Introduction

The NBA has long been dominated by towering athletes, but a select few undersized players have made outsized impacts on the game. This overview highlights the shortest players in NBA history and the shortest players active in the current season, along with their heights, career details, and achievements. It also examines how these players have adapted to a big man's league and the influence they've had on basketball and its fans.

Historically Short NBA Players (All-Time)

Despite their height disadvantages, several sub-5’10” players carved out significant roles in NBA history. The table below lists some of the most notable historically short players – including the shortest ever, Muggsy Bogues – along with their height, playing tenure (teams and years), and key achievements or impact on the game.

Sources: Historical data from NBA archives, Basketball Reference, and NBA.com.

Shortest Active NBA Players (2024–25 Season)

As of the current 2024–2025 season, players under six feet tall are nearly extinct in the NBA. In fact, only one active player stands below 5’10” this season. However, a handful of players around the 6-foot mark continue to prove that skill and heart can trump height. The table below lists some of the shortest active players in the league, with their height, team, position, and notable career details.

Note: Entering 2024–25, Kawamura is the only active NBA player under 6 feet tall.

Most “short” NBA guards today, like Paul, VanVleet, Alvarado, and Kyle Lowry (6′0″, a 6× All-Star and 2019 champion), stand around the six-foot mark. This is a stark contrast to past eras that featured multiple players 5′9″ and below.

The above active players continue to succeed through a combination of skill, grit, and basketball IQ, showing that while rare, the undersized player is not completely extinct in the modern NBA.

Adapting and Thriving in a Big Man’s League

Shorter players face obvious challenges in a league where the average height is around 6′6″. Over the years, they have developed specific adaptations to not only survive but often thrive:

• Elite Quickness and Ball-Handling: Undersized guards typically possess exceptional speed and handles to navigate among taller opponents. For example, Muggsy Bogues used his low center of gravity and quick hands to become a prolific thief (top-10 in steals three times) and reliably break full-court presses. Their agility allows them to penetrate defenses and dish to open teammates before shot-blockers can react.
• Outside Shooting and Range: Because scoring in the paint over big men is difficult, short players often become very good shooters. Calvin Murphy and Isaiah Thomas, for instance, could consistently hit pull-up jumpers and deep threes. Thomas in 2016–17 routinely sank clutch long-range shots en route to nearly 29 points per game. This perimeter threat forces defenses to come out to guard them, mitigating height mismatches.
• Creative Finishing and Tear-Drops: Many small guards develop high-arcing floaters and crafty layups to score over rim protectors. Floaters (teardrop shots) were staples of players like Earl Boykins, who at 5’5″ had to release the ball quickly with a soft touch before shot-blockers could meet him at the apex. Allen Iverson (6′0″) – while just above our short threshold – famously used creative angles off the glass to finish over big men.
• Extra Strength and Conditioning: What they lack in height, they often make up for in strength or leaping ability. Earl Boykins was pound-for-pound one of the strongest players (able to bench press 315 lbs despite his size), which helped him absorb contact and hold his ground defensively. Similarly, Spud Webb and Nate Robinson compensated with extraordinary leaping ability, allowing them not only to dunk but also to contest taller players’ shots at times. This athleticism can neutralize some height disparity.
• High Basketball IQ and Vision: Shorter point guards become adept at seeing the floor and making the right decisions quickly. Chris Paul is a prime example – at six feet tall, he controls games with timing, angles, and anticipation. Muggsy Bogues displayed a high basketball IQ by rarely turning the ball over (one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios ever) and knowing how to position himself defensively for steals or to draw charges. Their keen sense of the game helps offset physical mismatches.
• Defensive Pest Mentality: While a short player can be a defensive liability in the post, many have learned to be disruptive in other ways. Players like José Alvarado (6′0″) and formerly Muggsy would relentlessly harass ball-handlers full-court, poke the ball free, and draw offensive fouls. Their low stature can actually be an advantage for stealing the ball – opponents have to protect their dribble more carefully. This constant pressure can frustrate opponents and energize their team.

Notably, the NBA’s evolution toward a more perimeter-oriented, fast-paced game has somewhat leveled the playing field for small guards. In earlier eras, a common tactic was to post up a tiny guard with a bigger player (e.g. how Gary Payton at 6’4″ would bully smaller point guards in the 1990s). Today’s spacing and rules (like the hand-check ban) give quick guards more freedom to use their speed. As Isaiah Thomas once pointed out, “In the NBA today, you don’t see guys posting up point guards like Gary Payton used to… It’s a wide-open game. So I can really use my height to my advantage.”Still, the margin for error is slim – a short player must excel in skills and intangibles to justify their spot.

