Tallest NBA Players ever in the History of Basketball (Updated list)

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Tallest NBA Players ever in the history of basketball
  1. For you, the Blogkart team picked out the list of tallest NBA players ever in the history of Basketball.

So, Without wasting any time, Let’s explore the list.

23. Kristaps Porzingis

kristaps porzingis

Kristaps Porzingis is a professional basketball player from Latvia(Europe). He is one of the tallest NBA players, with a height of 7 ft 3 inches (2.21 m).

Kristaps Porzingis began his professional basketball career with team Sevilla in the Euroleague 2011.

Also, Porzingis is the youngest ever recipient of the EuroCup basketball Rising Star Award in 2015.

The following year he became the highest-drafted Latvian player in NBA history, and from 2015 to 2019, he played for New York Knicks.

In 2019, Porzingis traded to Dallas Mavericks and now he is one of the tallest active players in the National Basketball Association. 

 

22. Edy Tavares

edy tavares basketball players

Walter Samuel Tavares aka Edy, is a professional basketball player from Cape Verde, Island of Maio. 

He has a fascinating story about his basketball journey because till the age of 17 he didn’t touch a basketball but now he is one of the best players in this sport.

He is one of the tallest NBA players, with a height of 7 ft 3 inches (2.21 m) and also possessing a 7 ft 9 inches of wingspan.

Edy Tavares began his journey with Atlanta Hawks in the year 2015 and In 2017, he signed the contract with the Real Madrid team.

In the year 2019, he made an individual record for most blocks(7 blocks) in the Spanish Supercup semifinal game.

Tavares also a recipient of All EuroLeague second-team and EuroLeague Best Defender award 2019.

 

21. Ha Seung-jin

Ha Seung-Jin

Ha Seung-jin is a professional basketball player from South Korea and he is the first South Korean player to play in the National Basketball Association.

He is among the tallest NBA player with a height of 7 ft 3 in, (2.21 m).

Before his NBA Draft, he was playing for yonsei university in Seoul, South Korea.

He was picked by Portland Trail Blazers in the second round draft (46th overall) and then Seung-jin played 46 games(center position) for the Portland Trail Blazers.

In 2005, Seung-jin played a fantastic career-high score of 13 points against Los Angles Lakers to help Blazers win the game.

 

20. Keith Closs

keith closs tall basketball player
source: YahooSports

Keith Closs is a retired professional basketball player from the United States and famous for his average 5.9 blocks per game in his college days, which is an NCAA Division 1 record.

From 1997 he started to play as a backup center for the Los Angles Clippers and in the year 2000, he took retirement.

His National basketball association journey from 1997 to 2000 is not a good one but he is one of the tallest NBA players in history with a height of 7 feet 3 inches(2.20 m).

19. Hasheem Thabeet

Hasheem-Thabeet

He is a professional basketball player from Tanzania and with a height of 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m), Thabeet is one of the tallest NBA players currently active.

According to the 2020 report, he is also the only Tanzanian player to play in the National Basketball Association.

In his junior-level career, he has a record of averaging 13.6 points and 10.8 rebounds.

Hasheem Thabeet started his sports journey in 2009 with Memphis Grizzlies. 

He was selected in round-one 2nd overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Hasheem Thabeet career highlights and awards:

He was the recipient of the NBA D-League All-Defensive Third Team (2015) and also won the  NABC Defensive Player of the Year 2 times (2008, 2009).

 

18. Arvydas Sabonis

source: NBA

He is a retired professional basketball player from Lithuania(a country in Europe) and with a height of 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m), he is among the tallest player in the NBA.

Sabonis also recognized as one of the best European basketball players of all time because he won Euroscar Award six times and  Mister Europa European Player of the Year Award twice.

Arvydas Sabonis got selected by Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of 1986 Draft.

He also the recipient of a Gold Medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympics games while representing the Soviet Union.

And also won 2 Bronze Medal in the Olympic Games of 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta.

All these achievements prove that he is one of the best players in the history of sports.

 

17. Zydrunas IIgauskas

Zydrunas Ilgaukas tallest NBA Players ever

He is a Lithuanian American former professional basketball player, famous for his height of 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m), and impressive games for Cleveland Cavaliers.

Zydrunas started his journey with Cleveland Cavaliers in the year 1996 draft, he was selected in round one with 20th overall pick by Cavs.

Later he signed a multi-year deal with Cavs, and from 1996 to 2010 Ilgauskas played for Cleveland Cavaliers.

Zydrunas, the star player has averaged of 17.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in 2002-03 NBA games.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas – one of the tallest basketball players also named NBA All-Star two times(2003 and 2005), and also in 1998 he was the recipient of NBA All-Rookie first time.

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16. Randy Breuer

Randy Breuer

He is a former professional basketball player from America, with a height of 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m), he is one of the tallest NBA players in history.

