10 Tallest Basketball Players Of All Time

10 Tallest Basketball Players Of All Time

For several obvious reasons, being tall is valuable in a sport like basketball. For instance, because the basket is 10 feet tall, putting the ball in it is easier the closer you are to it.

Tall basketball players have an advantage. Extremely tall athletes, however, are often more prone to injuries, and smaller stars have been successful at the top. However, there is a trend toward size among male basketball players.

Taller athletes have the advantage they need to rule the court. NBA players who are taller frequently succeed by directing play and attempting to develop vicious dribble drives to the basket. Since then, these athletes have made history and broken records, further solidifying their reputations.

Here are 10 of the tallest basketball players of all time.

1. Sun Mingming

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Sun Mingming, a retired Chinese professional basketball player, holds the record for being the world’s tallest player. He was officially measured at a towering height of 7 feet 9 inches and weighed 168 kilograms, according to Guinness World Records.

2. Manute Bol

Manute Bol, a Sudanese-American activist and professional basketball player, stood 7 feet 7 inches (2.3 meters) tall. He came from a family of extraordinarily tall people. His sister was 6 feet 8 inches (1.83 meters), his father was 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters), and his mother was 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters). Even his great-grandfather outgrew them all, at an astonishing 7 feet 10 inches tall.

Bol was picked by the Washington Bullets in the 1985 NBA Draft after having experience in the US Basketball League. Bol attracted attention on the basketball floor and offered a formidable challenge to opponents attempting to shoot over him due to his intimidating size, lengthy wingspan, and quickness.

3. Gheorghe Muresan

Gheorghe_Muresan_Verizon_Center_2010.jpg: Keith Allisonderivative work: Chrishmt0423, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gheorghe Muresan, who stands at a towering 7 feet 7 inches, was named one of the NBA’s tallest players. Muresan began his professional basketball career in Europe before joining the Washington Bullets during the 1993-1994 NBA season.

Muresan used his remarkable height and wingspan to exert control on the court and pose a serious task for opposition players attempting defensive shots.

Muresan’s towering stature helped him secure rebounds, allowing him to use his size and athletic abilities to help his team establish possession. His illustrious NBA career included stops with several organizations and countless honors for his impressive abilities. To recap, Gheorghe Muresan’s remarkable height made him a tremendously valued asset to his NBA clubs.

4. Yao Ming

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Yao Ming, who is 7 feet 6 inches tall, is commonly regarded as one of the NBA’s tallest players. The Houston Rockets selected him first overall in the 2002 NBA Draft. Yao Ming used his towering presence and strength to dominate the basketball floor throughout his career, capitalizing on his remarkable height.

He became known for his ability to score close to the hoop, utilizing his height and superb footwork to generate scoring opportunities.

Yao’s towering stature presented substantial difficulties for rival teams, restricting their ability to make close-range shots. His towering stature solidified him as a vital asset in the NBA.

Also Read: Top 10 Facts about Shaquille O’Neal

5. Shawn Bradley

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Shawn Bradley, at 7 feet 6 inches tall, is widely regarded as one of the NBA’s tallest players. The Philadelphia 76ers selected him as the second overall choice in the 1993 NBA Draft.

Shawn Bradley used his towering height to disturb shots and impose defensive control throughout his career. On offense, he used his height and athleticism to excel at finishing near the hoop.

Despite his inconsistency for much of his career, Bradley’s incredible height and stature had a critical impact, particularly on the defensive side of the game. 

6. Tacko Fall

Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tacko Fall, a Senegalese basketball player, is now playing as a center for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association. Fall is well-known for his extraordinary height, which is officially listed at 7 feet 6 inches.

He attracted attention for his outstanding accomplishments during his college career and later showed his abilities in the NBA Summer League. Fall signed a two-way contract with the Celtics in 2019, allowing him to split his time between the NBA and its G League club.

Check Out: 10 Basketball Players With the Largest Feet in NBA History

7. Slavko Vranes

Zoran Borovac, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Slavko Vranes, a Serbian professional basketball player, stands at an astonishing 7 feet 5 inches tall, making him one of the tallest players in professional basketball history. He began his basketball career in European competitions before joining the New York Knicks for the 2003-04 season.

Vranes rose to prominence due to his imposing stature and quickness, which made it difficult for opponents to score efficiently near the basket. He excelled at grabbing rebounds and providing his side with extra possessions by utilizing his height and wingspan. 

8. Chuck Nevitt

Chuck Nevitt, a 7’5′′ tall retired American professional basketball player, is recognized as one of the league’s tallest players ever. Nevitt began his career with the Houston Rockets before moving on to other clubs. Chuck Nevitt had a great defensive presence, as his height and length made it difficult for opponents to score close to the basket.

Chuck Nevitt’s height was a huge asset for him in the NBA, helping him establish himself as one of the league’s tallest players and a strong defensive weapon for his teams.

9. Pavel Podkolzin

Mavs_bench_March_2005.jpg: David Herreraderivative work: Lpdrew, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Podkolzin is a 7-foot-5-inch Russian professional basketball player who used to play at the highest levels before retiring. He has previous NBA experience where he was a first-round pick in 2004 because of his size, blocking abilities, and strength, but he was selected late. Pavel demonstrated his abilities in his first two Las Vegas Summer League Revue games, averaging 6.0 rebounds in 14.0 minutes.

10. Sim Bhullar

Taoyuan City Government, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons

Sim Bhullar, a Canadian professional basketball player, made history by becoming the league’s first player of Indian heritage. Bhullar is one of the tallest players in the world of professional basketball, standing at 7 feet 5 inches. He has also competed in the NBA G League and represented his country on an international level.

Bhullar’s presence on the Sacramento squad was mostly attributable to his towering height, which played an important role in the team’s regular-season success. 

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