In summary, while height will always be an advantage in basketball, the success of these players comes from maximizing other strengths – speed, skill, savvy, strength, heart – to counterbalance their stature. Their careers are a testament to adaptability in a sport built for giants.

Influence, Challenges, and Inspiration

The achievements of the NBA’s shortest players have resonated far beyond the stat sheets. Their journeys through a height-dominated sport have provided some of the most inspiring and humanizing stories in basketball. Below are a few anecdotes and insights illustrating their influence and the challenges they overcame:

• “Heart Over Height” Inspiration: Short NBA players have become avatars of the underdog, inspiring countless young athletes. Muggsy Bogues in particular showed that determination can rewrite the odds – seeing a 5′3″ player hold his own among seven-footers gave hope to kids who weren’t tall. Bogues often said he never viewed his height as a disadvantage and played with a chip on his shoulder. His success (over 6,000 assists and 1,300 steals) proved that skill and heart can beat size. As 5′9″ All-Star Isaiah Thomas put it, “I don’t feel small. I feel as big as everybody else.” Such mindsets, embodied by players like Thomas and Bogues, encourage shorter players at all levels to stay confident in their game.
• Memorable On-Court Moments: Undersized players have delivered moments that became part of NBA lore precisely because of the height contrast. Fans will always remember Spud Webb performing gravity-defying dunks in 1986 to win the Slam Dunk Contest – a moment that stunned fellow players and spectators, shattering the notion that dunking is only for the tall. Similarly, Muggsy Bogues blocking 7′0″ Patrick Ewing’s shot in a game is replayed as a David-vs-Goliath symbol that “anything can happen.” And when 5′9″ Nate Robinson leapt over a 6′11″ Dwight Howard en route to one of his Dunk Contest titles, it was a jaw-dropping reminder that height isn’t everything. These highlights have a timeless quality and are frequently cited whenever someone doubts a shorter player.
• Facing Down Challenges: The road to success was never easy for these players. Many went undrafted or were second-round picks because teams were skeptical of their size. For example, Isaiah Thomas was the very last pick (60th) in the 2011 draft due to his 5′9″ frame, and Markquis Nowell went undrafted in 2023. Each had to prove themselves relentlessly to even get a chance. Earl Boykins spent his early years on ten-day contracts despite obvious talent, simply because of his 5′5″ stature. This constant need to prove doubters wrong instilled a fierce work ethic. Thomas famously said, “It’s been like that my whole life… people saying I’m too small. Put me out there against anybody and I’ll show you I’m not too small.” That refusal to be intimidated fuels their success and has become a rallying cry for undersized players everywhere.
• Influence on Teammates and Culture: Short players often become fan favorites and locker room leaders, using personality and grit to influence team culture. Their presence can uplift teams and fans alike. Muggsy’s teammates spoke of the infectious energy he brought – his effort level set a standard. José Alvarado’s pesky defense and habit of sneaking up behind opponents for steals has not only earned him a cult following in New Orleans, but even influenced youth coaches to teach kids that tactic. When these players dive for loose balls among giants or take charges against players a foot taller, it embodies hustle that coaches love and teammates rally around. The contrast of the smallest guy making the biggest effort can jolt a team out of complacency.
• Breaking Stereotypes and Barriers: The success of players like those mentioned also helped slowly expand scouting perspectives. In earlier decades, a sub-5’10” player had virtually zero chance in the NBA; scouts simply wouldn’t even look, assuming they’d be unplayable. But seeing examples like Calvin Murphy becoming a Hall of Famer, or Calvin’s modern successor Isaiah Thomas becoming an All-NBA force, has forced scouts and executives to at least reconsider truly exceptional small players. Moreover, pioneers like Wat Misaka – whose significance was as the first Asian-American player – showed that challenges to inclusion go beyond height. Misaka’s brief stint in 1947 opened minds in a different way, preceding the racial integration of the NBA by a few years. While height and race are different issues, the common theme is breaking biases. Every time a short player succeeds, it challenges the preconceived bias that you “must be tall to play.” This has inspired generations of shorter players (from high school guards to international players under 6 feet) to pursue basketball careers, knowing there are role models who made it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the shortest players in NBA history – from Muggsy and Spud to modern examples like Isaiah and Alvarado – embody the spirit of determination and passion in sports. They have shown that disadvantages can be transformed into unique strengths and that an individual’s impact on the game isn’t measured in inches. Their legacy is seen in highlight reels that defy our expectations, in the young players they motivate, and in the enduring message that “heart over height” can triumph in the game of basketball.