15 Tallest NBA Basketball Players of all time

15 Tallest NBA Basketball Players of all time

Being tall is advantageous in a sport like basketball for several understandable reasons. For instance, the basket is 10 feet tall, thus the nearer you are to it, the simpler it is to put the ball in the basket. Tall basketball players have an advantage. However, extremely tall athletes are frequently more prone to injury, and smaller stars have succeeded at the top. Nonetheless, size is indeed a trend among male basketball players.

Taller athletes possess the advantage they need to dominate the court. Taller NBA players typically thrive by controlling play and attempting to build up vicious dribble drives to the basket. These athletes have since achieved landmarks and broken records, enhancing their reputations. The top 15 tallest basketball players ever are listed below.

1. Manute Bol

Manute Bol was a Sudanese-American professional basketball player and political activist. His height was given as 7 ft 7 in (2.3 m). Bol came from a line of exceptionally tall males and females. His sister is 6 ft 8 in (1.83 m) tall, his father is 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m), and his mother was 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall. And at 7 feet 10 inches, his great-grandfather was even taller.

Before being selected by the Washington Bullets in the 1985 NBA Draft, Bol played his first season of professional basketball in the United States Basketball League. Bol’s height, wingspan, and quickness gave him a commanding presence on the court and made it challenging for opponents to shoot over him.

2. Gheorghe Muresan

Gheorghe Mureşan at a Washington Wizards home game on November 6, 2010 photo by Keith Allison – Wikimedia commons

Gheorghe Muresan was 7’7″ tall and one of the NBA’s tallest players. Muresan began his pro basketball career in Europe before joining the Washington Bullets in the 1993-1994 NBA season. Gheorghe Muresan used his height and wingspan throughout his career to control the court and challenge shots on defence.

Muresan’s height aided him on the boards enabling him to apply his size and athletic prowess to grab rebounds and assist his team in gaining possession. His successful NBA career entailed playing for several teams and receiving numerous awards for his showman skills. In conclusion, Gheorghe Muresan’s height established him as a valuable asset to his teams in the NBA.

3. Yao Ming

Yao Ming photo by Keith Allison – Wikimedia commons

Yao Ming stood 7’6″, and is regarded as one of the NBA’s tallest players ever. The Houston Rockets picked Yao Ming as the first overall choice in the 2002 NBA Draft. Yao Ming utilized his height throughout his career, leveraging his height and strength to rule the court. He was renowned for his ability to finish around the basket in the position by creating scoring opportunities with his height and footwork.

Yao’s commanding in-court presence made it challenging for opposing teams to be effective in making basket-side baskets. Ming’s height established him as an invaluable asset in the NBA.

4. Shawn Bradley

L-R: Former U.S. basketball players Elden Campbell, Shawn Bradley, Rushia Brown, and Tom Gugliotta posing with a U.S. marine sergeant. photo by Dustin Senger – Wikimedia commons

Shawn Bradley stands 7’6″ and is regarded as one of the NBA’s tallest players. Bradley was the second overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Shawn Bradley utilized his height to challenge shots and control the ball on defence throughout his career. On offence, he utilized his height and athleticism to finish effectively around the basket.

Even though he was inconsistent for a bigger chunk of his career, his height and size played a bigger role in his teams, mainly on the defensive side of the ball. Bradley’s height became a significant asset for him in the NBA allowing him to establish himself as a dominant force on the court.

5. Tacko Fall

Tacko Fall with the Cleveland Cavaliers during a November 2021 game in Cleveland photo by Erik Drost – Wikimedia commons

Tacko Fall is a professional basketball player hailing from Senegal. He plays centre for the Chinese Basketball Association’s Xinjiang Flying Tigers. Fall is reputable for his height, which is listed at 7 ‘5″, and for his performances in college and the NBA Summer League. In 2019, he signed a two-way contract with the Celtics, dividing his time between the organization and its G League affiliate.

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6. Slavko Vranes

Slavko Vraneš photo by Zoran Borovac – Wikimedia commons

Slavko Vranes is a 7’5″ tall Serbian professional basketball player and is regarded as one of the tallest players in professional basketball history. He began his pro basketball career in Europe later joining the New York Knicks for the 2003-04 season.

He was known for his size and athleticism, which made it difficult for opponents to score around the basket effectively. He used his height and length to secure rebounds and possessions for his team. Vranes’ height aided him on the defensive end which made it hard for opponents to shoot baskets over him.

