NBA All-Time Shortest Players

A complete list of the NBA's all-time shortest players.

Top 10 NBA Shortest Players All-Time

Rank	Player	Height	Years Active
1	Muggsy Bogues	5-3	1987-2001
2	Earl Boykins	5-5	1999-2012
3	Mel Hirsch	5-6	1946-1947
4	Spud Webb	5-7	1985-1998
5	Greg Grant	5-7	1989-1996
6	Keith Jennings	5-7	1992-1995
7	Red Klotz	5-7	1947-1948
8	Wataru Misaka	5-7	1947-1948
9	Monte Towe	5-7	1976-1977
10	Charlie Criss	6-8	1977-1984

Top 5 NBA Shortest Players All-Time: Stats and History

Muggsy Bogues

Bogues played 14 seasons in the NBA for the Washington Bullets, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors. He finished his career with averages of 7.7 points, 7.6 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game.

Bogues spent his first 10 seasons in the NBA with the Hornets. He was a key member of the Hornets' teams that made the playoffs in 1993, 1994, and 1995. Bogues was known for his speed, quickness, and passing ability. He was also a tenacious defender, despite his size.

Earl Boykins

Boykins played 13 seasons in the NBA for 10 different teams, most notably the Denver Nuggets from 2003-07, for whom he averaged 12.1 points per game.

Boykins played in 15 playoff games, all with Denver, averaging 27.5 minutes per game and 12.9 points per game, although his team never reached the second round.

Mel Hirsch

Hirsch played just one season with the Boston Celtics in 1946/47, and was known as the shortest player in NBA history up until Bogues came along in 1987.

He served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II in the years leading up to signing with the Celtics. Hirsch played in 13 career games and averaged 1.5 points per game.

Spud Webb

Spud Webb played 12 NBA seasons, including seven with the Atlanta Hawks. He was a fan favorite due to his electrifying dunks, jumping ability, and scoring prowess, despite his size.

Webb is best known for winning the 1986 Slam Dunk contest, where he defeated teammate and “Human Highlight Film” Dominique Wilkins in the final.

Webb’s victory remains relevant to this day due to the fact that he was able to perform such acrobatic and creative dunks despite being 5-foot-7.

Greg Grant

Grant played seven NBA seasons for the 76ers, Suns, Nuggets, Knicks, Hornets, and Bullets before retiring in 1996. He averaged 2.8 points and 2.7 assists per game in his career.

Who is the shortest current NBA player?

The average height of an NBA player has increased since the turn of the century, with the shortest players playing in today’s game standing a few inches under six foot.

The shortest player signed to an NBA roster in 2023 is Toronto Raptors guard Markquis Nowell, who stands at 5-foot-8.

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