Muggsy Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history at a listed 5'3". He played 889 games from 1987 to 2001. Earl Boykins is next at 5'5", followed by Mel Hirsch and Spud Webb at 5'6". Seven more players are listed at 5'7". The table below has all eleven.
Shortest NBA Players by Listed Height
| Player | Listed height | NBA years | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muggsy Bogues | 5'3" | 1987 to 2001 | 889 |
| Earl Boykins | 5'5" | 1999 to 2012 | 652 |
| Mel Hirsch | 5'6" | 1946 to 1947 | 13 |
| Spud Webb | 5'6" | 1985 to 1998 | 814 |
| Greg Grant | 5'7" | 1989 to 1996 | 274 |
| Keith Jennings | 5'7" | 1992 to 1995 | 164 |
| Monte Towe | 5'7" | 1976 to 1977 | 51 |
| Yuki Kawamura | 5'7" | 2024 to 2026 | 40 |
| Red Klotz | 5'7" | 1947 to 1948 | 11 |
| Wat Misaka | 5'7" | 1947 to 1948 | 3 |
| Markquis Nowell | 5'7" | 2023 to 2024 | 1 |
Sources: Basketball-Reference player pages for Bogues, Boykins, Hirsch and Webb, and this list of the shortest players in NBA history for the 5'7" group.
Names Worth Knowing
- Muggsy Bogues played the 1987-88 season in Washington with Manute Bol, one of the two tallest players in NBA history. They stood 28 inches apart.
- Spud Webb won the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest at 5'6", the shortest player ever to enter it.
- Red Klotz is the shortest player to win an NBA championship. He later coached the Washington Generals for many years.
- Wat Misaka played three games for the Knicks in 1947-48 and was the first Asian American player in the league.
- Calvin Murphy, listed at 5'9", is the shortest NBA player in the Hall of Fame.
- Isaiah Thomas, also 5'9", is the shortest player named to an All-NBA team.
Using This List With a Small Guard
This is a reference list, not a height rule. A young guard needs a plan, not a comparison to a 5'3" outlier. Start with guard workouts, ball handling drills and positions for short and tall players. The positions hub covers what each spot does on offense and defense.
For the other end of the scale, see the tallest NBA players ever. The league norm is on average NBA player height. The oldest NBA players and the highest vertical jumps in the NBA round out the set, and the dunk calculator works from your own height, reach and jump.
Questions Coaches Ask About Short NBA Players
Who is the shortest player in NBA history?
Muggsy Bogues, listed at 5'3". He played 14 seasons with Washington, Charlotte, Golden State and Toronto.
Who is the second-shortest NBA player ever?
Earl Boykins, listed at 5'5". He played 652 games from 1999 to 2012.
Who is the shortest player to win the Slam Dunk Contest?
Spud Webb, listed at 5'6", won it in 1986.
Who is the shortest NBA player in the Hall of Fame?
Calvin Murphy, listed at 5'9".
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