Top 10 tallest NBA players ever

Have you ever wondered who is the tallest NBA player ever? Height has always played an important role in basketball, providing a great advantage in defense, rebounding and scoring. Some players not only impress with their outstanding height but also possess excellent playing skills, contributing to the history of the NBA. In this article, Kingsoccertips.com will explore the list of the tallest NBA players, learn about their careers, achievements and influence on the most attractive basketball tournament on the planet.

Who is the tallest NBA player ever?

Top 10: Priest Lauderdale (2m25)

Priest Lauderdale, at 7’2″, is one of the tallest NBA player ever, but his career was not very impressive. Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft, Lauderdale played just two short seasons before leaving the world’s top league. Despite his superior physique, he did not show much on the court, clearly proving that height is not the deciding factor in basketball.

In his first season with the Atlanta Hawks (1996-97) and second season with the Denver Nuggets (1997-98), Lauderdale averaged just 7.1 minutes per game, 3.4 points and 1.9 rebounds—well below expectations for a player of his impressive height. After leaving the NBA, Lauderdale moved to Europe, specifically Bulgaria, where he became a naturalized citizen and continued his professional basketball career. Despite his lack of success in the NBA, Lauderdale remains one of the tallest players to ever play in the league’s history.

Top 9: Ralph Samson (2m25)

Ralph Sampson, standing at 7’2″, was one of the best centers of the 1980s and a key part of the legendary “Twin Towers” of the Houston Rockets alongside Hakeem Olajuwon. When selected by the Rockets at the No. 1 position in the 1983 NBA Draft, Sampson quickly proved his worth with the title “Rookie of the Year” thanks to an average of 21 points and 11 rebounds per game in his first season. The appearance of Olajuwon in 1984 gave Houston the tallest duo in the NBA at that time, turning the Rockets into a formidable force in the West.

The 1985-86 season marked the peak of Sampson’s career when he and Olajuwon helped the Rockets reach the NBA Finals, facing Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics. However, constant injuries plagued Sampson’s career. After leaving Houston, he bounced around the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Bullets, but never regained his peak form. He finally retired from the NBA in 1992, averaging 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. Despite his injury-plagued career, Sampson is remembered as one of the most talented centers of the 1980s and an important piece in the Houston Rockets’ journey.

Top 8: Rik Smits (2m25)

Rik Smits, at 7’2″, is one of the tallest ever NBA player. Like Mark Eaton, he spent his entire career with one team—the Indiana Pacers. Entering the NBA in 1988, Smits played for the Pacers for 12 seasons before retiring in 2000. Although he was not a top star, he was respected by his teammates and fans for his consistency, consistency, and important contributions to the Pacers lineup throughout the 1990s.

In terms of individual achievements, Smits averaged 14.8 points and 6 rebounds per game—not too impressive compared to top centers, but still an important factor in helping the Indiana Pacers maintain their competitive strength in the East. The highlight of his career was his appearance in the 2000 NBA Finals, when the Pacers faced off against Shaquille O’Neal’s Los Angeles Lakers. Although he did not win a championship, Smits left an impression on Indiana fans with his calm, efficient play and a loyalty that was rare in a volatile NBA.

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Top 7: Mark Eaton (2m25)

Mark Eaton, standing at 2m25, is one of the tallest ever NBA player. During his 11-year career, he played for only one team – the Utah Jazz, becoming a symbol of loyalty in the league. Joining the NBA in 1982 and staying until 1993, Eaton impressed not only with his outstanding physique but also with his formidable defensive ability. Unlike many other tall players, he took full advantage of his height to become one of the master blockers in NBA history.

Eaton’s career statistics clearly reflect his greatest strength: his ability to stop opponents. With an average of 3.5 blocks per game, Eaton is one of the most efficient defensive players of all time. His peak came in the 1984-85 season when he averaged 5.6 blocks per game – a record that has never been broken. Not only was he excellent at defense, Eaton also played an important role in the Utah Jazz lineup, helping to shape the team’s style of play throughout the 80s. Although he was not an offensive star, he still left a deep impression in the hearts of NBA fans, especially loyal Utah Jazz fans.

Top 6: Slavko Vranes (2m28)

Slavko Vranes, at 7’2″, is one of the tallest players in NBA history, but his career was almost non-existent. Although he was selected by the New York Knicks in the 2003 NBA Draft, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers just 10 days later. However, Vranes’ actual NBA career lasted exactly… 3 minutes. That’s not 3 seasons, 3 individual titles, or any memorable achievements—just 3 minutes on the court, making him one of the shortest players in the league.

