50+ Shortest NBA Player: Shortest Basketball Player 2024
Many people associate basketball with tall players. To their surprise, some short players have a cemented legacy in the league. These are players who have defied the odds that basketball is only for tall guys. Despite their shorter stature, they have either left or are impacting an indelible mark on the game. Let us learn about these players’ careers, families, awards, and relationship information.
Top 50 Shortest NBA Players
Regarding basketball, height is not the only parameter that shows a player is great. Below is a list of 50 shortest NBA players who show great skills and determination in basketball regardless of their height.
1. Young Trae
Nicknamed Ice Trae, he is the shortest NBA player right now for the Atlanta Hawks with a height of 6ft 6 in. He was born in Lubbock, Texas, to Candice and Rayford, who were also players. He is a Christian and a husband to Shelby Miller. The couple have two kids.
2. Payton Pritchard
Payton is a player for the Boston Celtics standing at 6 ft 1 in. He is the point guard of the team and has secured his championship in 2024. He married Emma MacDonald after one year of courtship.
3. Jacob Gilyard
Jacob is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA with a height of 5 ft 8 in. He is the all-time NCAA career steals leader who broke the record of 385 on December 5, 2021. Later on, while finishing his career, he had a total steals of 466.
4. Kenneth Simpson
Simpson is one of the shortest NBA players standing at 6 ft 5 in who played for the small forward position. He loves the Los Angeles Lakers team with Kobe Bryant being his favorite player. He has one child with Patricia Cornejo, named Kenneth Junior, who is a rising basketball player.
5. Jevon Carter
Jevon is one of the short NBA players for the Chicago Bulls. Jevon is 6 ft 1 in tall. He and his wife, Taylor Carter, are the founder’s Treadmill Mentality Foundation, which supports the well-being of children and families through community initiatives.
6. Jerdarrian Davinson
People know him as Jd, and he is a player for the Boston Celtics. He is one of the youngest and most famous players appearing on the list of the shortest NBA players. He was born on October 3, 2002. He is 6 ft 1 in tall.
7. Craig Porter
Scoring high in his career to be selected to lead the Wichita State men’s basketball team to victory shows how great this young player is. He has come from a humble background and difficult neighborhood and yet, has made it to become a great player in the world. The player is 6 ft 1 in tall.
8. Brandon Williams
Brandon Williams is a player for the Dallas Mavericks. He is a husband to Alyssa Williams, who got married earlier months after three years of dating. He has a height of 6 ft 2 in.
9. Collin Gillespie
He is a player for the Phoenix Suns and is a giant Guard for the Denver Nuggets standing at 6 ft 1 in. Christina Mastacchio is his long-time girlfriend who works as a research assistant at a developing brain institute.
10. Malachi Flynn
His selection by the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft shows how talented Malachi is. Also known as Flynnsanity, he is a player for the San Antonio Spurs, born in Tacoma, Washington, aged 26 years. He was born in Tacoma, Washington to Kristi Flynn and Erick Flynn. He stands at 6 ft 1 in.
11. Christopher Paul
This player for the San Antonio Spurs is a popular guy who has achieved a lot within the nineteen NBA seasons. People know him as CP3 and the point God. The 6 ft player is regarded as the greatest point guard that has ever existed.
12. Fred VanVleet
VanVleet is a biracial player for the Houston Rockets whose father was killed in 1999. The 6 ft basketballer is a father of two kids and was a sociologist in Wichita state.
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Aaron Holiday
Aaron is a Houston Rocket player born in Ruston, Louisiana, to Shawn and Toya. This short NBA player is 6 ft and is the youngest of four siblings who all became basketball players. He got married to Ashli Scott and they have two children.
14. Timothy McConnel
Timothy is a player for Indiana Pacers whose father is one of the most successful coaches in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League. He stands at 6 ft 1 in. His two siblings, Matthew and Megan are basketball players too. He is happily married to his high school girlfriend Valarie.
15. Gabe Vincent
Among the Los Angeles Lakers players, Vincent is one of the shortest NBA players right now with a height of 6 ft 2 in. He is a Nigerian-American player who reached the NBA finals in 2020.
