When we think of basketball, images of those towering athletes running the court pop quickly into our minds. But the NBA has had its slew of great players that prove you don't have to be tall in order top talent. They are players with a lot of talent and skill, smaller than the average player but in some cases at least rising well above it. Today we take a glance around inside that world and turn our attention to some of the shorter NBA players who have played an influential role in shaping this game.
Shortest NBA Players In 2023-24 Season
Markquis Nowell
The shortest player in the NBA during 2023-24 will be New York point guard Markquis Nowell measuring up at only 5 feet, eight inches tall. The 23 year old, who was born in 1999, went undrafted earlier this month but will sign a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors.
During the 2023 summer league, Nowell demonstrated his exceptional skills when he posted a stat line of 17 points and three rebounds to go with an eye-poping 12 assists vs. Golden State Warriors. He played college basketball at Kansas State Wildcats and Little Rock Trojans, where he set the Division I NCAA Tournament record for assists in a game with 19 against Michigan State in 2023.
Jacob Gilyard
Jacob Gilyard -Another 2023-24 standout, Jacob comes in at a diminutive height of only 5'9 but brings good marks from the Kansas City area. He was signed by the Memphis Grizzlies after going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft following training camp. Gilyard was named the 2020 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year after setting an NCAA Division I record with his career steal total now sitting at 466.
Jordan McLaughlin
Here are notes on the shortest player in NBA franchises which is not, as we all know already Jordan McLaughlin-Minnesota Timberwolves impact. McLaughlin, 23, is only 5-11 but his defense plus plenty of assists and steals in place of Russell has made him a favorite among Wolves fans.
Chris Paul and Fred VanVleet
Paul a future Hall of Fame point guard in his 16th season has been an NBA All-Star 12 times and named to the All-NBA Team on 11 occasions, all while being selected as part of the NBA's All-Defensive team nine different.
One of the most compelling stories in sports, VanVleet has gone from an undrafted free agent fighting just to make a roster four years ago.
Shortest Person In the history of the NBA
Muggsy Bogues
Muggsy is the 5 feet 3 inches shortest player to have ever played in an NBA game. Incredibly, Bogues enjoyed a productive 14-season career in the league despite his height and was even a full-time starter during five of those years.
Earl Boykins
Earl Boykins was a 5-5 point guard who played in the NBA for 13 years and had seasons where he averaged as many as 14.6 points per game, proving his ability to score at that level.
Spud Webb
At a meager 5'7", Spud Webb defied the odds to become Slam Dunk Contest Champion, proving that he could ball with anyone in his era.
So I thought, these players' careers are vivid proof that height is a just number in the realm of basketball greatness. Even though these athletes do not possess the same height as most of their NBA counterparts, they have been able to make a name for themselves and show that skill, hard work & smarts could beat size every single time.
The smallest players in the 2023-24 NBA are Markquis Nowell and Jacob Gilyard, but if we look back at the history of professional basketball then some figures prove that it's all about potential, skill, and talent. They may begin the find a career for wannabe players and be processed during traditional beliefs of what is expected of this sport, proving that skill does not necessarily follow weight pang flying height.
