Top 4 Shortest NBA Player Ranked by Height
#1 Muggsy Bogues
Standing at just 5'3", Muggsy Bogues is the shortest player in the history of the NBA. He overcame his size disadvantage with his elite ball handling and defensive skills. While he was never a major scoring threat, he averaged over seven assists and 1.5 steals in his career.
Tyrone Curtis "Muggsy" Bogues.
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) October 20, 2022
The shortest player ever to play in the NBA. 5’3.
Muggs played for 14-years in the league. Should be in the hall of fame. No one will ever do what he did.
Sidebar - he was an undefeated wrestler in Baltimore until he quit to focus on basketball. https://t.co/yNX3QRhPMC pic.twitter.com/YNl0zf8Ioc
#2 Earl Boykins
Standing at 5' 5", Earl Boykins ranks among the shortest players in the history of the NBA. He was known for his quickness and agility and had a successful 14-year career. Unlike Bogues, he had some success scoring, averaging double-digit points in four seasons.
#3 Spud Webb
Spud Webb was a point guard with a successful 12-year career despite being 5'7". He was a talented distributor and defender who could score from the outside. While his numbers were good, his most impressive achievement may have been winning the 1986 dunk contest.
#4 Calvin Murphy
Standing at 5 feet 9 inches tall, Calvin Murphy was a point guard who played for the Houston Rockets for 13 seasons. He was known for his excellent ball-handling and shooting skills and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.
All four of these players would have missed out on incredible NBA careers if they had listened to scouts that called them "too short". These players show that hard work and smart play can make you a successful NBA player regardless of their size.
Does being short a big disadvantage?
While a height disadvantage can hinder a player's chances of making the NBA, a solid set of skills and dedication can overcome it. Each player on this list was told they were too small to play in the league, but they found ways to use their height to their advantage.
Smaller players also have an advantage in today's NBA, as more teams embrace the speed and scoring of a "small ball" lineup. As long as a talented short player can pass and find a way to create shots, they should be able to find their way into the league
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Can you win a MVP in the NBA if you are short?
Absolutely! We have had several shorter players win the MVP award. In today's league, smaller players find more opportunities to make rosters as pure shooters or distributors. While most rookies seem to get bigger yearly, smaller players' value increases as they offer a challenge for slower-moving big men. When stars are used to playing against fellow giants, a short player can throw off their entire game.
As long as a player has talent, a combination of intelligence and hard work can lead them to the highest levels of the NBA.