Who are the best NBA players under 6 feet to ever play the game?

Who are the best NBA players under 6 feet to ever play the game?

Grace Waruguru
updated at September 29, 2023 at 1:22 PM

There are numerous current and retired NBA players under 6 feet who boast successful careers today. Despite the myth that basketball players must be tall, these individuals have broken the existing barriers to become among the best in the field. Who are some of these players? Keep scrolling to find out.

current NBA players under 6 feet
Avery Johnson is one of the NBA players under 6 feet. Photo: Layne Murdoch (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

What is the percentage of NBA players under 6 feet? Since the league's inception, various athletes have represented their franchises and excelled despite their height. Although they are not as tall as most of their counterparts, they have developed other unique skills that have kept them at the top of their game. Who are some of these basketball players?

How many NBA players are under 6 feet?

Are there any NBA players under 6 feet? Point guards are the shortest team players in most teams and must be quick and agile. Here are a number of NBA players under 6 feet:

15. D.J Augustin - 5 feet, 11 inches

NBA players under 6 feet
DJ Augustin is a point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. Photo: Michael Gonzales (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Darryl Gerard Augustin Jr.
  • Nickname: DJ, Saint Augustin
  • Date of birth: November 10, 1987
  • Position: Point guard

Are there any current NBA players under 6 feet? Darryl was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2008 and also played for the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and the Houston Rockets. He joined the Los Angeles Lakers in March 2022. The 5'11 athlete plays as a point guard and is one of the current NBA players under 6 feet.

14. Avery Johnson - 5 feet, 11 inches

 current NBA players under 6 feet
Avery Johnson joined the NBA in 1989 and is 5 feet and 11 inches tall. Photo: Michael Gonzales (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Avery DeWitt Johnson
  • Date of birth: March 25, 1965
  • Position: Point guard

Avery Johnson is among the best 5'11 basketball players in the association currently. The 58-year-old started his career with the United States Basketball League before transitioning to the NBA in 1989. Avery won the 1998 NBA Sportsmanship Award and attained 8,817 career points.

After retirement, Johnson transitioned into coaching and has worked with franchises like the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets. He is also a broadcast analyst for CBS Sports.

13. Terrell Brandon - 5 feet, 11 inches

best NBA players under 6 feet
Terrell Brandon retired from the NBA in 2002. Photo: Doug Pensinger (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Thomas Terrell Brandon
  • Date of birth: May 20, 1970
  • Position: Point guard

Terrell is a retired point guard who played with three teams throughout his 11-year career with the NBA: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Minnesota Timberwolves. The 2-time NBA All-Star attained 9,994 career points and 4,407 assists. Brandon retired in 2002.

12. Brevin Knight - 5 feet, 10 inches

 how many NBA players under 6 feet
Brevin Knight was in the NBA between 1997 and 2009. Photo: Rocky Widner (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Brevin Adon Knight
  • Date of birth: November 8, 1975
  • Position: Point guard

Brevin is a retired American point guard who played with teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, and Phoenix Suns. He was in the NBA between 1997 and 2009, attaining 5,342 points and 4,481 assists. After retiring from the league, the Stanford University alumnus transitioned into sports commentary and works as a Memphis Grizzlies commentator on Bally Sports Southeast.

11. Fred Scolari - 5 feet, 10 inches

  • Full name: Fred Joseph Scolari
  • Date of birth: March 1, 1922
  • Died: October 17, 2002
  • Position: Point guard

The late Fred Scolari played for the Basketball Association of America (BAA) before it rebranded to the NBA. The athlete overcame numerous odds, including one blind eye and one deaf ear, to become one of the best all-time NBA players under 6 feet. The 2-time NBA All-Star played for teams like the Baltimore Bullets and Boston Celtics.

10. J.J Barea - 5 feet, 10 inches

 how many NBA players under 6 feet
JJ Barean is a Puerto Rican national who is 5'10 inches. Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: José Juan Barea Mora
  • Nickname: JJ
  • Date of birth: June 26, 1984
  • Position: Point guard

Barea is a Puerto Rican national whose NBA career took off in 2006 with the Dallas Mavericks. He also represented his country's national team. JJ attained the NBA championship in 2011 and was the FIBA Basketball World Cup Top Scorer in 2014. He currently serves as a player development coach for the Dallas Mavericks.

9. Michael Adams - 5 feet, 10 inches

are there any NBA players under 6 feet
Michael Adams is an alumnus of Boston College. Photo: Jim Wilson (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Michael Adams
  • Date of birth: January 19, 1963
  • Position: Point guard

Michael Adams is a retired professional player and coach who started playing at Boston College before joining the NBA in 1985. The American athlete boasts a career record of 9,621 points and 4,209 assists. Adams once held the record for three-point field goals between January 1988 and January 1989.

