The NBA Draft has produced some of the tallest athletes in professional sports history. Teams have always coveted height, especially at the centre position, where taller players can protect the rim, rebound, and score over defenders. Some of the tallest draft picks became legends, while others struggled to translate their height into NBA success. Here are the tallest players ever selected in the NBA Draft.
⚡ Quick Facts:
- The tallest NBA Draft player ever is Gheorghe Muresan at 7 ft 7 in (231 cm)
- This list covers the top 10 tallest NBA Draft players of all time
- Heights are shown in both feet/inches and centimetres
Complete List: Top 10 Tallest NBA Draft Players
| Rank | Player | Height | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gheorghe Muresan | 7 ft 7 in (231 cm) | Romania |
| 2 | Manute Bol | 7 ft 7 in (231 cm) | Sudan |
| 3 | Yao Ming | 7 ft 6 in (229 cm) | China |
| 4 | Shawn Bradley | 7 ft 6 in (229 cm) | United States |
| 5 | Victor Wembanyama | 7 ft 4 in (224 cm) | France |
| 6 | Kristaps Porzingis | 7 ft 3 in (221 cm) | Latvia |
| 7 | Ralph Sampson | 7 ft 4 in (224 cm) | United States |
| 8 | Rik Smits | 7 ft 4 in (224 cm) | Netherlands |
| 9 | Chet Holmgren | 7 ft 1 in (216 cm) | United States |
| 10 | Hasheem Thabeet | 7 ft 3 in (221 cm) | Tanzania |
1. Gheorghe Muresan — 7 ft 7 in (231 cm)
Country: Romania
Gheorghe Muresan is the tallest player in NBA history and was selected in the second round of the 1993 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets. The Romanian centre won the Most Improved Player award in 1996 and averaged 14.5 points per game in his best season. Muresan’s career was cut short by injuries, but he remains the tallest man to play in the NBA.
2. Manute Bol — 7 ft 7 in (231 cm)
Country: Sudan
Manute Bol was selected in the second round of the 1985 NBA Draft and shares the record as the tallest NBA player ever. The Sudanese centre led the league in blocked shots twice and was one of the most prolific shot-blockers pound-for-pound in history. Bol was also known for his humanitarian work in his native Sudan and his unlikely ability to hit three-pointers.
3. Yao Ming — 7 ft 6 in (229 cm)
Country: China
Yao Ming was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets and became one of the most popular players in NBA history. The Chinese centre was an eight-time NBA All-Star and averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds per game during his career. Yao was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and helped grow basketball’s popularity enormously in China.
4. Shawn Bradley — 7 ft 6 in (229 cm)
Country: United States
Shawn Bradley was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. The towering centre played 12 NBA seasons for the 76ers, Nets, and Mavericks, averaging 8.1 points and 2.5 blocks per game. Bradley was a prolific shot-blocker who finished his career with over 2,000 blocked shots despite never becoming a dominant offensive player.
5. Victor Wembanyama — 7 ft 4 in (224 cm)
Country: France
Victor Wembanyama was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs and is considered the most promising prospect in NBA history. The French phenom won Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in his first season. Wembanyama combines his 7 ft 4 in frame with guard-like skills, a reliable three-point shot, and elite shot-blocking.
6. Kristaps Porzingis — 7 ft 3 in (221 cm)
Country: Latvia
Kristaps Porzingis was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and has become one of the best stretch big men in NBA history. The Latvian centre won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024. Porzingis combines his 7 ft 3 in frame with the ability to shoot three-pointers, handle the ball, and block shots.
7. Ralph Sampson — 7 ft 4 in (224 cm)
Country: United States
Ralph Sampson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft and was named Rookie of the Year. The Houston Rockets centre was a four-time All-Star and formed the famous Twin Towers duo with Hakeem Olajuwon. Sampson’s career was hampered by knee injuries, but at his peak he was one of the most skilled big men in NBA history.
8. Rik Smits — 7 ft 4 in (224 cm)
Country: Netherlands
Rik Smits was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers and spent his entire 12-year career in Indiana. The Dutch centre known as the Dunking Dutchman was an NBA All-Star and was the Pacers’ leading scorer for multiple seasons. Smits was known for his soft shooting touch despite his enormous 7 ft 4 in frame.
9. Chet Holmgren — 7 ft 1 in (216 cm)
Country: United States
Chet Holmgren was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The unicorn big man combines his 7 ft 1 in frame with exceptional shot-blocking, three-point shooting, and ball-handling ability. Holmgren has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant for his ability to score from anywhere on the court despite his enormous height.
10. Hasheem Thabeet — 7 ft 3 in (221 cm)
Country: Tanzania
Hasheem Thabeet was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the highest a Tanzanian player has ever been drafted. The centre was selected based on his shot-blocking potential but struggled to develop offensively in the NBA. Thabeet played only 224 career NBA games and is often cited as one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history, a cautionary tale about drafting purely for height.
📏 Want to see how you compare?
Use our free Height Converter to convert your height, or try the Height Comparison Tool to visually compare yourself with these NBA Draft giants. Browse our Celebrity Heights database or check out Average Height by Country for more data.
Final Thoughts
The NBA Draft has always been a place where height gets noticed first. The tallest draft picks in history range from all-time greats like Yao Ming and Wembanyama to players who never lived up to their physical potential. Height alone does not guarantee NBA success, but combined with skill, coordination, and basketball IQ, it can create a generational talent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the tallest player in NBA history?
Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol share the record as the tallest NBA players ever at 7 ft 7 in (231 cm). Among current players, Victor Wembanyama at 7 ft 4 in is the tallest active NBA player.
Does height guarantee NBA success?
Height alone does not guarantee NBA success. Players like Hasheem Thabeet (7 ft 3 in, No. 2 pick) became draft busts while shorter players have thrived. The most successful tall players combine height with skill, coordination, basketball IQ, and work ethic.
What is the average height of an NBA player?
The average NBA player is approximately 6 ft 6 in (198 cm). Point guards average around 6 ft 2 in, while centres average approximately 6 ft 10 in. The league average has remained relatively stable over the past two decades.