Height is might when it comes to the game of basketball. The NBA today has an average height of 6 ft. 6, which goes to show the league is ruled by players with tremendous size. However, every now and then we get to see NBA players, smaller than usual, make their way into the NBA. Despite the league being ruled by players 6ft and above, there are players below 6ft. who have made an impact to the game when given the opportunity.
These small players are usually seen as underdogs. Given that they have a huge height disadvantage, it is easier to believe that they can be overpowered any time by opposing players in the NBA. But due to their underdog reputation, it is also part of the reason why they are fun to watch. Although they lack in size, a lot of them make up for it with their quickness and athletic ability.
For this piece, let’s take a look at the 15 shortest players that have stepped on the NBA hardwood.
15. Isaiah Thomas
Height: 5’9
Career stats: 18.1 points, 5.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 0.1 blocks
Awards: 2x NBA All-Star, 1x All-NBA Second Team, 1x NBA All-Rookie Second Team
Arguably the best player below 6 feet we have seen in the recent years, Isaiah Thomas is actually one of the most decorated players in this list. The spitfire guard emerged to become a reliable scorer that has defied the odds. Because he is undersized, it gave him all the more motivation to prove his doubters wrong.
He was the last pick of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. However, Thomas made the most out of his opportunity in Sacramento. In his rookie year, the spitfire guard averaged 11.5 points and 4.1 assists. His rookie season also saw him take Rookie of the Month honors in February. More importantly to cap off his rookie season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
His time with Sacramento was a platform for the superstar guard to showcase his skills. In fact, he even notched his first triple double in 2014 where he posted 24 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in an overtime win against the Washington Wizards. This feat allowed him to become one of only four players below 6ft. tall to achieve a triple double. The only other players who achieved this feat were Michael Adams, Damon Stoudamire, Calvin Murphy, and Dana Barros. Among the players to achieve this feat, Isaiah Thomas is the shortest.
Although his stint with the Kings was productive, his best performances came with the Boston Celtics. Playing under Coach Brad Stevens, Thomas shines brightly as he had his best scoring seasons from 2014-2017. The 5’9 guard averaged 24.7 points and 6.0 assists per game in three seasons with the Celtics, which was good enough to declare him an NBA All-Star twice. Thomas became only the second player at 5’9 to participate in the All Star exhibition. Aside from this, he would also help take the Boston Celtics to three straight playoff appearances.
Unfortunately due to injuries, when his time with the Celtics ended, Thomas bounced around the league for two seasons as he had stopovers with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Denver Nuggets.
Earlier in the 2019-2020 season, Thomas played for the Washington Wizards and he averaged decent numbers of 12.2 points and 3.7 assists before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers and immediately waived by the team during the trade deadline. Hopefully, we will be able to see Thomas regain his old form again in the near future.
14. Yuta Tabuse
Height: 5’9
Career stats: 1.8 points, 0.8 assists, 1.0 rebounds, 0.0 steals, 0.0 blocks
One of the two players with Asian descent on this list, the Japanese guard left his professional team in Japan Toyota Alvark to play in the NBA. He first played for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2003 NBA Summer League. Afterwards, he participated in the Denver Nuggets’ training camp.
It was in 2004 when Yuta Tabuse finally made his debut in an NBA game. On his Phoenix Suns debut, Tabuse became the first homegrown full-blooded Japanese player to ever play in the NBA. In that 112-82 Suns victory against the Atlanta Hawks, the Japanese sensation scored 7 points in 10 minutes of action. However, this would be the last time he would put points on the board. To make matters worse, after playing four games, the Japanese guard would be released by the Suns. He signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2005, but wasn’t able to crack the main roster. Afterwards, Tabuse would no longer be seen in an NBA game ever again.
However, the Japanese star didn’t give up. He would still remain in the NBA radar as he bounced around the NBA D-League, which is now known as the NBA G-League. He made appearances with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, Bakersfield Jam, and Anaheim Arsenal.
Eventually, the former Suns guard went home to Japan. Tabuse put his NBA experience to good use. He would win two championships in the country’s professional league in 2010 and 2017, where he was named the Finals MVP in 2010. Tabuse would also play for the Japan National Basketball team in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship and 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Yuta Tabuse’s size and NBA stint may be short. However, he definitely made a big impact when it comes to bringing the Japanese pride to the NBA bright lights. Furthermore, his breakthrough in the NBA has definitely helped paved the way for Japanese players like Washington Wizards’ rookie Rui Hachimura and Memphis Grizzlies’ forward Yuta Watanabe to pursue their NBA dreams today.