Randy Breuer was selected in the first round(18th overall) by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1983 Draft.

In his 12 year career(1983-1994) he played for 4 team – Milwaukee Bucks(1983-1990), Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings.

In his journey, he played his best games for Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

1987-88  is his best season playing for Minnesota Bucks, appearing in 81 games with an averaged of 12 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, which is one of the best records of Randy.

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15. Peter John Ramos

Peter john Ramos

He is a former professional basketball player and professional wrestler from Puerto Rico (Caribbean Island), and his height is 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m).

Ramos was selected by Washington Wizards in the 2004 Draft 2nd round(32nd overall pick).

He also played in Development League(NBDL), where he was an All-Star during the 2006-07 season.

Ramos was also a member of the Puerto Rico national basketball team from 2004 to 2016.

In his Olympic debut match, this tall basketball player with national team Puerto Rico defeated the united states team, which I think is a great debut match for a Puerto Rican player.

 

14. Priest Lauderdale

Priest Lauderdale

He is an American-Bulgarian retired professional basketball player with a height of 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m).

This tall basketball player was selected in the 1996 Draft in round one(28th overall) by Atlanta Hawks, and he also drafted to Denver Nuggets in the year 1997-98.

He is one of the tallest NBA players but his short span of National Basketball Association journey has no extraordinary records.

 

13. Boban Marjanovic

Boban Marjanovic tallest nba players

Marjanovic is a professional basketball player from Serbia and with a height of 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m), he is one of the tallest current NBA players.

He started his journey by signing a contract of $1.2 million for one year with San Antonio Spurs in 2015-16.

In his debut match, Marjanovic made a record of six points and 5 rebounds against Brooklyn Nets and also San Antonio Spurs team won that match.

Boban Marjanovic made many records of his career with Spurs team like 17 points under 14 minutes to help Spurs win the game against Timberwolves and Marjanovic became the first player of Spurs to record 12 rebounds in less than 15 minutes and many more records.

In 2016, he got an offer sheet of $21 million from the Detroit Pistons team for 3 years.

In 2019, Marjanovic signed a contract with Dallas Mavericks and he also earned an All-EuroLeague First Team selection in 2015.

All these achievements made him one of the best tallest NBA players of all time.

 

12. Ralph Sampson

Ralph Sampson legend player

Sampson is a Basketball legend from Harrisonburg, Virginia and during his historic NBA career, he made many unbreakable records by playing in more than 450 games.

Ralph Sampson’s height is 7 ft 4 in(2.24 m), and because of his height and magnificent games, he earned 15.4 points per game in his NBA journey from 1983-1992.

The legend player was selected in round 1(pick: 1st overall) by Houston Rockets in 1983 Draft.

In his historic career, Sampson played for 4 teams: Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and Washing Bullets.

One of his best NBA records was averaging 20.7 points and 10.9 rebounds for his first three seasons with Houston Rockets Team.

He consecutively won three College National Player awards(1981-1983) and also earned NBA Rookie of the year 1984, four times NBA All-Star, NBA All-Star game MVP 1985 and many more…

All these achievements of Ralph Sampson prove that he is one of the greatest NBA players ever.

 

11. Rik Smits

Rik Smits

Smits is one of the tallest NBA players in history with a height of 7 ft 4 in(2.24 m), and he hails from Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Riks Smits was selected in the round one(pick: 2nd overall) by Indiana Pacers in the 1988 Draft

In his 867 games journey, from 1988 to 2000, he played for only one team Indiana Pacers.

Smits in his second season(1989) with Pacers earned averaged of 11.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and in the same also honors with NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Riks Smits’s best record came in the year 1995-96 Season when he averaged 18.5 points per game, and in the year 1998, Smits also earned NBA All-Star.

 

10. Mark Eaton

Mark Eaton tall basketball players

Eaton is one of the greatest tallest NBA players in history with a height of 7 ft 4 in(2.24 m), and he hails from Inglewood, California.

Mark Eaton is famously known as the “Master of the Blocked Shot” because of his impressive blocks record in the National Basketball Association.

Eaton was selected by Utah Jazz in the 1982 Draft round four(pick 72nd overall), and from 1982 to 1993 he played for Jazz only.

He is recognized as one of the best defensive players in the NBA history because of his 456 blocked shots in one season(1984-85), and also Eaton holds the highest career average of blocks 3.50 per game.

Eaton shattering records named him to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times(1985, 1986. 1889), Defensive Player of the Year Two times(1985, 1889), and also won Blocks Leader Award four times(1984, 1985, 1987, 1988).

All these achievements of Eaton prove that he is one of the greatest NBA players of all time.

