Unlike other sports, weight is not a significant factor in basketball but still fans want to know about the heaviest players in the NBA. Basketball players do not require larger frames to prosper in the game like linemen must.
In basketball, weight is a two-edged sword. It can be beneficial for certain players because they can easily generate space with their bodies. However, it can also be the leading source of injury since it puts strain on the knees. Being big also means you’re a step slower on defence, which can be an issue for teams.
NBA League
NBA is the most popular basketball league in America made up of 30 teams. Founded on June 6, 1946, the league is widely regarded as the world’s finest professional basketball league. USA Basketball (USAB) recognizes the league as an active member, and FIBA also recognizes it. The NBA’s regular season lasts from October to April, and each team plays 82 games. The league’s playoff tournament continues into June, finishing in the NBA Finals title series.
Total players in the NBA
During the regular season, NBA teams can have a maximum of 18 players, including 15 players on the roster and three players on two-way contracts. Teams may carry up to 20 players throughout the offseason. With 30 teams in the NBA, experts estimate that there are around 450–500 players in total. Now let’s move to the heaviest players in the NBA.
Top 10 heaviest players in the NBA
The top 10 heaviest players in the NBA are:
1. Boban Marjanovic
Weight:290 pounds
We will remember Boban Marjanovic, who weighs 290 pounds, as one of the tallest and heaviest players in league history. His size makes him a nightmare for post defenders. He effectively uses his size to punish and shoot over defenders without them blocking him. He can easily dunk a basketball without even jumping.
2. Nikola Jokic
Weight:284 pounds
The reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic, who is tied for third-heaviest player in the NBA, is unaffected by his weight. Jokic, who stands 6’11” tall, is one of the NBA’s heaviest players while still having one of the league’s smoothest games.
3. Zion Williamson
Weighs:284 pounds
When it comes to the most important NBA player in 2023 conversations, Zion Williamson’s name will constantly come up. After all, he’s been fighting to keep well, which is likely due to his weight. His energetic style of play, along with his weight, causes a lot of strain on his body. When healthy, Zion is a fantastic player. He’s a phenomenal athlete who can dominate defenders with his strength and dunk over them with ease. Last season, he averaged 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting 61%.
4. Brook Lopez
Weighs:282 pounds
Brook Lopez is one of the league’s top rim protectors right now. His rim protection and three-point shooting abilities make him essential to the Bucks. Last season, he averaged 2.5 blocks per game, a career-high. Despite his weight, Lopez compensates with verticality and outstanding shot-blocking timing. Aside from being a block machine, Lopez can also stretch the floor and shoot the three-ball effectively. He hit 37% from beyond the arc last season, with roughly 5 attempts per game.
5. Robin Lopez
Weighs:281 pounds
At 281 pounds, Robin Lopez is one pound heavier than Joel Embiid, making him the sixth-heaviest player in the NBA. Lopez was also one of the NBA’s tallest players in 2023-24, reaching 7’1” tall.
6. Joel Embiid
Weighs:280 pounds
After winning the MVP, we should consider Joel Embiid as one of the best centres in NBA history. Last season, he averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 55%. He won the league MVP award and became the scoring champion.
Embiid’s 280-pound bulk and strength enable him to dominate the paint.
7. Andre Drummond
Weighs: 279 pounds
Following two seasons with the Miami Heat in 2022 and 2023, Omer Yurtseven began his first season with the Utah Jazz in 2023-24. Yurtseven averaged 5.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 65 games for Miami over two seasons, shooting 53.3% from the field. After a strong rookie season, Yurtseven played only nine times for the Heat in 2022-23. He played eight times during their run to the Finals the previous season.
8. Kenneth Lofton Jr.
Weighs:275 pounds
Kenneth Lofton Jr., a second-year Memphis Grizzlies forward, opens things off at 275 pounds. Lfton is in his second season in Memphis, having played only 24 games for the Grizzlies in 2022–23. Lofton averaged 5.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 52.7%.
9. Omer Yurtseven
Weight:275 pounds
Following two seasons with the Miami Heat in 2022 and 2023, Omer Yurtseven began his first season with the Utah Jazz in 2023-24. Yurtseven averaged 5.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 65 games for Miami over two seasons, shooting 53.3% from the field.
10. Wendell Carter Jr.
Wendell Carter Jr. is one of the game’s top rebounders. In addition to his quickness, he uses his 270-pound size to retrieve rebounds. Last season, he recorded 21 double-double games. Aside from his inside scoring and rebounding abilities, Carter can also spread the floor. He can thrive on the perimeter and shoot three-pointers.
What is the average weight of the heaviest players in the NBA?
The typical weight of the heaviest players in the NBA ranges between 250 and 300 pounds.
Who is the heaviest player in NBA history?
Oliver Miller is the largest NBA player ever, weighing 375 pounds. Miller played in the league from 1992 to 1998 before returning for the 2003-04 season.
Who is the lightest player in the NBA?
Trae Young, who weighs 164 pounds, is one of basketball’s top point guards and the NBA’s lightest player.
Conclusion
So the discussion of the heaviest players in the NBA came to an end. The weight of the players fluctuates and doesn’t remain the same always. There are many reasons behind it like health issues, personal efforts, and much more. The heaviest players in the NBA also earned their names through their performances