13. Kay Felder
Height: 5’9
Career stats: 3.8 points, 1.3 assists, 1.0 rebounds, 0.4 steals, 0.1 blocks
Like Tabuse, Kay Felder didn’t see much playing time in the NBA. However, Felder did play more games and seasons in the best basketball league. Standing at 5’9, the Oakland standout was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round. Eventually, he was immediately traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Felder had his best season with the Cavs, averaging 4.0 points and 1.4 assists per outing in 42 games. It is worth noting that the team usually assigned him to the Canton Charge of the NBA G-League.
In 2017, he was traded to the Hawks and was waived by the team that drafted him. Afterwards, he would have a short stint with the Chicago Bulls, where averaged 3.9 points and 1.4 assists in only 14 games. Like his time with the Cavs, Felder was also assigned to the franchise’s G-league team the Windy City Bulls.
Unfortunately for Felder, his NBA career goes much shorter than that. He signed a two way contract with the Detroit Pistons and would only appear in two games while also playing for the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA G-League. His stint with the Pistons was forgettable as he only averaged 1.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
Kay Felder would make his last move in the NBA by signing with the Toronto Raptors. However, he was released before the season could start. This led to him playing for the Raptors 905 of the NBA G-League. He displayed his talents and averaged decent numbers. However, the Oakland guard was arrested and charged with domestic violence. As a result, the Raptors 905 waived the 5’9 guard.
Today, Felder is no longer in the NBA radar as he took his talents halfway across the world. He currently plays for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.
12. Nate Robinson
Height: 5’9
Career stats: 11.0 points, 3.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 0.1 blocks
Awards: 3x NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
When it comes to the Slam Dunk Contest in mid to late 2000’s, Nate Robinson was definitely one of the most electrifying spectacles that the NBA fans have ever seen. Despite standing at only 5’9, Robinson has the athletic ability to execute emphatic dunks that would wow all of the fans in the arena. Whether it is jumping over full grown men or acrobatic dunks, Robinson has proved to everyone that he has the hops to show for it. Because of this, he has won the dunk contest trophy on three separate occasions. This allows him to be considered as one of the famous players below 6 feet tall.
Robinson has also had a decent NBA career, where his best stint was with the New York Knicks. During the 2008-2009 season, the pint-sized guard has his best scoring season averaging 17.2 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per outing. In a Knicks uniform, Robinson also scored a career high 45 points in a Knicks loss against the Portland Trailblazers. He also had a notable game against the Atlanta Hawks in 2009, where he finished with 41 points, coming off the bench which resulted into an overtime victory for the Knicks.
Aside from his emphatic dunks, Robinson can rise up to block some shots. Big men like Carlos Boozer, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard, and Yao Ming have fallen victim to Robinson’s excellent timing and impressive vertical leap. With those names alone, you can tell that Nate Robinson possessed superb talent for his size.
Throughout his career, Robinson has played for various teams. Aside from the Knicks, he also played for the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans Pelicans. Overall, Robinson had a decent career playing as a back up point guard for these teams.
Despite playing with a height disadvantage, Nate Robinson is just one of the few players under six feet tall to make a name for himself in the NBA.
11. Calvin Murphy
Height: 5’9
Career stats: 17.9 points, 4.4 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.1 blocks
Awards: 1x NBA All-Star, 1x NBA All-Rookie First Team, 1993 Basketball Hall of Fame
If you’re talking about the shortest players in the NBA, one of the players that should make the list is Calvin Murphy. Despite standing only at 5’9, Murphy kept in step with bigger guards in the NBA. Throughout his career, he was a consistent scorer averaging double figures in all of his seasons while playing for the Rockets franchise. His best season came in 1977-1978 where he posted a career best 25.6 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 rebounds. The Niagara University standout was also declared an All-Star in the season after, making him the first player at 5’9 to achieve this feat. Furthermore, Calvin Murphy also had an outstanding game against the Nets in 1978, where he scored a career high 57 points which was a franchise record that was only broken in 2018 by Rockets star James Harden.
