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These players may have been short in height, but they were never short on excellence.
When it comes to the game of basketball, we all know that height tends to matter a great deal. But for these particular NBA players averaging 5’6’ and below, a shorter stature never deterred them from excelling in the sport they know and love best.
That being said, let’s talk about some of shortest NBA players in league history:
At 5’6” tall, Spud Webb was known as the shortest player to ever participate in an NBA Slam Dunk Contest - and even slammed a win during the 1986 event. Webb had a decently long career in the NBA; playing for the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic.
During the 1994-95 season, he led the NBA in free throw shooting as he shot greater than 93% from the charity stripe.
Also at just 5’6”, Mel Hirsch took on the recognition as the shortest player in franchise history after his 13 games played with the Boston Celtics during the 1946-1947 season. At this time, Boston finished 22-38 and tied for last in their six-team conference.
Today, Hirsch is known as the third shortest NBA player of all time.
The 5’5” tall Earl Boykins had a 13-year-long career in the NBA spanning 1999-2012. He played for several teams including the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, L.A. Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, and Houston Rockets. Short in stature but never short on skills, Boykins averaged 4.6 points per game during the 2006-07 season in which he competed for both Denver and Milwaukee.
Even during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, Boykins averaged over 15 minutes per game.
Saving the shortest for last, at just 5’3” Mugsy Bogues has made a name for himself as the shortest player to do it - and did he ever do it well. Bogues had 14-season-long career spanning 1988-2001 playing for the Washington Bullets, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors; averaging more than 10 assists per game on two occasions.
You may also remember Bogues for his feature in the film Space Jam.
While these shorter-than-average height players may be remembered as so, height (or lack thereof) couldn’t stand in the way of their talent and performance.