16. Scotty Pippen
He is an American former player who within the seventeen seasons in the NBA, won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. The player has a height of 6 ft 8 in. He was born in Hamburg, Arkansas, in 1923.
17. Terry Rozier
Terry was raised by his mother and grandmother as his father was imprisoned when he was born. He is a player who lacked fatherly love and care as his dad was imprisoned again after his release. Despite this hardship, the 6 ft 1 in still rose and became one of the shortest NBA players for the Miami Heat club.
18. Damian Lillard
Damian is one of the shortest NBA players who has a great belief in Christianity. He is a player for the Milwaukee club with Psalms 37: 1-3 tattoo on his left arm. The 6 ft 2 in is a talented player with big shots on the clutch and this has earned him his nickname, Dame Time. The relationship status of this player right now is unknown, but he was currently married to Hanson, and they had three kids. Later on, they divorced in 2024.
19. Patrick Beverly
In January 2013, Patrick joined the NBA as a Houston Rocket player. He is a three-time NBA player and an All-Defensive Team member. This short player is 6 ft 2 in, and known for his physicality and his intense style of play has made him participate in several publicized on-court incidents.
20. Mike Conley
Mike is one of the smallest NBA players with a height of 6 ft playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves that believes in Jesus. He is a son to Mike Conley, an Olympic gold and silver medallist in the Triple Jump. Steve Conley, an American football linebacker, is his uncle. His wife is called Mary Peluso and they have three kids.
21. Jordan McLaughlin
Jordan is an American basketball player for the Sacramento Kings born in Pasadena, California, US. He is the husband of Anissa McLaughlin. He is 6 ft tall.
22. Jose Alvarado
The ability to create steals has earned him the nickname Grand Theft Alvarado. He is a Puerto American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans. The 6 feet player started as a football player and later joined basketball after having some neck juries. He has one child with his girlfriend.
23. Miles McBride
Also known as Deuce, McBride is one of the shortest basketball professional players for the New York Knicks. His father was also a basketball player, while his mother played tennis. The 24-years-old is 6 ft 1 in tall and in a happy relationship with his girlfriend, Ana Zortea.
24. Tyler Kolek
Kolek is a catholic player for the New York Knicks, aged 24, who grew up in Cumberland, Rhode Island. He is 6 ft 1 in tall. His father was a retired police officer who also played basketball.
25. Derrick Isaiah Joe
Standing at 6 ft 3 in, this player for the Oklahoma City Thunder plays as the shooting guard. He is a known player who joined the NBA at a young age on December 27, 2020. His high school coursemate, Jaylin Williams, is his current professional teammate.
26. Adam Flagler
Flagler is one of the shortest players in the NBA right now playing for the Oklahoma Thunder City. The 6 ft 3 in player is on a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Blue and the NBA G League. This young player has a collection of six awards since the beginning of his sports career.
27. Cole Anthony
Anthony is a committed player for the Orlando Magic that plays the point guard position. His hard-working values were instilled by his parents, who, despite being wealthy, focused on bringing up a responsible man. The 6 ft 2 in is a talented short NBA player born in May 2000 in Portland, Oregon, that led the U.S. to a gold medal in 2028.
28. Kyle Lowry
Lowry is a famous player widely regarded as one of the greatest Raptors players of all time standing at 6 ft. This is because he participated in turning post-Vince Carter into their first-ever championship in 2019. He is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, born on March 25, 1986.
29. Isaiah Thomas
Thomas is the shortest NBA player for the Phoenix Suns, born on February 7, 1989, in Tacoma, Washington, U.S. Before joining the Phoenix Suns club, he played for the Boston Celtics from 2015 to 2017. During that time, he earned the title of NBA All-Star two times. He is 6 ft 1 in.
30. Sterling Henderson
Being the youngest player in League history shows just how this short man is talented. He is 6 ft 3 in and was a five-star recruit for Carlton J Kell High School, where after graduating, he signed with the NBA G League ignite. The nickname Scoot came from how he would scoot on as a baby. He was born on February 3, 2024, in Marietta, Georgia, U.S., TO Chris and Crystal Henderson.