An aspect of his scoring that stands out is his excellent free throw shooting. In the 1980-1981 season, Murphy nailed 95.81% of his free throw attempts which was good enough not only to lead the league in that season but it was also good enough to be a NBA record. This feat was only broken in 2009.
Aside from his scoring, Murphy has also showcased his ability to be a great playmaker. The All-Star guard was the record holder for the most franchise assists by a Rockets player with 4,402. It was only shattered in 2019 by the same player who broke his scoring record, James Harden.
By holding a lot of records and putting up decent scoring performances throughout his career, Calvin Murphy was named to the Baskeball Hall of Fame in 1993. He would become the shortest basketball player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. For someone who doesn’t have the size, Murphy’s achievements were phenomenal.
10. Chris Clemons
Height: 5’9
Career stats: 4.9 points, 0.8 assists, 0.9 rebounds, 0.3 steals, 0.2 blocks
Chris Clemons was a scoring machine in the NCAA. Playing for Campbell, he scored 3,225 points and averaged 24.8 points per game which was good enough to rank third in college basketball history. With those numbers alone, you know Clemons has the ability to get some points.
Today, the Campbell standout is the smallest player in the Houston Rockets lineup. After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Rockets signed Chris Clemons to an Exhibit 10 contact that would later turn into a two way contract after having him in the NBA Summer League. Although the Rockets rookie lacks a lot of size, Clemons certainly made an impact when he was on the floor.
The Campbell standout was able to register some good games in his ongoing stint with the Rockets. Some of his notable games include a 16 point performance, spiked by four three pointers, in his first game with the Houston Rockets. Aside from this, when the team had to endure an injured Russell Westbrook, he would successfully fill the void by scoring a career high 19 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves where he shot 63.6% from the field and shot an efficient five of nine from downtown. Just recently in the NBA Bubble, Clemons registered another double-digit scoring performance in a loss against the San Antonio Spurs where he scored 13 points in just 16 minutes of action.
If Clemons can only become more consistent with his scoring touch in the NBA, the Rockets will be equipped to make a deep playoff run again this year. For now, Clemons has showed a lot of promise and heart as a Rockets rookie off the bench. For an undrafted player below six feet tall, you have to give Clemons credit for what he has achieved to get to where he is now.
9. Howie Carl
Height: 5’9
Career stats: 5.5 points, 1.8 assists, 1.3 rebounds
Like Chris Clemons, Howie “Hershey” Carl was also a point guard who had a sensational college career, despite having a height disadvantage. Howie Carl played for DePaul University. In his college career, he scored 1,467 points and averaged 20.0 points per game which was good enough to rank him as the second leading scorer of that school’s history at that time. In fact, he even dropped 43 points against Marquette during the 1960-1961 season. It is currently the sixth highest scoring performance in DePaul University basketball history.
Carl’s great college career gave him a stepping stone to enter the NBA. He was the 50th overall pick in the 1961 NBA Draft by the Chicago Packers. Although his college career saw him become a sensational scoring star, unfortunately, his NBA career did not turn out to be as impressive. In his lone season in the NBA, he averaged 5.5 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 rebounds per outing for the Chicago Packers where he played 31 games. Although these numbers were decent, it was a far cry from his performances in college. According to the Land of Basketball, his best game was on February 15, 1962 where he scored a career high 22 points in a 126-121 victory over the Syracuse Nationals.
Aside from his 22 point outburst, Carl also managed to score double figures on five occasions. He scored 11 points against the Detroit Pistons in 1961, 12 against the Syracuse Nationals and Cincinnati Royals, 13 against the Los Angeles Lakers and Cincinnati Royals.
After his only season in the NBA, Howie Carl decided to move away from basketball in terms of his career. According to the Yardbarker, the DePaul University standout was employed at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The Chicago Packers guard eventually passed away on October 2005.
8. Charlie Criss
Height: 5’8
Career stats: 8.5 points, 3.2 assists, 1.4 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 0.1 blocks
Standing at 5’8, Charles Criss was a unique player in his time. Due to his height, he was the smallest player in the NBA of his time. Aside from this, another interesting fact is that Criss was also the oldest rookie in that time, playing his first season in the NBA when he was 28 years old. The Hawks guard had a good showing in his rookie year, posting 11.4 points and 3.8 assists per outing. His numbers took a dip in his remaining seasons with Atlanta afterwards as he no longer averaged in double figures.
