The NBA or the National Basketball Association has been accepting players from all races as long as they are tall and know how to play basketball. But, there are a few noticeable exemptions to the rule. From 1985 to 2006, the average height of an NBA player was around 6’7 with two of the tallest players being Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol who both had a height of 7’7. There is a reason why height is one of the most valuable assets in the game of basketball.
Height can help you reach the basket and score a point but it does not always mean that height can lead to a score. There are a few exemptions in which players who do not have the height and yet play amazing basketball.
At the other end of the spectrum, you also see some of the shortest basketball players in history and yet they have made a mark in NBA history. Find out which is the shortest NBA player of all time.
For the longest time, the NBA had never had a player who fell short of height but compensated greatly with skill and talent in playing basketball. The shortest NBA player of all time title belonged to Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues.
Bogues is now a retired professional basketball player and is now a head coach of the United Faith Christian Academy boys’ basketball team.
He was the shortest player in the NBA with only 5 feet 3 inches in height. He played point guard for the four teams he had been during his basketball career in the NBA.
He became well-known during his time when he played with the Charlotte Hornets. He then played for the Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, and moved on to become a coach for the WNBA team Charlotte Sting.
Bogues was drafted in 12th in the 1987 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets. In 1988, he was selected by the Hornets in the expansion draft and settled in Charlotte to become one of the fastest players in the court.
During his career as a Hornets player, he has played 19,768 minutes, having 5,557 assists, 1,067 steals, 1,118 turnovers, with a rate of 13.5 assists per 48 minutes. He also had the record for having the best assist in a single game with 19 assists but was later surpassed by Chris Paul after getting 21 assists per game.
Even with his short height, he was still able to manage to block one of the tallest players in NBA history. It happened on April 13, 1993 when he was able to block Patrick Ewing’s shot. Bogues had a vertical leap of 44-inches.
What Do I Think
Bogues has proven time and time again that height is not power in a game dominated by tall players. It takes heart and skill in order to become great at doing what you like. With a combination of agility, determination, practice, talent, and skill, Muggsy Bogues was able to carve a name for himself in the game that is dominated by tall players.