Undoubtedly, basketball is a sport of big men. The players with tall frames take on the court and display athletic extravaganza. Even among these tall players, there are a few giants who still stand out. One of the recent tallest sensations is Victor Wembanyama. The French rookie entered the NBA last season and won the ROYT award with his domination on the court. Moreover, Wemby’s performance was a gentle reminder that he was there to stay longer. Given the rising star’s tall frame with talent, a lingering question follows up: Is Wemby the tallest to play in the NBA?
Well, the answer is a NO. The league witnessed a few giants before the advent of Wembanyama. 7 feet isn’t a surprise anymore in the league. The players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilt Chamberlain are some of the notable players, who have made it big in the league with their 7-feet frame. As of 2024, the league has encountered 29 players above the frame of 7 feet. Let’s find out who among them stood the tallest.
There was always confusion while determining the tallest player to ever play in the NBA because of a few centimeters. It was between Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol. Several sources have credited the Sudanese big man, Bol, as the tallest player. However, Guinness World Records declared Muresan as the tallest and also revealed that Bol was shy of a few centimeters to get the honor.
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Who is the tallest NBA player?
Polls of the day Poll 1 of 4 Who do you think is the most dominant big man in NBA history? Wilt Chamberlain Shaquille O’Neal Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Victor Wembanyama Have an interesting take? Join Debate Do you think Shaunie Henderson’s struggles with Shareef’s condition helped mend her past rivalries? Absolutely Maybe Not at all I don’t care Have an interesting take? Join Debate Do you think Trae Young’s response to Cole Palmer’s accusation was justified? Absolutely No way Not sure Who cares? Have an interesting take? Join Debate Do you think A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo make the ultimate power couple? Absolutely Not really Time will tell Who cares? Have an interesting take? Join Debate
Romanian baller Gheorghe Muresan was the tallest NBA player with a 7 ‘7 frame. The Washington Bullets selected him with the 30th pick in the 1993 Draft and he played in the league for 6 seasons. The big man put up a show in the league as long as he lasted, averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.6 rpg. Importantly, he earned the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in 1995-96, after he averaged 14.5 ppg and 9.6 rpg.
However, following that, the big man’s number dropped considerably and eventually pushed him to retirement due to chronic injuries. Nevertheless, he rose to popularity in 1998 after the release of the film “My Giant”, starring alongside actor Billy Crystal.
On the other hand, Manute Bol had a long and impressive. Again it was the Bullets, who drafted him with the 31st pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. The Sudanese player extended for 10 years. In his rookie season, Bol led the league with the number of blocks, averaging 5.0 bpg, which is still the record for any rookie. Notably, the legend’s son, Bol Bol, who is 7 ‘3 tall, currently plays for the Phoenix Suns.
If Victor Wembanyama isn’t the tallest player, where does he rank?
Technically, Victor Wembanyama is the fourth-tallest player in the league. However, the 20-year-old comes 10th on the list, as four other players also have a 7 ‘4 frame. Before listing out those players, let’s take a look at the players who have secured second and third spots.
Shawn Bradley and Yao Ming (7 foot 6)
Shawn Bradley came into the league in the same year as Gheorghe Muresan, but he was a much-decorated prospect. The Philadelphia 76ers selected Bradley with the second pick. Rightfully so, he went on to play in the league for 13 seasons, averaging 8.1 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Importantly, the big man brought his best, playing for the Dallas Mavericks where he played a total of 9 seasons.
Yao Ming is probably the most effective among the bigs. He came into the league as the Houston Rockets #1 pick in 2002 after a 5-year-long professional stint in China. Ming played 8 seasons for the Rockets and ended the career, averaging 19 ppg and 9.2 rpg. Most importantly, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Chuck Nevitt (7 foot-5)
Nevitt is the only player in the league with a 7 ‘5 frame. The Rockets selected him with the 63rd pick in the 1982 draft. He played 9 seasons in the league, averaging 5.3 minutes per game. And, he is the tallest player to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Wemby and the gang of 7 ‘4
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Name Team Year Mark Eaton Utah Jazz 1982 Rik Smits Indiana Pacers 1988 Ralph Sampson Houston Rockets 1983 Boban Marjanovic San Antonio Spurs 2015 Victor Wembanyama San Antonio Spurs 2023
This season, the gang has a new member. The Memphis Grizzlies selected Zach Eddey with the 9th overall pick. And he would join Wembanyama as his 7 ‘4 partner. The French man is freshly off his silver medal finish in the Paris Olympics. Despite achieving a massive feat at the age of 20, the youngster felt devastated after the Finals loss against Team USA.
Now, Wemby will gear up for his sophomore year. Despite his insane stat line, averaging 21.4 ppg and 10.6 rpg, the Spurs finished in the 14th seed. However, in the upcoming season, the big man will have an experienced player with him. It’s none other than the point god, Chris Paul. Many fear that this union could dominate the West in the upcoming season. What do you make of it? Let us know in the comments.
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Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.