Who are the 10 tallest point guards in the history of basketball?

Who are the 10 tallest point guards in the history of basketball?

Grace Waruguru
updated at June 7, 2023 at 6:54 AM

Who are the tallest point guards in basketball history, you ask? Well, these players are not necessarily the tallest on the team, but some boast the natural gift of height, an added advantage for their franchises. Check out which point guards have stood out over the years because of their height.

tallest point guards
Magic Johnson at the 7th Annual Imagine Ball at The Peppermint Club on October 09, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Paul Archuleta
Source: Getty Images

The role of a point guard on the team is to run the offence and guard the opposing team's guard. They are usually the shortest members of the crew. How tall are most point guards? The average height of point guards in the NBA is approximately 6 feet and 2.5 inches. So, who are the tallest point guards? Keep reading to discover.

Tallest point guards in history

Today's players are multi-talented and can play several roles on the court. This means that point guards can fit in other positions that benefit their teams despite being the shortest. Here is a list of the tallest point guards:

10. Dennis Johnson (6 feet, 4 inches)

tallest point guards in the NBA history
Dennis Johnson poses for a portrait in 1989 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo: NBAE
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Dennis Wayne Johnson
  • Nickname: DJ
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of birth: September 18, 1954
  • Died: February 22, 2007
  • Teams: Seattle Supersonics, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics

Dennis Johnson joined the NBA (Seattle Supersonics) in 1976 as a shooting guard. He helped the team attain its only championship in 1979. He later played for the Phoenix Suns for three seasons before moving to Boston Celtics as a point guard.

In addition, Johnson, one of the tallest point guards in NBA history, coached the Los Angeles Clippers. He retired in 1990 and was the 11th player in NBA history to attain over 15,000 points and 5,000 assists. Dennis passed away in 2007 at 52 years old after a cardiac arrest. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame three years later.

9. Michael Carter Williams (6 feet, 5 inches)

top 10 tallest point guards
Michael Carter-Williams during the game between Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers on April 6, 2023, at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Photo: Fernando Medina
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Michael Carter Williams
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of birth: October 10, 1991
  • Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic.

31-year-old Michael Carter Williams joined the NBA in the 2013 draft with the Philadelphia 76ers after playing with the Syracuse Orange of Syracuse University. He has played with several teams, including the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets, and is among the tallest point guards in the NBA right now. The athlete plays for Orlando Magic which he joined in 2019.

8. Derek Harper (6 feet, 5 inches)

tallest point guards in the NBA right now
Derek Harper rests during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California, in 1987. Photo: Mike Powell
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Derek Ricardo Harper
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of birth: October 13, 1961
  • Teams: Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers

Derek is a retired player who ranks among the tallest point guards ever. The American player joined the NBA in 1983 with the Dallas Mavericks and was in the league for 16 seasons, retiring in 1999 after playing with the Los Angeles Lakers. The player was inducted into the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020.

7. Oscar Robertson (6 feet, 5 inches)

tallest point guards ever
Oscar Robertson reacts during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo: Tim Nwachukwu
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Oscar Palmer Robertson
  • Nickname: The Big O
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of birth: November 24, 1938
  • Teams: Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks

Oscar is a former NBA player and is among the tallest NBA point guards of all time. The American athlete joined the league in 1960, playing in 14 seasons with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks. Oscar is a 12-time All-Star winner and became the first NBA player to attain a triple-double for a season. In addition, Palmer was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

6. Ron Harper (6 feet, 6 inches)

top 10 tallest point guards of all time
Ron Harper speaks to NBA TV before Game Six of the 2015 NBA Finals between Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena on June 16, 2015, in Cleveland, Ohio Photo: Gregory Shamus
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Ronald Harper Sr
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of birth: January 20, 1964
  • Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers

Ron is a five-time NBA champion who joined the league in 1986 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played for 15 seasons before retiring in 2001. In 2005, Harper joined the Detroit Pistons as an assistant coach until 2007. His son, Ron Harper Jr, plays for the Toronto Raptors as a small forward.

