. He played for the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, and Orlando Magic. He is best known for winning the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest, the smallest award winner.

Despite being 5ft5, Earl Boykins played much bigger on the court, playing 13 years in the NBA for 10 different franchises. His most effective spell came in Denver, where he didn't average below ten points per game in four seasons. During the 2006/07 season, he averaged 15.2 points.

The shortest player to play in the NBA is Charlotte Hornets legend Muggsy Bogues, who miraculously calved out a 14-season career despite being 5ft3. Bogues had 146 double-doubles and finished in the top seven in assists in six consecutive seasons. Surprisingly, he blocked 39 shots during his career.

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