Top 10 Tallest NBA Players Ever
From Yao Ming to Manute Bol, here’s a look at the 10 tallest NBA players ever and the massive impact they made on basketball history.
Height has always been one of the biggest advantages in basketball, but some NBA players took it to an entirely different level. Over the decades, the league has seen several giants who towered over opponents and completely changed how the game looked on the court.
From shot-blocking legends to fan-favourite cult heroes, these players became unforgettable not just because of their size, but because of the impact they made in the NBA.
Advertisement
Tallest NBA Players Ever
Here’s a look at the 10 tallest NBA players ever:
| Player | Height |
|---|---|
| Gheorghe Mureșan | 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) |
| Manute Bol | 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) |
| Shawn Bradley | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
| Tacko Fall | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
| Yao Ming | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
| Sim Bhullar | 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) |
| Chuck Nevitt | 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) |
| Pavel Podkolzin | 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) |
| Slavko Vraneš | 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) |
| Mark Eaton | 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) |
Advertisement
1. Gheorghe Mureșan
The tallest player in NBA history, Romanian giant Gheorghe Mureșan, stood at a staggering 7-foot-7. Drafted by the Washington Bullets in 1993, Mureșan quickly became one of the league’s most unique players.
Despite battling injuries throughout his career, he still won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in 1996 after averaging 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds that season.
Mureșan played 307 NBA games and finished with an impressive 57.3% field-goal percentage.
Advertisement
2. Manute Bol
Manute Bol is listed as being 7’7” tall, which ties him with Gheorghe Mureşan for being the tallest NBA player ever. He was known as a defensive presence more than a scoring one. While playing in the league, he totalled 2,086 blocks or 3.3 blocks per game during his NBA career.
Manute Bol played for the Washington Bullets with Muggsy Bogues (5’3”), and they will forever be remembered because they had the biggest height difference between teammates in the history of basketball.
3. Shawn Bradley
Shawn Bradley spent over a decade in the NBA and became one of the most recognizable centers of the 1990s and early 2000s.
The German-American big man played for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks, finishing his career with more than 2,100 blocks.
Bradley’s rim protection made him a defensive force, even if he often became part of highlight reels because of poster dunks from opposing stars.
4. Tacko Fall
Tacko Fall quickly became a fan favourite because of his unbelievable height and massive standing reach.
The Senegalese centre played for the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers and gained huge popularity despite limited NBA minutes. His presence alone changed defensive schemes around the basket.
Even today, Tacko remains one of the most recognizable ultra-tall players of the modern NBA era.
5. Yao Ming
Yao Ming was far more than just a tall player. The Chinese superstar became one of the biggest global icons in basketball history.
Drafted first overall by the Houston Rockets in 2002, Yao combined elite footwork, soft shooting touch, and dominant inside scoring. He averaged 19.1 points and 9.3 rebounds during his NBA career.
Yao also became the tallest player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and played a huge role in growing the NBA’s popularity across Asia.
6. Sim Bhullar
Sim Bhullar may have played only a handful of NBA minutes, but his appearance in the league carried historic importance.
The Canadian center became the first player of Indian descent to play in the NBA when he debuted for the Sacramento Kings in 2015.
Bhullar’s NBA career was brief, but he remains a landmark figure for Indian basketball fans.
7. Chuck Nevitt
Chuck Nevitt carved out a long NBA career despite limited playing time.
He played for multiple franchises, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons, and remains the tallest player ever to win an NBA championship.
Nevitt became known as one of the league’s most memorable bench personalities during the 1980s.
8. Pavel Podkolzin
Pavel Podkolzin, a Russian centre, had immense expectations prior in the NBA based on his height and potential.
Due to his injuries and lack of conditioning, his career in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks was limited to just 6 games before he ultimately continued his career playing overseas.
9. Slavko Vranes
Slavko Vranes is one of the players with an extremely limited NBA career.
The Montenegrin center played only one game for the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2004 season, spending an entire three minutes on the floor versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He has, however, remained a legendary figure in NBA history due to his large size.
10. Mark Eaton
Unlike several others on this list, Mark Eaton built a genuinely dominant NBA career.
The Utah Jazz legend became one of the greatest defensive players in league history and still holds the NBA record for highest career blocks per game average at 3.5.
Eaton was also a one-time NBA All-Star and one of the most feared rim protectors of the 1980s.
As of the 2025-26 NBA season, the league still features several towering stars, including Victor Wembanyama, Zach Edey, and Rocco Zikarsky, all officially listed at 7-foot-3 or taller.
Also Read: How the NBA Salary Cap Works
