Over the years, the NBA has been filled with extremely talented and mountainous athletes. Generally speaking for this kind of sport, we commonly see just how beneficial size and height are when playing the game. Over 90% of NBA players are above 6 ft tall, but that does not always mean that only tall athletes are gifted and skilled on the court. However, for now, we’re listed some of the greatest and tallest basketball players of all time.
The Tallest & Greatest Basketball Players Of All Time
Kobe Bryant 6ft 6-inch
No NBA list is ever complete without the amazing Kobe Bryant. He was often called ‘The Black Mamba’ because of his incredible abilities on the court. The American basketball player spent an impressive 20 years players for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. Sadly, this icon passed away in 2020 at the age of 42, but he is still considered to be one of the best basketball players of all time. Did you know that he was the youngest player to start an NBA game?
Magic Johnson – 6ft 9 inches
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. is probably the best former professional basketball player to stand at 6ft 9 inches. During his career, Magic was often said to be the best point guard the sporting world had ever seen. Besides the fact that he was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players In NBA History, Johnson also played an impressive 13 seasons for the Lakers. MJ has won numerous awards during his career and even won a gold medal back in the 1992 Olympic games.
Joel Embiid – 7ft
Next up we have one of the greatest basketball players of the decade. Originally from Cameroon, Joel Embiid was drafted into the NBA very soon after he finished high school and moved to the USA. Not only has Embiid worked super hard to improve his game and get to where he is today but he is also considered to be a major force to be reckoned with. At just 27 years old and 7ft tall, Embiid is regarded as an MVP quality player.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 7 ft 2 inches
7ft 2 inch Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s talent has often been underestimated over the course of his basketball. Abdul- Jabbar’s signature move, the Skyhook, is remembered today as one of the most dangerous scoring moves ever, right next to the slam dunk and the Dream Shake. There’s a good reason why he was nicknamed ‘The Tower From Power’. Did you know that by the time he retired from the NBA, he had scored a whopping 38,387 points, which is more than any other player has?
Yao Ming – 7 ft 5 inches
Last but not least we have Houston Rockets superstar Yao Ming. Not only is he known for his tremendous height, but also as a player with one of the best athletic abilities in the world. Ming stands at a colossal 7ft and 5 inches. Chinese native, Yao Ming is the tallest NBA player to ever be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Sadly, due to many foot and ankle injuries, Ming’s career was cut short which of course left so many fans devasted.