5. Luka Dončić (6 feet, 7 inches)

tallest ever point guard
Luka Doncic during the match between Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center on April 5, 2023, in Dallas, Texas. Photo: Ron Jenkins
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Luka Dončić
  • Nationality: Slovenian
  • Date of birth: February 28, 1999
  • Teams: Real Madrid, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks

24-year-old Luka is among the top 10 tallest point guards. The Slovenian national is signed with the Dallas Mavericks and plays for the Slovenian national team. He joined the NBA in 2018 after leaving Spain's Real Madrid and is considered the greatest Slovenian basketballer of all time.

Despite his young career, Dončić was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and won Rookie of the Year in the 2018/2019 season. He was also selected to the NBA All-Star game and the All-NBA First team for the next four seasons. Additionally, Luka is the Dallas Mavericks leader in career triple-doubles.

4. Anfernee Hardaway (6 feet, 7 inches)

tallest NBA point guards of all time
Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers during the match against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on January 22, 2023, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Photo: Dylan Buell
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Anfernee Deon Hardaway
  • Nickname: Penny
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of birth: July 18, 1971
  • Teams: Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, New York Knocks, Miami Heats, Memphis Tigers

Anfernee, popularly known as Penny, is a basketball player who played 14 seasons with the NBA, attaining four NBA All-Stars and two All-NBA First Teams. He joined the league in 1993 with Orlando Magic and is the head coach for the Memphis Tigers, his Alma Mater. Hardaway is 6 feet and 7 inches, ranking him as one of the tallest point guards in the league.

3. Shaun Livingston (6 feet, 8 inches)

how tall are most point guards
Shaun Livingston during the Golden State Warriors vs Washington Wizards NBA Japan Games at the Saitama Super Arena on September 30, 2022, in Saitama, Japan. Photo: Takashi Aoyama
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Shaun Patrick Livingston
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of birth: September 11, 1985
  • Teams: Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Tulsa, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors

Shaun joined the 2004 NBA draft with the Los Angeles Clippers straight from high school and is one of the top 10 tallest point guards of all time. His career in the league lasted 15 years, playing with over five teams, including Miami Heat, Tulsa, and Golden State Warriors. In 2020, the 6,8'' player was named the Warriors' Director of Player Affairs and Engagement.

2. Magic Johnson (6 feet, 9 inches)

tallest point guards
Magic Johnson speaks at the 2023 Texas Black Expo 20th Anniversary corporate awards luncheon at Marriott Marquis Houston on May 19, 2023, in Houston, Texas. Photo: Marcus Ingram
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of birth: August 14, 1959
  • Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Magic Johnson is one of the tallest ever point guards, boasting a height of 6,9''. Johnson was named the greatest point guard of all time and boasts three MVP Awards, three Finals MVP Awards, 12 All-Star games, and 9 All-NBA First Team selections. He is NBA's all-time leader in average assists per game in the regular season and the playoffs.

Magic was part of America's ''The Dream Team'' that won the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona. Moreover, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice; in 2002 for his career achievements and in 2010 as a Dream Team member. He only played with the Los Angeles Lakers throughout his 13-year career.

1. Ben Simmons (6 feet, 11 inches)

tallest point guards current
Ben Simmons at the match between Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons at Barclays Center on January 26, 2023, in New York City. Photo: Mike Stobe
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Benjamin David Simmons
  • Nationality: Australian
  • Date of birth: July 20, 1996
  • Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets

NBA's current tallest point guard is 6 feet and 11 inches. Ben Simmons, an Australian player playing for the Brooklyn Nets, takes the top position. Simmons joined the NBA in 2016 with the Philadelphia 76ers but transitioned to the Nets in 2022.

Who is the tallest point guard in NBA history? The tallest point guards, current or retired, have left indelible marks in the profession, paving the way for upcoming athletes to beat and surpass their achievements. As fans celebrate these legends, more players will undoubtedly emerge as point guards boasting impressive heights that enhance their teams' performance.

READ ALSO: Top 15 all-time best point guards in the NBA

Sports Brief published an article about the top 15 point guards in the history of the NBA. These individuals have led their teams to victory with exceptional performances, thanks to their talent and skill on the court. Some of these athletes are retired, while others are active players.

Check out the above article to discover these legends and their achievements.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.