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The Shortest NBA Players of All Time, Ranked

Updated October 21, 2019 5.1k votes 969 voters 17.8k views24 items

List RulesVote up the best NBA players who are shorter than 5'9".

We're ranking the shortest basketball players by how well they played in the NBA. Standing under 5 feet, 9 inches, the shortest NBA players ever are also some of the best NBA players of all time. Who are the greatest NBA small players of all-time?

At 5 ft 3 in, former Charlotte Hornets point guard Muggsy Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history. Despite his height, Bogues went on to become the Hornets' career leader in assists and steals. Other great NBA short players under 5 ft, 9 in. include Spud Webb, Isaiah Thomas, and Earl Boykins.

Vote up the best NBA players who are shorter than 5 feet, 9 inches, and feel free to add any smaller basketball players missing from the list. Then head over and check out some of the shortest players in the NFL.

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1
572
162
Muggsy Bogues
5 ft 3 in
Tyrone Curtis "Muggsy" Bogues (born January 9, 1965) is a retired American basketball player.... more
2
486
150
Isaiah Thomas
5 ft 9 in
Isaiah Jamar Thomas (born February 7, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for... more
3
408
127
Spud Webb
5 ft 7 in
Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb (born July 13, 1963) is an American retired professional basketball... more
More Spud Webb
#37 of 161 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings#155 of 269 The Top NBA Players Of All Time
4
402
125
Nate Robinson
5 ft 9 in
Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson (born May 31, 1984) is an American professional basketball... more
More Nate Robinson
#79 of 150 The Greatest Point Guards in NBA History#34 of 133 The Best Boston Celtics of All Time
5
194
101
Calvin Murphy
5 ft 9 in

Calvin Jerome Murphy (born May 9, 1948) is an American retired professional basketball player... more
6
179
120
Earl Boykins
5 ft 5 in
Earl Antoine Boykins (born June 2, 1976) is a former American professional basketball player.... more
7
94
132
Mel Hirsch
5 ft 6 in
8
71
107
Greg Grant
5 ft 7 in
Gregory Alan Grant (born August 29, 1966) is a retired American professional basketball... more
9
48
80
Charlie Criss
5 ft 8 in
Charles Washington Criss, Jr. (born November 6, 1948) is an American former professional... more
10
63
110
Kay Felder
5 ft 9 in
11
49
93
Keith Jennings
5 ft 7 in
Keith Russell "Mister" Jennings (born November 2, 1968) is an American basketball coach, who... more
12
48
91
Herm Klotz
5 ft 7 in
13
46
90
Wataru Misaka
5 ft 7 in
Wataru "Wat" Misaka (born December 21, 1923) is an American retired professional basketball... more

14
33
75
Yuta Tabuse
5 ft 9 in
Yuta Tabuse (田臥勇太, Tabuse Yūta, born October 5, 1980) is a Japanese professional basketball... more
15
32
79
Monte Towe
5 ft 7 in
Monte Corwin Towe (born September 27, 1953) is an American basketball coach and retired... more
16
23
69
Willie Somerset
5 ft 8 in
Willard F. Somerset (born March 17, 1942) is an American former professional basketball... more
17
25
75
Dino Martin
5 ft 8 in
18
19
71
Angelo Musi
5 ft 9 in
Angelo Musi, Jr. (July 25, 1918 – October 19, 2009) was an American professional basketball... more
19
18
73
Gene Rock
5 ft 9 in
Eugene Rock (November 4, 1921 – October 31, 2002) was an American professional basketball... more
20
15
59
Ralph O'Brien
5 ft 9 in
21
15
62
Charlie Hoefer
5 ft 9 in
22
15
70
Howie Carl
5 ft 9 in
Howard Hershey Carl (June 7, 1938 – October 24, 2005) was an American basketball player. Born... more
23
13
63
Ed Melvin
5 ft 9 in
24
13
71
Lionel Malamed
5 ft 9 in
Lionel M. Malamed (November 15, 1924–September 17, 1989) was an American professional... more