However, he was able to have his best scoring season when he played for the San Diego Clippers in 1981-1982. He averaged 12.9 points and 4.0 assists per game, while shooting a decent clip of 48% from the field overall. This season also saw him score 34 points when the Clippers emerged victorious against the San Antonio Spurs, 118-101. After a great stint with the Clippers, the 5’8 guard went on to play for the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons and then returned to the Atlanta Hawks in 1983-1985 before hanging up his basketball sneakers in 1985.
Charlie Criss didn’t really produce superstar numbers, however he fulfilled his lifelong dream. His dream was simply to make it to the NBA.
According to New York Times, he mentioned in an interview “My fondest memory of playing in the league was just making it. After all the time I spent trying to get there and not getting an opportunity, I finally made it.”
Because of this, Charlie Criss showed that his height disadvantage did not stop him from achieving his lifelong dream. This only showed that his determination as a player is much bigger than what his doubters thought. His success manifested the famous quote that “It is not the size of the dog that matters, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
7. Spud Webb
Height: 5’7
Career stats: 9.9 points, 5.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks
Awards: 1x NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
Before Nate Robinson, there was Spud Webb. Anthony Jerome “Spud” Webb was a high flying guard that won the admiration of many NBA fans. Despite being the shortest participant in the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest, Webb took home the trophy for that event by showcasing his outstanding hops and acrobatic dunks. More importantly, he proved that size didn’t matter during that time around as he became the first player under six feet tall to win the trophy. It was the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest that defined Spud Webb’s career and established his reputation in the league.
Outside of his rim-rocking dunks, Spud Webb had a decent overall NBA career. He first played for the Atlanta Hawks, and had a breakout season in his last year with the team where he averaged 13.4 points and 5.6 assists. Coming off a great season with Atlanta, Webb eventually played for the Sacramento Kings which was the most productive segment of his career. In his four seasons with the team from 1991-1995, the 5’7 guard averaged 13.7 points and 6.7 assists. It was in the 1991-1992 season when Webb played his best basketball as he registered career highs in points and assists, averaging 16.0 points and 7.1 assists.
After four great seasons with the Kings, Webb found his way back to Atlanta and played for 51 games. Eventually, he would have stopovers in Minnesota and a professional team in Italy. He returned to the NBA for the 1997-1998 season and had a short stint with the Orlando Magic before deciding to retire in 1998.
Webb famously made an appearance again in the 2006 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Coincidentally, he would also be the one who trained Nate Robinson in 2006, as the former helped the latter win his first of three Slam Dunk championships. Nate Robinson paid tribute to Spud Webb by dunking over the Hawks guard during the event.
6. Monte Towe
Height: 5’7
Career stats: 2.5 points, 1.7 assists, 0.7 rebounds, 0.3 steals, 0.0 blocks
Monte Towe is not really a familiar name to NBA fans, since he only played 51 games in his NBA career. He spent his lone season with the Denver Nuggets, where he contributed numbers that weren’t really outstanding. However by playing in the NBA, Towe counts as one of the smallest basketball players to play in the NBA. Standing at 5’7, he sits at the sixth spot in this list.
Coming off the now defunct American Basketball Association, Monte Towe was not really able to perform and to showcase his skills, given that he only averaged 8 minutes per game for the Nuggets. His biggest achievement as a player in the professional scene was being named an ABA All-Star in 1976. Since he was part of the Denver roster, he was automatically declared an All-Star in the ABA where the All-Star game format pits the Denver team against a selection of star players. However, he did make a big contribution to basketball as a sport. The North Carolina State standout is one of the two founders responsible for creating the famous “alley-oop” play alongside David Thompson. The alley-oop play is one of the most exciting spectacles in NBA basketball until today.
After his lone season in the NBA, Monte Towe remained in the basketball realm as he took on a coaching career. He would act as the role of coach and assistant coach in the college basketball scene where he had stints with NC State, University of New Orleans, and University of Florida. Aside from coaching in the college scene, he also coached in Venezuela and served as an assistant coach for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the Continental Basketball Association. Although his career as a basketball player was short lived, the former 5’7 point guard’s coaching career still carries on until today.