 

9. Slavko Vranes

Slavko Vranes Height

Slavko Vranes is one of the tallest basketball players in history with a height of 7 ft 6 1⁄2 in(2.30 m), and unfortunately, he played only one game(only for 3 minutes) for Portland Trail Blazers in the year 2004.

Vranes was selected in the year 1993 Draft, round two(pick 39th overall) by New York Knicks.

Though Slavko Vranes wasn’t a good player, but in his career, he played in the Eurocup champion 2011 and many more leagues.

 

8. Tacko Fall

Tacko Fall current tallest nba player

According to 2020, Tacko Fall is the tallest NBA player currently active with a height of 7 ft 5 in(2.26 m), and he born and raised in Dakar, Senegal.

In the 2019 draft, he went undrafted but later signed a contract with the Boston Celtics Team.

According to a report, he has the largest wingspan 8 ft 2.5 in(2.50 m) and also highest standing reach of 10 ft 2.5 in(3.11 meter) in history of National Basketball Association.

We hope in future the young and tall basketball player will make some good records in his career.

 

7. Sim Bhullar

Sim Bhullar

Sim Bhullar is the first player of Indian descent to play in NBA, he is from Toronto, Ontario Canada.

Bhullar height is 7 ft 5 in(2.26 m), and according to Wikipedia, he is the 6th tallest player in the NBA history.

Bhullar went undrafted in the 2014 Draft, but, later he signed a contract with Sacramento Kings for summer league.

In 2015, he was acquired by Raptors 905, and after that, with Raptors, he earned a record of averaging 9.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in the 2015-16 G League.

Bhullar achievements and career highlights: All-Rookie Third Team and All-Defensive Second Team in the NBDL League 2015.

Sim Bhullar also plays for the National Basketball team of Canada

 

6. Pavel Podkolzin

Pavel Podkolzin

Pavel Podkolzin is a former National Basketball Association and NBDL player from Russia with a height of 7 ft 5 in(2.26 m), and he was famous for his height, blocking ability.

Podkolzin was select by Utah Jazz in the 2004 NBA Draft Round one(pick – 21st overall) after this he was traded to Dallas Mavericks in 2004.

From 2004-2006, he played for Dallas Mavericks only in six games, unfortunately, his career didn’t translate into a long term journey in the National Basketball Association.

 

5. Chuck Nevitt

Chuck Nevitt

Nevitt is a Former Basketball player from America and one of the tallest NBA players in history with a height of 7 ft 5 in(2.26 m).

In his nine years of career, he played the center position for five Teams – Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, and San Antonio Spurs.

Chuck Nevitt was select by Houston Rockets in the third round 63rd overall pick of the 1982 Draft.

In his nine years journey, he only appeared in 155 games, which is very less for a player like Chuck. 

Nevitt also earned a place in the 1985 NBA Champion team.

 

4. Yao Ming

Yao Ming

Yao Ming is a former Legend player from China and he is wildly famous for his outstanding achievements in the NBA and his height is 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m).

The legendary player was the 1st overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2002 NBA Draft.

From 2002 to 2011, he played for Houston Rockets, and in his 486 National Basketball Association games, he has an average of 19 points per game.

Yao was selected in NBA All-Star eight times, and also earned a place in NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2003.

All these achievements of Yao, prove that he is one of the greatest NBA Players of all time.

 

3. Shawn Bradley

Shawn Bradley

Shawn Bradley is one of the tallest NBA players in history with a height of 7 ft 6 in(2.29 m), and he is born in West Germany and brought up in the United States. 

He was the second overall pick in round one by Philadelphia 76ers in 1993 Draft.

In his career from 1993 to 2005, he played for three teams Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks.

In 1994, Shawn earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and also in 1997, won the NBA Blocks Leader award.

The Philadelphia 76ers Franchise also issued the 76 number jersey to Shawn for a special reason(A player with a height of 7 ft 6 inches playing center for 76ers) 

 

2. Manute Bol

Manute Bol tallest nba players ever

Manute Bol is a Sudanese/American basketball player, and he is the tallest NBA player ever after Gheorghe Muresan.

He is widely recognized for his height of 7 ft 7 in(2.31 m), and also known for his unbelievable blocks records in the National Basketball Association games.

Bol was select by the Washington Bullets in the second round of 1985 Draft.

In his sports journey, he played for four teams Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat.

His achievements and awards: Manute Bol won NBA Blocks Leader two times(1986, 1989), and also got selected in the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1986

 

1. Gheorghe Muresan – Tallest NBA Player ever

Gheorghe muresan height

Gheorghe Muresan is a professional basketball player from Romania, and he is the tallest NBA player ever played basketball with a height of 7 ft 7.5 in(2.32 m).

Muresan was selected by Washington Bullets in the second round of 1993 Draft.

He played 307 games center position for Washington Bullets/Wizards and New Jersey Nets and also won Most Improved Player Award in 1996.

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Source: Wikipedia

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