In NBA basketball, height always plays an important role, bringing many advantages in situations of dispute, scoring and defense. Tall players often take on the role of center, helping the team gain an advantage in the area inside the court. Throughout NBA history, players with outstanding height have left a deep impression in the hearts of fans. Thanks to their ability to dispute and unique playing style, they not only became legends but also contributed to changing the way professional basketball is played. This article Bestsoccertips.com will introduce the top 10 tallest NBA player, who have made their name in the basketball arena with their huge physique.
Top 10 tallest NBA player
Top 10: Priest Lauderdale (2m25)
Priest Lauderdale, standing at 2m25, was once one of the tallest NBA player ever but had a very lackluster career. Born in 1973 in Chicago, he was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 28th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. Despite his outstanding physique, Lauderdale did not have enough skills to survive in the world’s top league. In his first season, he played 35 games for the Atlanta Hawks but only played an average of 7.8 minutes, scored 3.2 points and had 1.8 rebounds per game. The following season, he moved to the Denver Nuggets but still could not improve his performance, scoring an average of 3.7 points and 2 rebounds in 39 games before leaving the NBA after only two seasons.
After leaving the NBA, Lauderdale sought opportunities abroad, playing in Europe and Asia. He became a naturalized Bulgarian citizen and played for the Bulgarian national team, but his career did not have much of a breakthrough. Although he played in China, Venezuela, Lebanon and Iran, Lauderdale was remembered as a “giant” with impressive height but lacking the qualities to succeed. Eventually, he gradually disappeared from the professional basketball scene, becoming one of the tallest but least talked about players in the history of the NBA.
Top 9: Ralph Samson (2m25)
Ralph Sampson, standing at 7’2″, was one of the most tallest ever NBA player in the early 1980s. Teaming up with Hakeem Olajuwon (7’13), Sampson formed the “Twin Towers” duo, helping to turn the Houston Rockets into a formidable force in the league. When he was selected as the No. 1 pick in the 1983 NBA Draft, Sampson immediately proved his worth by averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds per game in his rookie season (1983-84), thereby winning the “Rookie of the Year” title.
Just two years later, the 1985-86 season marked the peak of the Sampson – Olajuwon duo when both were on the Western Conference All-Star team. That year, the Rockets advanced to the NBA Finals, but lost to Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics. Despite his physical prowess, Sampson was unable to maintain his peak form for long due to constant injuries. After losing his place in Houston, he drifted between the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Bullets before leaving the NBA in 1992. Despite his injury-delayed career, Sampson still made his mark, averaging 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and nearly 30 minutes per game—a testament to talent unfortunately hampered by inconsistent form.
Top 8: Rik Smits (2m25)
Rik Smits, at 2m25, is one of the tallest and most loyal centers in NBA history. Entering the league in 1988, Smits spent his entire 12-year career playing for the Indiana Pacers until retiring in 2000. Although not a superstar or a player with outstanding individual achievements, Smits still received great respect from teammates and fans thanks to his stability and dedication. On average, he scored 14.8 points per game and had 6 rebounds – not too impressive numbers but still enough to affirm his important role in the Pacers lineup.
Smits’ strength lies in his relatively smooth offensive skills compared to a player with outstanding physicality. He was a consistent mid-range shooter, more versatile than many other centers of his time, and was a key factor in helping the Pacers maintain their strength in the late 1990s. In particular, Smits played a major role in helping the Indiana Pacers reach the NBA Finals in 2000, where they faced Shaquille O’Neal’s Los Angeles Lakers. Although they could not win a championship, Smits still left his mark with smart and effective play. With his long-term commitment and consistent contributions, he is considered one of the greatest players in Indiana Pacers history, despite not having many outstanding individual titles.
Top 7: Mark Eaton (2m25)
Mark Eaton, standing at 7’2″, is one of the best defensive centers in NBA history. Spending his entire 11-year career with the Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1993, Eaton became an icon not only for his loyalty but also for his superb blocking ability. Although not a formidable scorer, Eaton was a nightmare for opposing players when he penetrated the area near the basket. He finished his career averaging 3.5 blocks per game, an impressive number that very few players in history could achieve. In particular, the 1984-85 season saw Eaton set a record with 5.6 blocks per game – the highest number ever recorded in an NBA season, a record that still stands to this day.
Eaton not only possessed long arms and a great physique, but also had a smart defensive mindset, which allowed him to always appear at the right time to block the opponent’s shots. Compared to Rik Smits – a center of similar height, Eaton was completely superior in his ability to protect the basket. Thanks to his presence, the Utah Jazz became one of the most solid defensive teams in the late 80s and early 90s. Not only was he a blocker, Eaton was also twice named NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 1989) and was selected to the All-Defensive Team many times. With his great contributions to the Utah Jazz, Eaton is considered one of the greatest “steel shields” the NBA has ever produced.
Top 6: Slavko Vranes (2m28)
Slavko Vraneš, at 2m29, is one of the tallest players in NBA history, but the most memorable number in his career is not the points, titles or seasons played, but simply… 3 minutes. That is the total time he played in the NBA. Selected by the New York Knicks in the 2003 NBA Draft, but only 10 days later, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Here, Vraneš had the opportunity to play in only one game, but did not leave any mark before disappearing from the league.
Vraneš’s case once again raises questions about the NBA’s pragmatism in transfer deals. Despite his impressive height, he never really had the opportunity to prove his ability in this harsh league. After the NBA, Vraneš continued his career in European leagues, but his name remains associated with the image of one of the “big men” with the shortest careers in the history of American professional basketball.