31. Tre Jones
Jones is a player for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA with a height of 6 ft 2 in. All his other siblings are great players in this field making their family a house of basketball champions. He was married to Maddy Torres in 2023 and they are blessed with one daughter,
32. Devonte Graham
Graham is among the short NBA players who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers. Standing at 6 ft 2 in, this short player, aged 29, is currently dating Avery Miller.
33. Jamal Shead
Jamal is an antisocial but determined player focusing on his basketball career while keeping his personal life private. He plays for the Toronto Raptors as a point guard and stands at 6 ft 1 in.
34. Kira Lewis
Kira is a Washington Wizard member of the NBA, born on April 6, 2001. The player has a height of 6 ft 1 in. He is married to Ryan Grant.
35. Tyus Jones
Tyus Jones is the older brother to Tre Jones playing for the Phoenix Suns. the 6 ft 1 in player and his long-time girlfriend, Carrie Yeakey, were engaged before the 2019-20 NBA season. They have a son, Tyus Junior, born on May 5, 2020.
36. Damon Stoundamire
He is also known as Mighty Mouse and was one of the popular short NBA players before he retired standing at 5 ft 10 in. Currently, he is head coach for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
37. Patrick Mills
Mills is an Australian professional player for Utah Jazz born in Canberra and measures 6 ft 2 in. He is married to Alyssa Mills in Waimea Valley, Hawaii on July 8, 2019. Together with Jared Thomas, they co-wrote a series of books for young writers which were published in 2018. He is a rugby league fan supporting Brisbane Broncos in the national league.
38. Michael Jordan
Within fifteen years in the NBA, the 6 ft 6 in player won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. He played a big role in popularizing the NBA around the world. Right now, he is an American businessman. He was married to Juanita Vanoy and had three kids with her. Later, they divorced in 2006.
39. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is regarded as the greatest shooter and one of the greatest players of all time. Stephen, nicknamed Warden, has a height of 6 ft 2 in. He is a point guard for the Golden State Warriors who is not only excellent in the game but to other players as well. He is credited for revolutionizing the sport by inspiring teams and players to take three-point shots.
40. Ish Smith
The last time he was on the field, he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets. He is the smallest NBA player who holds the record of playing for most of the franchises, at 13. He is a dedicated Christian with a degree in religion. He reads the bible often and prays during national anthems before going to the field. He is 6 ft tall.
41. Keon Johnson
Keon, one of the shortest NBA players right now, plays for theBrooklyn Nets. The 6 ft 5 in is a player who has undergone serious medical situations since he joined high school. However, his passion for basketball didn’t allow that to be an obstacle in his basketball career.
42. Ziaire Williams
This Brooklyn Net player was born in Lancaster, California as the only child of Ziaire Williams Sr and Marquita Fields-Williams on September 12, 2001. The NBA player has a height of 6 ft 9 in. He is an open gay currently dating Ja Morant.
43. Keifer Sykes
Keifer Sykes is a player for Windy City Bulls of the NBA G league and measures 5 ft 11 in. His path from high school to the NBA is featured in the 2018 documentary film Chi-Town, produced and directed by Nick Budabin.
44. Kennedy Chandler
The last time he was in the game, he was playing for Long Island Nets in the NBA G League as a point guard. He is a short NBA player measuring 5 ft 11 in aged 23 who started to perform great while still in high school. While in college, he played for the Tennessee Volunteers.
45. Jordan Walker
When Walker joined a jelly farm collective movement founded by Isaiah, he got his nickname Jelly. On April 16, 2024, the 5 ft 11 in was injured, forcing him to leave games for some time. He was a player for Hong Kong Bulls, born on August 11, 1999, in Long Island, New York, U.S., on April 16, 2024.
46. Patrick Martin
From 2002-2020, Martin was a player in the point guard position. Since then, he has been a coach. The 5 ft 11 in player is married to Brittany, and they have three daughters. He is the son of Annie and Raymond Martin and has three brothers and one sister.
47. Charlie Criss
Charlie used to be one of the short basketball players with a height of 5 ft 8 in before he retired. He was an American professional player born in Valhalla, New York, on November 6, 1948.
48. Willard Somerset
Willie is an American former professional player born on March 17, 1942. He was the shortest basketball player born in Sharon, Pennsylvania measuring 5 ft 8 in.
