BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Top 10 Shortest Players in NBA History

Top 10 Shortest NBA Players Ever

And so, we go to the following stage in our discussions about basketball. This is a giants’ fun. Indeed, that is what many of us would definitely state, but is it valid? How about we unpack this a bit? Practically, the ordinary player’s height in this sport is around 6'7'' (2.00 m). However, there have been sure privileges to the standards.

And here we'll talk about those who are not within the system of conventional parameters. There is an impressive number of very successful shots who were somewhat "not really big" for basketball. All things considered, they have accomplished the results their huge colleagues have not been able to get all these years. Such daredevils are skilled to make those who are tall, clumsy and heavy. Thus, we present you top 10 shortest basketball players in NBA history.

10. Charles "Charlie" Criss – 5'8"

Charlie Criss was 5'8" (1.73 m) and he weighed 165 lbs (75 kg)

The first one goes Charles Washington Criss Jn. who also wasn’t fit to be in basketball but it did not influence his commitments. He was born on November 6, 1948, in Valhalla, New York. It is known that Charlie attended New Mexico State University and was engaged by the CBA first and only later by the NBA. As a matter of fact, he made an agreement with the Atlanta Hawks in 1977.

So, a 5'8" (1.73 m) tall athlete demonstrated countless skills and talents to show that he was worth something. In total, his cooperation with the league lasted eight seasons. It was not just the Hawks team, in fact, Criss joined San Diego Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks as well. At that time Charlie weighed 165 lbs (75 kg) and was the shortest efficient player in the NBA. After retirement from big-time sports, Criss dedicated himself to playing golf and basketball coaching.

9. Keith "Mister" Jennings – 5'7"

Keith Mister Jennings was 5'7" (1.70 m) tall

Keith "Mister" Jennings is an extraordinary American basketball trainer and the genuine star of the NBA. Mister’s hometown is Culpeper, Virginia where he was born on November 2, 1968. At first, he played sports at East Tennessee State University where he received an education. The salient undrafted sportsman began working with the NBA as a free agent.

Keith was part of the Golden State Warriors and matched with them in 164 plays. Once, the Toronto Raptors drafted him though Jennings did not get in the team. The star also shared his experience in Europe competing in France. After getting too old he changed the direction and became a coach.

8. Monte Towe – 5'7"

Monte Towe was 5'7" (1.70 m) tall and he weighed 150 lbs (68 kg)

This smallest man in the team always had the greatest influence during the game. Monte Corwin Towe or "the little giant" excelled not only in "a basket and a ball" sport. He was born on September 27, 1953, in Marion, Indiana. The professional player was also interested in baseball. For doing his best Monte was given the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award in 1975 as the year's best college player under 6 feet (1.8 m) tall.

Towe’s small stature, namely 5'7" (1.70 m) and 150 lbs (68 kg) had no influence on his two drafts by the NBA (the Atlanta Hawks) and ABA (the Denver Nuggets). Following his playing career, Monte remained in his favorite sport as a coach. And yet he had the privilege to be assigned to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

7. Wataru "Wat" Misaka – 5'7"

Wat Misaka was was only 1.70 m tall and weighed 68 kg

The history of NBA had never known the case of drafting a non-white athlete before the time of Wataru “Wat” Misaka. He was born on December 21, 1923, in Ogden, Utah. As a teen, Wat helped his school to win the state championship titles one by one. Misaka had an awful childhood as he was constantly teased at school and in the streets because of his descent. After high school, Wataru went to Weber State College and then entered the University of Utah where he got on the basketball team. 

Frankly, Wat was only 5'7" (1.70 m) tall and weighed 150 lbs (68 kg) but he managed to make one of the most successful and highly effective players ever. Later, he was forced to put his education on pause because of the war. After all, Misaka came back to the university and sport. As a consequence, he was picked up by the New York Knicks in the 1947 BAA draft. Due to numerous professional achievements, Wataru was honored to be the part of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. After finishing the career, he worked as an engineer in a Salt Lake City company.

6. Louis "Red" Klotz – 5'7"

Louis Red Klotz He was 5'7" (1.70 m) and weighed 150 lbs (68 kg).

Louis German "Red" Klotz was an eminent American basketball player, coach, and sports manager. Red is known primarily as the organizer of the Washington Generals and the New York Nationals both of which were regular sparring partners of the influential Harlem Globetrotters. In addition, Washington Generals became popular because of steady losing to its associate.

"Red" – this catchy nickname Louis got just for being red-haired. Klotz was born on October 21, 1920, in Philadelphia to the family of Jewish immigrants from Russia. He started playing basketball at the age of twelve.Red is considered to be the shortest champion in the NBA history. He was very active, even as old as 60 this point guard continued to partake in games. Over Klotz's expert vocation, he instructed or was in more than 14,000 plays amid eight decades and in more than 100 countries.

What’s more, Klotz was settled into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He had a blessed marriage and ascribed quite a bit of his prosperity to his better half, Gloria. Louis "Red" Klotz passed away at the age of 93 in Margate City, New Jersey.

5. Greg Grant – 5'7"

By the way, Greg is 5'7" (1.70 m) tall and he weighs 140 lbs (64 kg).