5. Wataru Misaka
Height: 5’7
Career stats: 2.3 points, 0.0 assists
The second player of Asian and Japanese descent in this list is Wataru Misaka. According to the Yardbarker, Misaka was the first ever Asian player to step on the NBA hardwood. He was drafted in the 7th Round in the 1947 NBA Draft as the 61st overall pick by the Knicks. In his single season in the NBA, Misaka played for the New York Knicks averaging 2.3 points while shooting 23% from the field and 33% from the free throw line in three games. Eventually, he was waived during the mid-season of his rookie year. Although his numbers are not quite impressive, his entrance to the NBA is considered to be a breakthrough for Asian hoops and diversity in the NBA.
Even through it was only a very short stint in the NBA, Kilowatt opened the doors for Asians and Asian-American players to pursue a dream in the NBA. According to the Rookie Wire, Misaka has given his all out support for Asian-American players through the decades. Some notable Asians and Asian-Americans that have played in the NBA include Jeremy Lin, Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, the previously mentioned Yuta Tabuse, Utah Jazz’ guard Jordan Clarkson, Memphis Grizzlies swingman Yuta Watanabe, and Washington Wizards’ rookie sensation Rui Hachimura. Misaka was able to interact with Hachimura in March 2019.
The Wizards swingman reacted saying “He was nice, he was very honored. He gave me a picture that showed me when he was playing in the NBA. It was very cool.”
After a stint with the NBA, Misaka decided to leave basketball as he even declined an opportunity to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. He eventually returned to Utah and decided to work as an electrical engineer. Just like some players on this list, Misaka may not have produced superstar like numbers on the basketball hardwood, but he did send some waves off the court by serving as an inspiration to the younger Asian basketball players who wanted to make a mark in the NBA.
4. Keith Jennings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njZAK8TZKMk
Height: 5’7
Career stats: 6.6 points, 3.7 assists, 1.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 0.0 blocks
Keith “Mister” Jennings is arguably one of the smallest basketball players to step foot on a NBA court. In his three seasons in the league, Jennings only suited up for one team, the Golden State Warriors. The 5’7 guard served as a point guard off the bench for a total of 164 official games. His best season came in his rookie year in 1992-1993, when he posted 8.6 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 rebounds in only eight games of action.
However, his best game came in the latter part of his NBA career in April 22, 1995 when he registered a career high 23 points as he made eight out of his 10 field goal attempts, spiked by three long range bombs. The former Warriors court general also made all four of his free throw attempts and dished out 10 assists to cap off his career game. Jennings accomplished all that in 41 minutes of play when the Golden State Warriors fell to the Denver Nuggets, 129-130, in a game that needed two overtime periods to decide a winner. In Jenning’s final season in the NBA, he averaged 7.4 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 rebounds in 80 games before concluding his career in the league.
After three years in the NBA, Jennings took his talents to Europe and shined particularly in the French League playing for Le Mans Sarthe Basketball, where he was the 1999 scoring champion and 1999 French League Foreign MVP. He continued to play in Europe and eventually ended his basketball career as a player in 2004. Jennings didn’t move far away from basketball though, as he took on a coaching career, serving as the role of coach and assistant coach for various high school and college basketball teams. He currently serves as the coach of the Lees-McRae Women’s Basketball Team.
3. Greg Grant
Height: 5’7
Career stats: 2.8 points, 2.7 assists, 0.9 rebounds, 0.6 steals, 0.0 blocks
Unlike some of the players in this list, Greg Grant had a relatively long career in the NBA as he stayed in the league for nine years. The 5’7 guard was a journeyman that played for six different teams that included stops with the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and the Washington Bullets. Throughout his career, he mainly served as a point guard coming off the bench. However, he did start in five official games.
His numbers weren’t really outstanding but his best performing season came when he played for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1995-1996. Grant averaged 4.1 points and 5.5 assists while playing 25.5 minutes per game in 11 games, starting in two of those. The former NBA floor general also averaged 4.1 points per game for the Sixers during the 1991-1992 season. It was also during a game in this season where registered a career high 15 points on six of nine shooting, spiked by a pair of three point shots. He also displayed a decent all-around game by adding seven rebounds and six assists in 29 minutes of action. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Atlanta Hawks in that game, 105-111.