49. Edward Melvin
Edward is a long-gone basketball player who was regarded as one of the shortest players to exist with a height of 5 ft 9 in. He was born on July 30, 1916, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and started his sports career at the age of 25 after graduating from college. After six years in the sport, he retired and became a coach at St Bonaventure Bonnies and Toledo Rockets.
50. Gene Rock
Popularly known as Gene, he was one of the shortest basketball players in the guard position and had a height of 5 ft 9 in. He was born in California and became a professional player after college. He got cancer and succumbed to it at the age of 80.
Top 10 Shortest Basketball Players According to RantSports
These are the Shortest NBA Players according to RantSports:
1. Muggsy Bogues
Tryone Curtis is the real name of this player who is the shortest player in the NBA with a height of 5 ft 3 in. Despite my troubled childhood, I managed to become a great player. He is 59 years old and he is currently married to Kim Bogues.
2. Earl Boykins
This 5 feet 5 inches guy is the second-shortest player in NBA history after MuggsyBogues. Before retiring from the NBA, he was a player for America and the head coach for Douglas County High School. Currently, he is the assistant coach for the University of Texas at EL Paso(UTEP) Miners.
3. Mel Hirsh
Before he died in December 1968 from Leukaemia, he was a member of the NBA who served in the US Army Air Corps. The 5 ft 6 in is a father to four kids and grandfather to six
4. Anthony Jerome
Also called Spud Webb, he is an American former professional basketball player born on July 13, 1963. Spud was born into poverty in Dallas, Texas, and always wanted to be a player since he was in seventh grade. Though not tall, the 5 ft 6 in uses his quickness and jumping ability to perform great.
5. Keith Jennings
After playing in the NBA and overseas in European leagues, Keith became an American basketball coach until September 18, 2024. He was one of the shortest NBA players with a height of 5 ft 7 in, born on November 2, 1968, to Brian and Susan (Walsh) Jennings.
6. Gregory Grant
Grant grew up in a broken family and worked in a fish market while in high school. After trying basketball at the local playground, he discovered that he had potential as a player. This made him join The College of New Jersey, where he became an American professional basketball player and he was 5 ft 7 in.
7. Louise Herman
His nickname was Red Klotz, and he was a player in the NBA in the point guard position standing at 5 ft 7 in. He was born on October 21 1920 into a Jewish family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His wife Gloria attributed much to his success in his career before he died at the age of 93.
8. Monte Towe
Monte is one of the shortest players in NBA history with a height of 5 ft 7 in. Before he retired, he won the NCAA championship as a player for the Wolfpack Men’s Basketball team. His five-foot-seven-inch height made him face a lot of discrimination as a basketball player.
9. Wataru Misaka
Misaka is one of the most famous players in the world measuring 5 ft 7 in tall. Not only was he short, but he was the first non-white player and the first of Asian descent to play in the NBA. That time it was known as the Basketball Association of America.
10. Markquis Nowel
Nowel is an American professional player for the Houston Rockets. He is a short NBA player standing at 5 ft 7 in who holds the division | NCAA Tournament single-game assists record, with 19 v.s Michigan State I the 2023 sweet sixteen.
Who Is The Shortest NBA Player Right Now?
Isaiah Thomas is the current shortest NBA player, born on February 7, 1989, in Tacoma, Washington. He is 1.75m weighing 84 kg.
Conclusion
The above are the shortest basketball players in NBA history. They have proven that size does not determine success. Skills, determination, and passion play a greater role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the shortest NBA player right now?
There are many short NBA players today. These players are below 6 feet in height. Isaiah Thomas is currently the shortest.
Who is the shortest NBA in NBA history?
Ever since the invention of this game, many basketball players in NBA history stand 5-foot-7 or shorter. Some are retired players while others are still in the game. Using the information provided about these players, Muggsy Bogues is the shortest of them all.
Is 5-9 short for an NBA player?
There is an assumption that basketball is not for short people. However, this is not true, as success in this game does not depend solely on height. No height can’t be for an NBA player.
Who is the 5 3 NBA player?
This is the height measurement of Muggsy Bogues, also called Tyrone Curtis, who is the shortest NBA player to ever exist.