8. Damon Stoudamire - 5 feet, 10 inches

percentage of NBA players under 6 feet
Damon started playing basketball in high school. Photo: Brian Babineau (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Damon Lamon Stoudamire
  • Nickname: Mighty Mouse
  • Date of birth: September 3, 1973
  • Position: Point guard

Damon is a former point guard who is among the best NBA players under 6 feet in 2023. He started playing in high school and later joined the Arizona Wildcats of the Arizona University. Stoudamire joined the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 draft and later played with teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs. He is currently the coach of Georgia Tech of the NCAA.

7. Slater Martin - 5 feet, 10 inches

 list of NBA players under 6 feet
Slater Martin won four consecutive NBA championships between 1950 and 1954. Photo: NBA Photos (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Slater Nelson Martin Jr.
  • Nickname: Dugie
  • Date of birth: October 22, 1925
  • Died: October 18, 2012
  • Position: Point guard

The late Slater Martin also makes it to the list of NBA players under 6 feet. He won four consecutive NBA championships between 1950 and 1954. His active career ran from 1949 to 1960, then he transitioned to coaching in 1957 and worked with the St. Louis Hawks and Houston Mavericks. Martin was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in May 1982.

6. Isaiah Thomas - 5 feet, 9 inches

 number of NBA players
Isaiah Thomas played with the Boston Celtics between 2015 and 2017 Photo: Amanda J. Cain (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Isaiah Jamar Thomas
  • Date of birth: February 7, 1989
  • Position: Point guard

Isaiah Thomas started playing in college before foregoing his final year to join the NBA. He was drafted in 2011 by the Sacramento Kings. He later played for the Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, and the USA national men's team. Thomas is a 2-time NBA All-Star.

5. Calvin Murphy - 5 feet, 9 inches

 NBA players under 6 feet tall
Calvin Murphy is the shortest player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Calvin Jerome Murphy
  • Date of birth: May 9, 1948
  • Position: Point guard

75-year-old Calvin Murphy started his college career at Niagara University before joining the NBA between 1970 and 1983. He is the shortest NBA player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Murphy attained 17,949 points in his career.

4. Charlie Criss - 5 feet, 8 inches

 NBA players under 6 feet 2023
Charlie Criss started playing in high school and joined the NBA in 1978. Photo: NBAE (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Charles Washington Criss Jr.
  • Date of birth: November 6, 1948
  • Position: Point guard

Charlie started playing in high school and joined the basketball association in 1978. During his time, he was one of the best NBA players under 6 feet. After retiring in 1985, Criss worked as a golf instructor, a TV colour commentator for the Atlanta Hawks, and a minor-league basketball coach.

3. Anthony Webb - 5 feet, 6 inches

NBA players under 6 feet all time
1986 Slam Dunk champion Anthony Webb is 5 feet, 6 inches tall. Photo: Scott Legato (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Anthony Jerome Webb
  • Nickname: Spudd
  • Date of birth: July 13, 1963
  • Position: Point guard

Anthony is a retired athlete and is among the best NBA players under 6 feet tall. Despite his height, he could move quickly and jump high, giving him an edge over several other players. Webb is remembered for being the 1986 Slam Dunk champion. The former point guard played for teams like the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic.

2. Earl Boykins - 5 feet, 5 inches

 NBA players under 6 feet all time
Earl Boykins was in the NBA between 1998 and 2012. Photo: Jim McIsaac (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Earl Antoine Boykins
  • Date of birth: June 2, 1976
  • Position: Point guard

Earl is an American former basketball player whose NBA career lasted from 1998 to 2012. He transitioned to coaching and has worked with Douglas County High School and the UTEP Miners basketball team of the University of Texas. Boykins attained 5,791 points in his playing career.

1. Muggsy Bogues - 5 feet, 3 inches

NBA players under 6 feet all time
Muggsy Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history with a height of 5 feet, 3 inches. Photo: Joe Murphy (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Tyrone Curtis Bogues
  • Nickname: Muggsy
  • Date of birth: January 9, 1965
  • Position: Point guard

Who is the shortest and most successful NBA player? Muggsy Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history, playing between 1987 and 2001 with the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors.

The retired point guard played basketball in high school and university. Throughout his professional career, he attained 6,858 points and 6,726 assists. After retirement, he went into coaching and has appeared in various TV productions.

These NBA players under 6 feet have displayed exceptional shooting and dribbling skills on the court. They have proven that more qualities make a successful basketball player besides height. Fans will be looking out for upcoming players who will set new records as the shortest players in the league.

READ ALSO: What is the role of a point guard in basketball?

Sports Brief published an article describing the role of a point guard in a basketball team. The five positions have distinct roles, all working together to create a formidable offensive or defensive crew. What does a point guard do?

The point guard is the point person for the whole crew and is the team's lead on the court. They must have excellent speed, dribbling, and passing skills. Check out the above article and discover what this crucial role does in a team.

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.