A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.
Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
NBA

Who Are the Top 10 Shortest Players in NBA History?

Each position in the NBA requires various sizes of players. The center will be a 7’0″ guy who defends his paint and gets easy buckets on the offensive side of the game. On defense, he will be a premier shot blocker. Because of the role of the position, you never see a 5’8″ man playing center in the NBA. But you can see a 7’0″ man playing a point guard if he has passing skills.

These short point guards are some of the world’s unique players. Just visualize it; you know it doesn’t paint a pretty picture. Some of the shortest players in the NBA will genuinely blow your mind.

There have been tiny players going toe-to-toe with huge guards, but getting the better of them. Hence, in this list, we dig deep to find the shortest players in NBA history. The list goes from short to shortest, giving you a complete array of tiny bees with heart, grit, and passion.

Come test your knowledge and see if you can guess the NBA player!
The NBA Player Guessing Game allows you to guess the NBA player based on clues about their team, division, height, jersey number, points, and experience.

Monte Towe – 5’7″

Monte Towe is not a familiar name in the NBA. He became synonymous with making the list of the Top 10 shortest players in the league. The Atlanta Hawks drafted him in 1975, but soon, the Denver Nuggets caught hold of the talent. He became the shortest player in the original ABA and a must-watch athlete in those days.

However, he wasn’t productive and lasted only two seasons while playing basketball. He soon retired and launched his coaching career.

Markquis Nowell – 5’7″

One of the more recent players on this list is Markquis Nowell, who stands at 5’7″ and plays for the Toronto Raptors. He was undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft and couldn’t get a contract until the Raptors called him up. He currently plays in the G-League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Just 25, Nowell still has time to turn around his career and become a mainstay in the NBA. But for now, he languishes in the G-League.

Wat Misaka – 5’7″

If you look at Wat Misaka as a player on the court, there’s not much to explore about him. Since discovering stats in 1947 is not straightforward, Misaka arrived at the New York Knicks to showcase his skills. However, his off-court influence stands out above almost everyone in the NBA.

He became the first non-white player and the first player of Asian descent to play in the Basketball Association of America. He broke the color barrier in professional basketball, and as the NBA merged with the BAA, they kept his record to date.

Misaka played three games for the New York Knicks and made history. Truly inspiring, isn’t it?

Louis Herman “Red” Klotz – 5’7″

The shortest player to win an NBA championship is enough to explain Klotz’s legacy in the NBA. Again, one who played in the BAA era, Klotz played just 11 games for the Baltimore Bullets and won the championship in 1948.

Although we know very little about the player, becoming the shortest player in the NBA to win a title is no easy feat. Klotz remains an icon of the game.

Keith Jennings – 5’7″

The Golden State Warriors’ point guard, Keith Jennings, became the first player on this list to clock in valuable minutes. He played for three seasons in the NBA and played in almost all games in his second and third seasons.

In 164 games for the Warriors, Jennings averaged 6.6 points and gave out 3.7 assists to make an impact in games. He became a pickpocket on the court, averaging 1.0 steals per game. After a short stint with the Warriors, he moved to Europe and had a fruitful time there.

Greg Grant – 5’7″

Another player who is 5’7″ is Greg Grant, who roamed around the league, trying to find his calling card. Despite rolling the dice, he failed to win the big ticket. A point guard for over 15 teams worldwide, he didn’t settle anywhere, becoming a journeyman throughout his career.

He arguably had his best time with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1995-96 season, averaging 4.1 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Thus, he’s another short player who didn’t make it big in the NBA.

Mel Hirsch – 5’6″

Another BAA player who makes the list is Mel Hirsch, who played for the Boston Celtics. He was the shortest player in the NBA for a long time and entered the league as the shortest player in its history during the late 1940s.

Although he didn’t make a difference in the BAA, his legacy as the shortest player is enough to make him noteworthy. Imagine those days when he faced off against George Mikan, who was listed at 6’10”.

Spudd Webb – 5’6″

Now comes a well-known player. The name Spudd Webb sends shivers down your spine if you have seen his dunk contest.

Just imagine some names for the 1986 NBA Dunk contest: Dominique Wilkins, Terence Stansbury, Paul Pressey, Terry Tyler, Jerome Kersey, Roy Hinson, Gerald Wilkins, and Webb. He even put even some of the top 10 tallest NBA players to sleep.

 

Out of all these names, he took home the grand prize, becoming the shortest player to win the Dunk Contest. That itself remains a record for the ages. He played his best basketball during the 1991-92 season with the Sacramento Kings by averaging 16.0 points and 7.1 assists, playing with his heart on his sleeve.

Due to his height and persona on the court, he landed various endorsement deals from Coca-Cola to Church’s Fried Chicken. Hence, Webb might be the most influential player on this list.

Earl Boykins – 5’5″

Yes, 5’5″. Earl Boykins had a long and successful career in the NBA. Even though he was short, he was tough as nails. He had his best stint with the Denver Nuggets, scoring valuable points and making plays from the point guard position.

Although not as prosperous as Webb, Boykins created his legacy. Boykins later took his talents to Europe and won the EuroChallenge in 2009.

He also won the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year in 1997, showcasing his fortitude and resolution to be the best despite being short for a basketball player. Boykins indeed remains a household name around these parts.

Muggsy Bogues – 5’3″

A 5’3″ man achieved his boyhood dream of becoming a basketball player despite being the shortest player in the NBA’s history. Muggsy Bogues was a superstar. He arrived at the Washington Bullets and played alongside the tallest player in the NBA, Manute Bol.

They had a 28-inch height difference, which was a panoramic view in itself.

Bogues’ best times, though, came with the Charlotte Hornets. A roster home to some of the best point guards in the league, like Kemba Walker and LaMelo Ball, Bogues stands apart from the rest because of his tiny size. But he had the heart of a champion.

In his best season, he averaged 11.1 points and became a playmaker dynamo with 10.7 assists in 1990. If you doubt he couldn’t get rebounds, in 1994 against the Detroit Pistons, Bogues grabbed 10 rebounds in a single game. That’s ridiculous in all senses!

Hence, the shortest player in the NBA had the most effective efficiency throughout this list. Bogues will remain a legend for years to come.

Jacob Gijy
Written by Jacob Gijy

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