In a league where the average player looks like a giant to the average man, a few fearless guards proved that height wouldn’t make or break their careers. These guys weren’t going to let a little thing like measuring sticks stand in their way, and with that, here are five of the shortest players ever listed on an NBA roster.
Muggsy Bogues (5'3")
At 5'3", Muggsy Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history, and he wasn’t just a bench-warmer, either. He carved out a 14-season career by turning speed into an art, pestering ballhandlers, and orchestrating offenses like a pocket-sized conductor.
Earl Boykins (5'5")
Earl Boykins, listed at 5'5", made just about every defender pay for underestimating him. He played with a scorer’s mindset, darting into creases and popping jumpers before taller opponents could get a hold of him.
Mel Hirsch (5'6")
Mel Hirsch is one of the NBA’s early-era curiosities: a 5'6" guard who appeared for the Boston Celtics in 1946–47. His pro stint may have been brief, but his place in history remains secure; the measurement is the headline.
Greg Grant (5'7")
At 5'7", Greg Grant didn’t need a gimmick; he built value as a steady point guard who could organize a lineup and stay ready. He bounced around the league, which sounds unglamorous until you remember the NBA doesn’t just hand out opportunities.
Spud Webb (5'6")
Spud Webb, also listed at 5'6", is the cheerful rebuttal to anyone who says short players can’t fly. He famously won the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, which is still an absurd record to remember, and his career lasted years longer than most narratives.
