Could you play in the NBA at your height?
The NBA now measures players barefoot, which shaved about 2 cm off every listed height overnight in 2019.
Almost exactly an average point guard
1.83 m is taller than 2 of the 8 references on this page.
Reference figures are measurements and are rounded; the unit conversion behind them is exact.
| Reference | Size | Yours ÷ theirs | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muggsy Bogues | 1.6 m | 1.14× | The shortest player in NBA history |
| average adult man (US) | 1.75 m | 1.05× | |
| average point guard | 1.88 m | 0.973× | |
| average NBA player | 1.98 m | 0.924× | |
| average centre | 2.11 m | 0.867× | |
| Shaquille O’Neal | 2.16 m | 0.847× | |
| Yao Ming | 2.29 m | 0.799× | |
| Gheorghe Mureșan | 2.31 m | 0.792× | Tallest in NBA history, tied with Manute Bol |
Worth knowing
- About 17% of American men between 20 and 40 who are 2.13 m or taller have played in the NBA. Height is the strongest single filter in professional sport.
- The average NBA player is 1.98 m — roughly the 99.9th percentile for adult men.
Frequently asked
How tall do you need to be to play in the NBA?
There is no rule, but the distribution is brutal: the median player is 1.98 m and players under 1.83 m are rare enough to be famous for it. Muggsy Bogues played 14 seasons at 1.6 m.
Why did listed heights drop in 2019?
The league began requiring barefoot measurements. Before that, heights were reported in shoes, adding roughly 2–3 cm.