I read once that if you happen to be seven feet or taller, you have a 16% chance of appearing in an NBA game! NBA general managers and coaches have always had a fascination with height. This isn't to say that you can't play in the NBA without it (we previously wrote about the Shortest Players to Play in the NBA). But, most GM's get more excited about a seven foot prospect than a 6'2" guard. The average height in the NBA today is 6'7" and that has stayed consistent over the past 20 seasons. While most talent evaluators use seven feet as the threshold for a "big man," what's crazy is that a guy like Gheorghe Muresan is closer to eight feet tall than seven. Will there ever be a player 8 feet tall in the NBA? I'm willing to bet that there will be. Today, we look at the tallest players to ever play in an NBA game. The Tallest Players in NBA History1. Gheorghe Mureșan 7'7"Gheorghe Mureșan is a former professional basketball player from Romania, who is best known for his time in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the 1990s. Born on February 14, 1971, in Tritenii de Jos, Cluj County, Romania, Mureșan began playing basketball at a young age and quickly rose to become one of the top players in his country. At the age of 18, Mureșan was discovered by Belgian basketball coach Jacques Stas, who brought him to Belgium to play for his team, Spirou Charleroi. Mureșan quickly made an impact in the Belgian league, averaging 23 points and 14 rebounds per game in his second season. In 1993, Mureșan was drafted by the Washington Bullets in the second round of the NBA draft. He quickly made a name for himself as one of the tallest players in NBA history, standing at 7 feet 7 inches tall. Gheorghe Mureșan's height and impressive wingspan (7'10") made him a formidable force on the court, particularly on defense. While Gheorghe is the tallest to ever play in the NBA, his wingspan was quite a bit shorter than Manute Bol's below. Mureșan played in the NBA for six seasons, spending time with the Washington Bullets and the New Jersey Nets. He was named an NBA All-Star in 1996 and won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award that same year. In total, Mureșan played in 307 NBA games, averaging 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. After retiring from basketball, Mureșan returned to Romania, where he has been involved in a variety of business ventures and philanthropic efforts. He has also continued to be involved in basketball, serving as a coach and mentor to young players in his home country. Throughout his career, Mureșan was widely respected for his work ethic, his positive attitude, and his dedication to the game of basketball. Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, he never let his size define him and became an inspiration to many players around the world. Muresan and Manute Bol are considered the tallest NBA player ever. 2. Manute Bol 7'7"Manute Bol was a professional basketball player from Sudan, who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1985 to 1995. Born on October 16, 1962, in Gogrial, Sudan, Bol was known for his exceptional height and his skills as a shot blocker. Bol began playing basketball at a young age and quickly gained attention for his impressive height, standing at 7 feet 7 inches tall. His wingspan of 8'6" is considered the longest in NBA history. After playing for several years in Sudan, Bol was discovered by American basketball coach Kevin Mackey, who brought him to the United States to play for the Cleveland State Vikings. In 1985, Bol was drafted by the Washington Bullets in the second round of the NBA draft. Bol quickly made a name for himself as one of the most effective shot blockers in the league, using his incredible height and long wingspan to swat away shots from opposing players. Over the course of his career, Bol played for several NBA teams, including the Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Miami Heat. In total, he played in 624 NBA games, averaging 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game. Off the court, Bol was known for his humanitarian work and his efforts to improve conditions in his home country of Sudan. He established the Ring True Foundation to help provide assistance to the people of Sudan, and he also worked to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in the region. Throughout his career, Bol was widely respected for his kindness, his intelligence, and his dedication to making the world a better place. Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles throughout his life, he remained a positive force in the world of basketball and beyond. Bol passed away on June 19, 2010, at the age of 47. His son, Bol Bol, is a tall man in his own right, standing at 7'2" with a wingspan of 7'8." Bol Bol currently plays for the Orlando Magic. 3. Tacko Fall 7'6"Tacko Fall is a professional basketball player from Senegal who currently plays for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on December 10, 1995, in Dakar, Senegal, Fall is known for his exceptional height and his impressive wingspan, which make him a formidable force on the basketball court. Fall began playing basketball at a young age, and quickly gained attention for his impressive size, standing at 7 feet 6 inches tall. His wingspan of 8'2.25" inches is considered the second longest in NBA history. He moved to the United States in 2012 to pursue his basketball career, and played high school basketball in Florida before enrolling at the University of Central Florida. At UCF, Fall became one of the most dominant players in college basketball, earning national recognition for his shot-blocking ability, rebounding, and overall defensive prowess. He was named the American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in both 2019 and 2020. In 2019, Fall declared for the NBA draft, and was eventually signed by the Boston Celtics as an undrafted free agent. He played for the Celtics' NBA G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, before being called up to the NBA in November 2019. Since then, Fall has become a fan favorite in Boston, known for his towering presence on the court, his positive attitude, and his dedication to improving his game. He has also become an ambassador for basketball in Senegal, using his platform to inspire young players and promote the sport in his home country. Throughout his career, Fall has been widely respected for his work ethic, his humility, and his dedication to the game of basketball. Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, he has remained a positive force in the world of basketball, inspiring fans and fellow players alike with his unique talent and his infectious personality. 4. Yao Ming 7'6"Yao Ming is a retired professional basketball player from China, who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets from 2002 to 2011. Born on September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China, Yao is known for his exceptional height, his skill as a center, and his role in popularizing basketball in China. Yao began playing basketball at a young age, and quickly gained attention for his massive presence. Standing at 7 feet 6 inches tall, Yao has a wingspan of 7 feet 5 inches and weighed 310 pounds during his playing career. He began playing professionally in China in the late 1990s, and quickly established himself as one of the most dominant players in the Chinese Basketball Association. In 2002, Yao was drafted by the Houston Rockets as the first overall pick in the NBA draft, making him the first player from China to be drafted into the NBA. Yao quickly made a name for himself as one of the most skilled centers in the league, using his size and agility to dominate opponents both offensively and defensively. Over the course of his career, Yao played in 486 NBA games, averaging 19 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. He was selected to the NBA All-Star team eight times, and was named to the All-NBA team five times. Off the court, Yao was known for his humanitarian work and his efforts to improve conditions in China. He established the Yao Ming Foundation to help provide assistance to underprivileged children in China, and he also worked to promote education, health, and environmental initiatives throughout the country. Throughout his career, Yao was widely respected for his skill, his intelligence, and his dedication to improving the game of basketball. He remains one of the most beloved and influential figures in the history of basketball, both in China and around the world. We profiled Yao in a recent article here. 5. Shawn Bradley 7'6"Shawn Bradley is a retired professional basketball player from the United States, who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks. Born on March 22, 1972, in Landstuhl, Germany, Bradley is known for his exceptional height, his shot-blocking ability, and his role in popularizing basketball in Germany. Bradley grew up in Castle Dale, Utah, and quickly gained attention for his exceptional height, standing at 7 feet 6 inches tall. He played college basketball at Brigham Young University, where he became one of the most dominant centers in the NCAA. In 1993, Bradley was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers as the second overall pick in the NBA draft. He quickly established himself as one of the most skilled shot-blockers in the league, using his size and athleticism to intimidate opponents and protect the rim. Over the course of his career, Bradley played in 832 NBA games, averaging 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. He was widely respected for his defensive prowess and his ability to disrupt opponents' shots, and he was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1997. Off the court, Bradley was known for his humanitarian work and his efforts to improve conditions in Africa. He and his wife Annette founded the Bradley Center for Children and Families, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to underprivileged children in Africa. In 2013, Bradley was inducted into the German Basketball Hall of Fame, in recognition of his contributions to the sport in Germany. He remains one of the most beloved and influential figures in the history of basketball, both in the United States and around the world. A Complete List of Every 7 Footer to Play in an NBA GameThe list below contains a lot of names. Of course, this is based on a player's official height, which as we all know, can often be slightly incorrect in NBA media guides. For example, Domantas Sabonis is listed on many pages at 6'10" or 6'11". However, others have him at 7'1". Gheroghe Muresan - 7'7" Manute Bol - 7'7" Tacko Fall - 7'6" Shawn Bradley - 7'6" Yao Ming - 7'6" Slavko Vranes - 7'5" Chuck Nevitt - 7'5" Pavel Podkolzin - 7'5" Sim Bhullar - 7'5" Boban Marjanovic - 7'4" Rik Smits - 7'4" Mark Eaton - 7'4" Ralph Sampson - 7'4" Priest Lauderdale - 7'4" Aleksandar Radojevic - 7'3" Peter John Ramos - 7'3" Randy Breuer - 7'3" Hasheem Thabeet - 7'3" Zydrunas Ilgauskas - 7'3" Swede Halbrook - 7'3" Arvydas Sabonis - 7'3" Kristaps Porzingis - 7'3" Keith Closs - 7'3" Ha Seung-Jin - 7'3" Georgios Papagiannis - 7'3" Walter Tavares - 7'3" Tibor Pleib - 7'3" Bol Bol - 7'2" Radoslav Nesterovic - 7'2" Greg Ostertag - 7'2" Luc Longley - 7'2" Roy Hibbert - 7'2" Dikembe Mutombo - 7'2" Moses Brown - 7'2" Luke Kornet - 7'2" Shaquille O'Neal - 7'1" David Robinson - 7'1" Marc Gasol -7'1" Rudy Gobert - 7'1" Brook Lopez - 7'1" Jakob Poeltl - 7'1" Chet Holmgren - 7'1" Alex Len - 7'1" Felton Spencer - 7'0" Pau Gasol - 7'0" Patrick Ewing - 7'0" Hakeem Olajuwon - 7'0" Wang Zhizhi - 7'0" Andrew Bynum - 7'0" Brad Sellers - 7'0" Olden Polynice - 7'0" Bryant Reeves - 7'0" Hassan Whiteside - 7'0" Chris Kaman - 7'0" Steven Adams - 7'0" Jusuf Nurkic - 7'0" Karl-Anthony Towns - 7'0" Lauri Markkanen - 7'0" Deandre Ayton - 7'0" Ivica Zubac - 7'0" Mason Plumblee - 7'0" Evan Mobley - 7'0" Nikola Jokic - 7'0" Joel Embiid - 7'0" Robin Lopez - 7'0" Mitchell Robinson - 7'0" JaVale McGhee - 7'0" Mo Bamba - 7'0" Aleksej Pokuševski - 7'0" James Wiseman - 7'0" Frank Kaminsky - 7'0" Willie Cauley-Stein - 7'0" Isaiah Hartenstein - 7'0" Dewayne Dedmon - 7'0" Cody Zeller - 7'0" Nick Richards - 7'0" Mark Williams - 7'0" Neemias Queta - 7'0" Jay Huff - 7'0" Meyers Leonard - 7'0" Final ThoughtsThe next time you sit down with friends for trivia night, I'd recommend the question, "How many seven-footers can you name that have played in the NBA?"
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AuthorJohn Willkom is the author of Amazon best-selling basketball books: Walk-On Warrior and No Fear In The Arena. John is an avid reader, sports fan, and father to two incredible little girls. Archives
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