Throughout its rich history, the National Basketball Association has been a league dominated by giants. From 1985 to 2006, the average height of players in the NBA was roughly 6'7". The two tallest players in its history are Romania's Gheorghe Muresan and Sudan's Manute Bol who stands 7'7". There were also those that were in the average height that became huge superstars in the league.
But there were a selected few who were not gifted to have the height. They did not stand as high as any of the two tallest players. Likewise, they did not have the average height. Still, they made it big in the world's most popular basketball league. They stood tall in the face of their disadvantage. Proving that in the game of basketball, height is really not might.
The success they achieved playing in the NBA will surely inspire, motivate, and energize budding basketball players who like them lacked the height needed to succeed in basketball. They are a testimony that height does not matter all the time. Below are the Top 5 shortest NBA players in history, based on a list compiled by Basketball Top 5:
5. Keith Jennings
Height: 5'7"
Keith Jennings had a short but reputable career in the NBA. He played for the Golden State Warriors for only three seasons from 1992 - 1995. He was also a team member in Spain, Turkey, Russia, Germany and France. He played only 164 games and started in 24 averaging 7.4 points and 4.7 assists per game, all single season highs. He is currently the assistant coach at the Bluefield College in Virginia.
4. Greg Grant
Height: 5'7"
Greg Grant was small not only in height but also in weight standing only 5'7" and 140 pounds. In the six seasons that he played from 1989 to 1996, Grant saw himself moving from one team to another playing in six different teams throughout his career. Although he averaged only 3 points a game, he played 274 more games than all the taller NBA players.
3. Anthony "Spud" Webb
Height: 5'7"
Despite his height of 5'7", Anthony "Spud" Webb towered over the competition by winning the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest. From 1985 to 1998, Spud Webb was the starting point guard for the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings and has played 814 games. He was first discovered with his extraordinary performance for the Midland College Chaparrals back in 1982 during the junior college championship. The following year, he was granted a scholarship at the North Carolina State University that tagged him as a "satellite who could practically leap into orbit." Throughout his career, he averaged just under 10 points a game.
2. Earl Boykins
Height: 5'5"
Earl Boykins ranks as the second shortest player in history and also the lightest at 133 pounds. He played from 1985 to 2012 and played with 10 teams. He was with the Denver Nuggets for the longest time before playing for the Houston Rockets. Throughout his career, Boykins averaged 8.9 points a game.
1. Muggsy Bougues
Height: 5'3"
At 5'3", Mugsy Bogues was not only shorter than the average American men but also the women. He played from 14 seasons from 1987 to 2001, majority of which saw him play as the starting point guard for the Charlotte Hornets averaging 7.6 assists per game. He further achieved fame as a player for his picture alongside his 7"7" teammate Manute Bol.
Join the Conversation