Participate in betting on new betting site with many attractive promotions and extremely good odds.
Top 5: Chuck Nevitt (2m28)
Chuck Nevitt, at 2m26, is one of the tallest players to ever play in the NBA, but his career has nothing to do with his physique. In 9 seasons in the NBA, Nevitt actually played only 6 seasons, because in the last 3 seasons he almost disappeared from the main roster. Although he played for many big teams such as the Houston Rockets, L.A Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, Nevitt’s career was not very outstanding. He never played more than 45 games in a season, averaging only 5.3 minutes per game, with only 1.5 rebounds and 1.6 points scored. These numbers make Nevitt one of the most modest players compared to his height.
Despite his physical advantages, Nevitt was unable to make a difference on the court. He was often used as a backup and never made a significant impact on any team. Although he was on the rosters of many top NBA teams, he never played a significant role in the lineup. His limited playing time and insignificant contributions made Nevitt one of the most lackluster “big men” in NBA history.
Top 4: Shawn Bradley (2m32)
Shawn Bradley, at 7’3″, is one of the tallest players in NBA history. Despite his physical advantages, he was not a standout star on the court. With an average of 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, Bradley did not leave much of a professional mark other than his relatively stable defensive ability. However, NBA fans often remember him more for the moments when other players posterized him – becoming the victim of powerful dunks. Compilation videos of the NBA’s top dunks rarely lack Bradley’s presence, but unfortunately he was often on the receiving end rather than the performer.
Although not an outstanding center, Bradley’s exceptional height still made him a memorable figure in the NBA. He was nicknamed “Giant” – the giant, and was often challenged by opponents with daring dunks. In addition to his dunks, Bradley also had some impressive defensive plays and blocks. His hot-tempered personality allowed him to show his aggression on the court at times, but overall it wasn’t enough to make him a force to be reckoned with. While he didn’t reach star status, Bradley was still memorable for his height and the humorous moments he left behind in NBA highlight videos.
Top 3: Yao Ming (2m32)
In 2002, a farce happened in the NBA when Charles Bakley, a superstar in the top 50 greatest NBA players, had to kiss… a donkey. That was the price to pay for Charles Bakley’s contempt for Asian blood.
In 2002, Yao Ming joined the NBA under the Rockets. He was not the first Chinese player with a tall physique to play in the NBA. Before the season started, many experts predicted that Yao would fail miserably in the NBA, one of them was Charles Bakley, who boldly declared that if Yao scored more than 19 points in a game, he would have to kiss the ass of his partner Kenny Smith (a familiar face in the NBA Half time report).
Yao Ming’s first seven games were a delight for Bakley, who averaged just 4 points per game. But on November 17, the nightmare really came to the former Phoenix Suns superstar when Yao suddenly had a brilliant game with 20 points, shooting a perfect 9/9 in a match against a very strong opponent, the Lakers. Kenny Smith’s butt was replaced by his beloved pet, a donkey, and of course that was the “place” where Bakley had to give his love. Although only 2m32 tall but more successful than everyone else in the top 10, Yao deserves to be the hero of Asian basketball.
Top 2: Gheorghe Muresan (2m34)
Gheorghe Mureșan, at 2m34, is one of the tallest players in NBA history, but his career has not left much of an impression on the professional level. Despite his physical advantages, Mureșan is not a true “big man” as he lacks the strength and technique needed to become an excellent center. This reflects the fact that not everyone with outstanding height is passionate or suitable for professional basketball. His presence in the NBA lasted 6 years but did not bring memorable moments other than becoming one of the tallest players to ever play.
Gheorghe Mureșan’s biggest mark was not on the court but came from his appearance in the movie “My Giant” (1998), where he starred alongside Billy Crystal and Kathleen Quinlan. The film uses Mureșan’s unique appearance to create a humorous contrast between a giant and a normal person, reinforcing the idea that his height is more attractive than his playing ability. Although he did not make much of an appearance in the NBA, Mureșan is still a memorable figure in the history of the league, simply because he is one of the two tallest players to ever appear in the league.
Top 1: Manute Bol (2m34)
Manute Bol, at 7’10” and 230 pounds, is one of the most unique players in NBA history. Despite averaging just 2.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game over 10 seasons, he had excellent defensive skills, especially his iconic blocks. It is worth noting that Bol did not need to jump when blocking, but thanks to his long reach and quick reflexes, he could block opponents’ shots in a very unique way. Although his scoring efficiency was not impressive, he is still remembered as one of the greatest defensive masters.
In his first season, Manute Bol showed his talent with 397 blocks, an incredible number for a rookie. He also holds the record for most blocks in the first two quarters with 11 and the record for most blocks in a quarter with 8. Notably, with a frequency of 1.76 blocks/minute, Bol became the player with the highest blocking rate in NBA history. Not only did he attract attention on the court, he also created one of the most interesting couples in the NBA when he became friends with Muggsy Bogues – the shortest player in the history of the league. The contrast between the two, one the tallest and the other the shortest, became a unique symbol of the NBA, making them forever remembered by fans.
To Wrap It Up
So height is a highlight in the NBA, but to become a legend, players also need skills, patience and fighting spirit. The names on the list of tallest NBA player above not only left their mark with their height but also contributed greatly to the development of the NBA. They have become icons and inspirations for many generations of young players later, affirming that the NBA is a place where talent gathers regardless of height or shortness.
See more: Top 10 shortest NFL player – Jack Shapiro tops the rankings