Vranes is a prime example of how the NBA operates as a trading system, where players can become “pieces” that are traded without ever having a chance to truly prove themselves. Despite his physical prowess, he never got the chance to develop or make his mark in the NBA. After leaving the league, Vranes continued playing in Europe, but what people remember of him in the NBA is limited to a meager 3-3 minutes and a nearly non-existent NBA career.

Top 5: Chuck Nevitt (2m28)

Who is the tallest NBA player ever? Chuck Nevitt, at 2m26 tall, is one of the tallest players in NBA history, but his career was so obscure that it was almost unmentioned. Although he played in 9 seasons, he actually only played in 6 seasons, because in the last 3 seasons, Nevitt almost disappeared from the NBA. It is worth noting that he played for many big teams such as Houston Rockets, L.A Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. However, playing for famous teams does not mean a successful career. Nevitt rarely had the opportunity to play and did not leave any significant mark.

Throughout his NBA career, Nevitt never played more than 45 games in a season, with an average playing time of only 5.3 minutes per game. His numbers were also modest: 1.5 rebounds and 1.6 points per game. With his size but negligible contributions, Nevitt is considered one of the least influential “big men” in NBA history. Despite possessing the physique that many players dream of, he was unable to take advantage of his strengths to become a formidable center, making his NBA career a story more forgettable than memorable.

Top 4: Shawn Bradley (2m32)

Shawn Bradley, at 2m30, is one of the tallest players in NBA history. Despite his outstanding physique, his career has not really stood out beyond his relatively stable defensive ability. During his playing time, especially when playing for the Dallas Mavericks, Bradley averaged 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. These numbers are not too impressive compared to the expectations for a player with a rare height advantage. However, Bradley is still remembered for his presence on the court, although he often appears in the NBA’s top 10 collision videos as a victim rather than an overpowering opponent.

Although not a true star, Bradley still made a certain mark thanks to his outstanding height during his playing period. He was called “Giant” by fans, a nickname that accurately reflects his physique. In addition to his blocking ability, Bradley also made a name for himself with his dunks, though they weren’t always dominant. Despite his sometimes aggressive on-court demeanor, he never really became a big influence. Still, his height makes him a memorable name on the list of the most physically impressive players in NBA history.

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 Muresan, at 2m34, is one of the tallest players in NBA history. However, contrary to the image of a “big man” dominating the court, Muresan did not really make a remarkable mark in terms of expertise. He played in the NBA for 6 years but did not leave many memorable achievements besides his physical advantage. Possessing an impressive height sometimes does not mean becoming a basketball star, and Muresan is a typical example of that. Despite his special physical foundation, he did not achieve the great expectations that fans expected from a player with such an innate advantage.

Although his basketball career was not too brilliant, Gheorghe Muresan impressed the audience through the movie My Giant (1998), where he collaborated with Billy Crystal and Kathleen Quinlan. This is probably his biggest mark in the public’s mind, even more prominent than what he shows on the court. This shows that not everyone with outstanding height can become an NBA legend, and sometimes the pressure from special physicality becomes a burden rather than an advantage.

Top 1: Manute Bol (2m34)

Manute Bol, at 2m34 and 103kg, is one of the tallest players in NBA history. Despite his outstanding physique, his career was not notable for his ability to score or compete for the ball. After 10 seasons in the NBA, Bol only averaged 2.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, quite modest numbers. However, what made him an icon was his amazing blocking ability. Thanks to his long reach and sharp defensive sense, Bol hardly needed to jump when blocking his opponent’s shot. Instead of using strength or speed, he took full advantage of his height and special technique to touch the ball in an unusual way.

From his first season, Manute Bol affirmed his position as one of the best blockers in NBA history. He recorded 397 blocks in his rookie season alone, an impressive record. Bol did not stop there, he also set a series of personal records, including 11 blocks in the first two quarters and 8 blocks in one quarter. Notably, he also holds the record for the highest block frequency in the NBA with 1.76 times/minute, proving his fearsome ability to protect the basket. Off the court, Bol also has a special friendship with Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player in NBA history (1m60). The huge height difference between them has created an interesting couple, becoming a memorable image in the hearts of basketball fans.

To Wrap It Up

The tallest NBA player above not only have physical advantages but also leave an important mark in the history of the tournament. Their height helps them dominate the area under the basket, but success does not only come from physical advantages but also depends on skills, tactics and competitive spirit. Although each player has a different journey, all contribute to creating memorable moments, affirming that basketball is not only a game of height but also a stage of talent and constant effort.

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