Like Jennings, Grant took on a coaching career after hanging up his basketball sneakers. The former NBA guard was named the head coach of Trenton Central High School in 2010. According to the Trentonian, Jennings gave a good account of himself in his coaching stint with Trenton, as he led the school to a Conference Championship where they held a 27-3 record (undefeated at home) before succumbing to Linden in the State Championships. Under his watch, the team had won 100 out of their 132 games. More importantly, he maintained a 100% graduation rate from his basketball players.
2. Earl Boykins
Height: 5’5
Career stats: 8.9 points, 3.2 assists, 1.3 rebounds, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
Earl Boykins is the second shortest basketball player in NBA history, as he stands at 5’5. Like Grant, Boykins also had a lengthy career in the NBA and was a journeyman that bounced around the league. The 5’5 guard played for ten teams in a span of 16 seasons. He had stints with the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, and Houston Rockets.
Boykins had his best career with the Denver Nuggets. In four seasons with Denver, he averaged 12.1 points, 4.0 assists, and 1.7 rebounds. It was in the 2006-2007 season, when Boykins shined the brightest. The cat quick guard registered 15.2 points and 4.3 assists per outing in 31 games before being traded to Milwaukee during that season. Boykins immediately showcased his abilities for the Bucks, as he tied his career high of 36 points, spiked by 12 free throw makes, in a losing effort against the Atlanta Hawks, 102-115. Boykins led all scorers for the Bucks, as he shot an efficient 10 out of 16 from the field. Furthermore, he made four out of his seven three point attempts. He also acted as a great facilitator in that game, as he dished out a game high 9 assists. With this, you can tell, Boykins was a walking bucket in his best years.
Boykins ended his lengthy NBA career in 2011-2012 with the Houston Rockets, averaging 4.9 points and 2.1 assists per game in eight games of action. Despite his height disadvantage, Boykins utilized his quickness against opposing guards and found a way to score. Because of this, the 5’5 point guard is absolutely one of the best players under six feet tall to play in the NBA.
1. Muggsy Bogues
Height: 5’3
Career stats: 7.7 points, 7.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.0 blocks
Awards: Charlotte Hornets All-Time Assists leader, Charlotte Hornets All-Time Steals Leader
If you’re talking about the shortest basketball players in history, Muggsy Bogues tops the list. Bogues stands at 5’3, which is the shortest in NBA history. Based on his numbers alone, you can tell Bogues is a legitimate floor general. Despite being undersized, the 5’3 guard had a lengthy NBA career, as he played for 14 seasons in the league. Bogues had stops with the Washington Bullets, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors. His best years came with the Charlotte Hornets.
It was in the 1993-1994 season, where Bogues played his best. During that season, he averaged a double double of 10.8 points and 10.1 assists per outing while starting and playing in 78 games. The pint sized guard would improve his points average in the succeeding season, posting 11.1 points per game. It is worth noting that Bogues is a great playmaker as he is the current franchise leader in assists of the Hornets with 5,557. In his overall career, Bogues made 6,726 assists which is good enough to place at 23rd in the NBA All-time Assists leaders.
In terms of assists, Bogues had his best game in February 1994 when the Charlotte Hornets fell to the Milwaukee Bucks, 99-106. The pint sized guard served as the silver linings in the team’s loss. Although the Hornets guard only scored two points on one of five shooting, he dished out 19 assists, which tied his personal career high for the third and last time in his career. He set his career high of 19 assists the first time around in April 1989 when the Hornets faced the Boston Celtics. In the second time around, Bogues had 14 points and tied his personal best assists against the Los Angeles Lakers in November 1993. His 19 assists was also good enough to be a franchise record for the Hornets until 2005 when Brevin Knight broke that record with 20 assists.
Aside from being a decent facilitator, Bogues also took pride on defense. In fact, he is also the franchise record holder in the steals department for the Charlotte Hornets, with 1,067. This goes to show the quick hands of Muggsy Bogues which can be a nuisance to opposing guards.
Despite being the shortest NBA player in history, Bogues was a well-accomplished player that even managed to become a regular starter. The former Hornets guard surely demonstrated that even the little guys can make a mark in a game that is ruled by size.
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