Greg Grant, a resigned basketball personage from a poor family was born on August 29, 1966, in Trenton, New Jersey. He combined attending school with working in a shop. Once, a very kind man saw him getting all artsy on the sports ground. That day had changed Greg’s whole life. Later on, he decided to study at Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey) in 1986. That year was also marked by his NBA draft with the Phoenix Suns. He interacted with six various clubs over the course of nine years.

As a result, the basketball legend wrote the collection of memoirs, 94 Feet and Rising: The Journey of Greg Grant to the NBA and Beyond that was discharged on July 17, 2009. There he told everything about his life including far-fetched journeys, play areas at school, and his hard way to the NBA. By the way, Greg is 5'7" (1.70 m) tall and he weighs 140 lbs (64 kg). Grant now owns a games foundation in Trenton.

4. Anthony "Spud" Webb – 5'7"

Anthony Spud Webb weighed 133 lbs (60 kg) and was only 5'7" (1.70 m) tall

This awesome adventure broke ground on July 13, 1963, when Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb was born in Dallas, Texas. He had quite a big family (the parents and their five wonderful kids) and they all lived in a modest, three-bedroom house. Webb’s desire of playing basketball in the NBA cropped up at an early age. While his classmates were taller than him, Anthony could always jump higher than most of them.

One day, Spud knuckled down to get a position in the junior high school teams, but he was disallowed. Sadly, but that was not the last time he passed up the shot of success because of his height. Indeed, he weighed 133 lbs (60 kg) and was only 5'7" (1.70 m) tall. The thrown athlete was so depressed that even wanted to put an end to his basketball career, but instead Anthony trained more and more. He went the Midland College, where he guided a junior college team and won the national title in 1982.

Again, despite the incredible achievements of Spud, he was not chosen by the NBA because of his small stature.That decline crushed the idea of his life, but the disappointed Webb took part in the games of the United American Basketball League (USBL). Well, that didn’t take long for in 1985, Detroit Pistons selected Spud in the fourth round of the NBA draft. Hence, the ambitious sportsman carried out his fundamental intentions.

Anthony had been an impressive point guard in several teams before the retirement in 1997. His list included Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic. Presently he is engaged in various basketball issues and playing golf.

Mel Hirsch was one of the shortest players with the height of 5'6" (1.68 m) and 165 lbs (75 kg) weight

Unfortunately, there is little information about this member of our top 10 but we’ll try to tell as much as possible. Nevertheless, Melvin Hirsch was an American professional basketball player. The future athlete was born on July 31, 1921. Frankly, this man had competed as a guard for the Boston Celtics in the BAA which later developed into the NBA.

Hirsch was one of the shortest players with the height of 5'6" (1.68 m) and 165 lbs (75 kg) weight.It is also known that he graduated from Brooklyn College in 1943 and even inured in the US Army as a pilot on C-47 aircraft. Mel’s life story was quite short. He died young enough at the age of 47 in December 1968 from leukemia.

2. Earl Boykins – 5'5"

Earl Boykings weighs 135 lbs (61 kg) and is 5'5" (1.65 m) tall

This guy deserves to be here not just because of the height. He’s an iron person to be honest. Boykins had to crash his way to the competitive sports in nonstop struggle not only with contenders but also with biases. Those were hard times for him though he achieved a lot in life. Well, let us first learn some matters from his bio. Earl Boykins was born on June 2, 1976 in Cleveland, Ohio. As a student he would play basketball at Cleveland Central Catholic High School and then at Eastern Michigan University.

In point of fact, Boykins was never drafted by the NBA however he associated with several of their clubs. In general, the star appeared in twelve teams in the US and even Italy (Denver Nuggets, Virtus Bologna, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets) during fourteen full professional seasons. He stopped at nothing to compete with the best defenders in the world. He weighs 135 lbs (61 kg) and is 5'5" (1.65 m) tall.

According to rumors, when at gym Earl is able to push a heft of about 140 kg in a prone position. In recent years, Boykins has been one of the best and most successful players in the NBA. Frankly, Earl was simply a whole lot of endless energy that came off the bench and changed the rhythm of the game. The restless point guard turned the opponent's plans into one single mess. At present, Earl Boykins is employed as the head coach at the Douglas County High School basketball team.

1. Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues – 5'3"

Tyrone Muggsy Bogues is 5'3" (1.60 m) tall and weighs around 135 lbs (61 kg)

We finally get to the golden place of the top. And here is Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues – the shortest player ever in history of the NBA. He is 5'3" (1.60 m) tall and weighs around 135 lbs (61 kg). What a record holder! All right, first things first. The anticipated encourager Tyrone Curtis Bogues was born on January 9, 1965 in Baltimore, Maryland. Since early childhood he lived with his mother for his father was in prison at that time.

The fate of this athlete could not leave anyone indifferent, so he inspired and made believe in the inner strength lots of people.  Bogues did it twice – during the games and inside the public consciousness. Tyrone proved that the point guard with his height can bring real gains in the attacks and is not "a hole" in the shield. His inconceivable speed and agility helped him to get the nickname "Muggsy" at the age of seven. Bogues did professional basketball in both Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and Wake Forest University.

His NBA career started after the draft by Washington Bullets in 1987. Hereinafter, Muggsy has fought total 14 seasons on the side of the following teams: Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors. Plus, he was in the US national team in the 1986 FIBA World Championship where they bore away the gold medal. The completion of his career launched his coaching endeavors and he’s good at this too.

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