7. Chuck Nevitt

Chuck Nevitt, a former American professional basketball player who stood 7’5″ tall, is regarded as one of the league’s tallest players ever. Initially signing with the Houston Rockets, Nevitt later played for other teams. Chuck Nevitt had a strong presence defensively, as his height and length made it challenging for rivals to successfully score near the hoop.

Chuck Nevitt’s height was a significant asset for him in the NBA, helping him establish himself as one of the tallest players in the history of the league and a valuable asset for his teams on the defensive end.

8. Pavel Podkolzin

Podkolzin is a 7-foot-5-inch-tall Russian professional basketball player who formerly played at elite levels before hanging up his boots. He has past NBA experience. He was a top draft pick in 2004 due to his stature, blocking abilities, and strength, but he was chosen late. Pavel displayed his talents by averaging 6.0 rebounds in 14.0 minutes in his first two Las Vegas Summer League Revue games.

9. Sim Bhullar

Sim Bhullar with the Hsinchu JKO Lioneers in 2022 photo by Taoyuan City Government – Wikimedia commons

Sim Bhullar is a professional basketball player hailing from Canada. He became the first player of Indian descent to sign with an NBA team. Billed at 7′ 5”, Bhullar is one of the tallest players in professional basketball. He has also appeared in the NBA G League and on an international level. His impact on the Sacramento roster was largely due to his height which helped them do well in the regular season.

10. Rik Smits

Todd Bivona – Alumni Day @ Marist; Former NBA Star Rik Smits in attendance photo by TBone718 – Wikimedia commons

Rik Smits is a former Dutch professional basketball player who stood 7 feet 4 inches tall. From 1988 to 2000, he played centre for the National Basketball Association (NBA). After a successful college basketball career at Marist College, Smits was selected as the second overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers.

He was a prolific dunker and he went by the moniker “The Dunking Dutchman ”. Smits was known for his soft shooting touch, athleticism, and consistency in scoring. He left the Pacers as the franchise’s all-time leader in games played and blocked shots, and he was inducted into the Pacers Hall of Fame in 2012.

11. Mark Eaton

Mark Eaton, a former American professional basketball player who was billed at 7’4″ tall, is regarded as one of the league’s tallest players ever. Eaton spent 11 seasons as a player for the Utah Jazz, where he started his professional career in 1980. Eaton applied his height to defend the rim and stop the other team’s attacking momentum.

Eaton had a reputation for being able to stop shots, and he still retains the NBA record for most blocks in a season (456 in 1984-85). Mark Eaton’s height enabled him to become one of the tallest players in league history and this gave him an advantage in the game.

12. Boban Marjanović

Boban Marjanovic with the Dallas Mavericks before a game in May 2021 photo by Erik Drost – Wikimedia commons

Boban Marjanovi is a Serbian professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets. In international competitions, he also represents the Serbian national basketball team. He was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team in 2015. He is also an actor who has acted in several films. He is 7 feet 4 inches tall. His contributions to his teams extend far beyond his work ethic and on-court ability and have helped the respective teams achieve commendable results.

13. Priest Lauderdale

Priest Lauderdale photo by Biso – Wikimedia commons

Priest Lauderdale is a retired American professional basketball player. He played centre in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is best known for his time with the Denver Nuggets. Billed at 7′ 4″, the centre was known for his size and shot-blocking ability and played a total of 7 seasons in the NBA. After retiring from playing, he went on to become a coach and motivational speaker.

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14. Zydrunas Ilgauskas

An image of Cleveland Cavaliers player en:Zydrunas Ilgauskas. photo by Keith Allison – Wikimedia commons

Zydrunas Ilgauskas is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player. From 1997 until 2010, the NBA’s Ilgauskas billed at 7’3″ was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers before spending the 2010–11 season with the Miami Heat. He is renowned for his precise jump shots, ability to rebound, and ability to persevere through challenging injury situations during his career. Ilgauskas, better known by his basketball moniker Big Z, has had his number 11 jersey retired by the Cavaliers considering he leads the franchise in career blocked shots.

15. Randy Breuer

Randy Breuer is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He played centre in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons from 1983 to 1996. The centre billed at 7’3″ from the University of Minnesota, appeared in 11 NBA seasons between 1983 and 1994. He was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, and Sacramento Kings. Breuer pursued a coaching career after retiring from the NBA and currently runs a basketball camp for talented youngsters.

Read more: 15 Shortest but Awesome Basketball Players in the History of NBA.