People always know about the NBA’s tallest and shortest players in 2023-24. In the NBA, height draws attention. With so many tall athletes in the league, it’s simple to ignore the shorter guys. Tall height is a big advantage in basketball. But, a player’s ability to stay in the NBA depends on their skill, tenacity, and enthusiasm. If you are curious who is the Shortest Player in the NBA in 2024?
Keep reading to know about the shortest players in the NBA in 2024.
Total players in the NBA in 2024
In North America, the NBA is the top men’s professional basketball league. The league is one of the best professional sports leagues in both the US and Canada. It has 30 clubs total—29 in the US and 1 in Canada. There are at least 15 players on each of these 30 teams. There are 450 players in the NBA after calculating the number of players on each team by the total number of teams.
This can be just an estimate. This number of players can fluctuate.
Who are the shortest NBA players in the 2023-24 season?
The top 10 shortest players in the NBA in 2024 are:
1. Markquis Nowell
Height: 5 feet 8 inches
In the 2023–24 NBA season, 5-foot-8-inch point guard Marquis Nowell of New York will be the shortest player in the NBA in 2024. The 23-year-old, who was born in 1999, was not selected in the 2023 NBA Draft. He then did sign a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors. Nowell displayed his skill against the Golden State Warriors in the 2023 summer league. He scored 17 points, got 12 assists, and grabbed three rebounds.
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2. Jacob Gilyard
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
A Kansas City native named Jacob Gilyard is also among the shortest NBA players of 2024. He was not selected in the NBA draft of 2022. He later signed a training camp contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. The team policy kept the terms of the deal confidential. He later inked a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on April 8, 2023. In a 115-100 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he made his NBA debut. In his first game, he finished with three points, seven assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
3. Jordan McLaughlin
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Jordan McLaughlin, who stands 5’11”, is not the shortest player in the NBA. But he has had a significant impact on the Minnesota Timberwolves. McLaughlin, who stands 5 feet 11 inches tall, is a fan favorite in Minnesota because of his defensive skills, assists, and steals. His career-high performance shows his value to the team. He got 24 points and 11 assists against the Clippers in 2020.
4. Chris Paul
Height: 6 feet
One NBA player who hasn’t allowed his height to stop him from being great is Chris Paul. In addition to two gold Olympic medals, he has earned NBA Rookie of the Year and NBA All-Star MVP. Given that he has led the team in assists five times and steals six times over his career. His overall impact is not statistically hidden. Paul, who played for every NBA team, presided over the NBPA from 2013 to 2021. In addition, he is among the wealthiest athletes in the league.
5. Fred VanVleet
Height: 6 feet
It would be difficult for any NBA fan to accept that Fred VanVleet was not selected in the 2016 NBA Draft. VanVleet, who is six feet tall, has seen about everything in the league. VanVleet joined the Houston Rockets on July 7, 2023, and he finished the game with 14 points and five assists. The 29-year-old has gone from being a slot filler to a reserve to a starting player.
6. Jose Alvarado
Height: 6 feet
Jose Alvarado, sometimes known as “Grand Theft Alvarado,” is a key Pelican’s defender. This is because he is very good at creating steals. Being 6 feet tall, he is also included in the list of shortest players in the NBA in 2024.
7. Mike Conley
Height: 6 feet
An NBA All-Star with a track record of sportsmanship and team leadership honors, Mike Conley is a seasoned veteran. His scoring history with the Grizzlies attests to his enduring influence.
8. Aaron Holiday
Height: 6 feet
Aaron Holiday of the Houston Rockets is the shortest player in the NBA in 2024. He is a first-round pick. He is a talented guard. He brings All-American honors from his time at UCLA.
9. Kyle Lowry
Height: 6 feet
Having won an Olympic gold medal, six-time All-Star and NBA champion Kyle Lowry is also one of the shortest players in the NBA in 2024. He possesses important leadership and expertise. There is no disputing that he is among the greatest in the NBA in drawing charges, despite the opinions of those who believe he is the biggest bust in the league.
10. Davion Mitchell
Height: 6 feet
The ninth overall draft pick and NCAA champion Davion Mitchell has already left his impact, being selected to the All-NBA Summer League First Team and winning the NBA Summer League MVP award.
5 Shortest NBA player
1. Earl Boykins (five feet five inches)
Another incredible athlete is 5-foot-5 Earl Boykins. His 14-year NBA career is evidence of his exceptional talent and tenacity. Boykins played for ten teams. He won over both supporters and detractors with his skill at the basket and dexterity on the floor.
2. Mel Hirsch (six feet six inches)
One of the greatest and shortest players in NBA history is Mel Hirsch from the Boston Celtics. He was a standout player at Brooklyn College and in the US Army Air Corps before entering the NBA. Hirsch’s brief but key NBA career questioned the height norms in pro basketball. It opened doors for shorter players who wanted to play at the top level.
3. Tall Spud Webb (five feet seven inches)
One of the shortest players in NBA history, Anthony “Spud” Webb, is most remembered for his victory in the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Despite being only 5 feet 7 inches tall, he managed to play for the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks throughout his 12-year NBA career.
4. Fifth, Greg Grant (five inches seven inches)
Another 5-foot-7 player who played nine years in the NBA was Greg Grant. Grant, who played for the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks among other teams, was well-known for his skill and enthusiasm. His journey to the NBA reflects his story of tenacity and resolve.
5. Jennings, Keith (five feet seven inches)
Five-foot-seven Keith Jennings is also among the shortest players in the NBA in 2024. He had a successful NBA career with the Golden State Warriors from 1992 to 1995. Even though he isn’t one of the NBA players with the most titles, Jennings had a big influence while he was there. On the court, his skill and quickness were admirable.
Who is the Shortest NBA Player in History?
We have explored shortest players in the NBA in 2024. Now let us have a look at history.
Muggsy Bogues
With a 5-3 record, Muggsy Bogues holds the distinction of being the shortest player in NBA history. At just 5-foot-3, Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues is not only the shortest player in NBA history, but also one of the most recognizable. The Washington Bullets selected Bogues with the 12th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. He had a great 14-year career, spending much of it with the Charlotte Hornets.
Is six feet too short for the NBA?
Interestingly, there isn’t a formal height restriction to participate in professional sports. The NBA values talent and ability to play more than length, however having a little additional length helps.
How many athletes sign with the NBA per year?
Each draft selects sixty players. Before a player is eligible for at least one draft, he cannot sign with the NBA. In the past, high school athletes also had the opportunity to be selected.
How long is the career of an NBA player?
An NBA player’s career lasts, on average, 4.5 years. A little over 6% of athletes have careers lasting ten years or more.
Conclusion
So, we explored the shortest players in the NBA in 2024. Hence, unveiling the shortest NBA player of all time today (2024) have cleared so many questions of fans. Some players are conscious of their height. Even the guards in the NBA typically stand much taller than the average individual. It’s not always the case, though. There have been several players under six feet tall that have left their imprint on the NBA throughout its history.