1) Shawn Bradley

His 7’6″ frame was once the ultimate weapon on the court for Bradley, who spent 12 relatively successful seasons in the NBA. But it’s now become the ultimate burden, following a bike crash in 2021 that left him paralyzed from the chest down. The world is generally not tailored to the convenience of a man of Bradley’s size and that proves even more true in his condition, as quadriplegia for a person of his height is considered unprecedented. Despite his thin build (listed at just 235 pounds) and lack of top NCAA experience (he played just one season at BYU), Bradley was the second overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft of the 76ers. The team signed Moses Malone to mentor Bradley and Mr. Universe Lee Haney to bulk him up but the results were mixed, at best, and two years later he was traded to the Nets. His overall game never really developed but Bradley was undoubtedly one of the greatest shot blockers of his era, averaging three-plus per game in his first six seasons, finishing in the top five in the NBA each season, including the league lead in ’96-’97. He is also the all-time NBA leader in block percentage, at an incredible 7.83%. Born in a U.S. military installation in Germany, Bradley has dual citizenship and represented the German national team several times, often with his Mavericks teammate, Dirk Nowitzki.

2) Manute Bol

Only one player in the history of the NBA recorded more blocked shots in their career than points and that is Bol. His 2,086 career blocks is 16th in the NBA record books and his 1,599 career points places him barely in the top 2,000. But shot blocking prowess (his 3.3 per game for his career is second in NBA history behind only Mark Eaton) is only part of the story for Bol, one of the most mysterious and enjoyable players the basketball world has ever seen. For starters, there was, of course, his body. Listed at 7’7″ (he was officially measured by the Guinness Book of World Records at 7’6 3/4″), Bol was the second tallest player in NBA history after Gheorge Muresan and his 8’6″ wingspan is the (unofficial) all-time record. But he also weighed in at just 200 points, which limited his ability to hang in NBA paints and to stay healthy. There was also his incredible journey to the NBA, getting discovered as a teenager in his native Sudan, coming to the U.S. unable to speak or read any English (and with a questionable birth date on his passport), playing in junior colleges and Division II, and then the USBL before the Bullets drafted him in 1985. There was also his humanitarian work as a tireless advocate for refugees from his war torn home nation. Bol sadly passed away young in 2010 but his legacy lives on through his son, Bol Bol, who stands 7’2″ and joined the NBA as a first round pick in 2019.

3) Boban Marjanovic

Following in the grand tradition of gregarious big men before him, Marjanovic has fully embraced his status as the latest beloved NBA colossus. From his charming friendship with former teammate Tobias Harris to his John Wick cameo to his entertaining postgame interviews to websites dedicated solely to pictures that showcase his comically large hands, Marjavanovic has captured the hearts of NBA fans around the world. This all comes despite the 7’3″ Serbian being, at best, a role player, spending most of his career coming off the bench, with career highs of 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in ’18-’19. He also played for five different teams in his first five seasons, going from the Spurs to the Pistons to the Clippers to the 76ers before finally settling with the Mavericks. Born to parents of average height (his father is only 5’9″), Marjanovic’s height is thought to be the result of a pituitary gland condition. By the age of 14, he was already nearly seven feet tall and starting his pro career in the top tier Serbian league. Despite his size and reach, Marjanovic has never been a great shot blocker in the NBA, averaging 0.5 blocks per game or fewer in every season he’s played. 

4) Ralph Sampson

Like a big dog jumping into your lap as if it’s a puppy, Sampson played like a dynamic guard guard trapped in a 7’4″ center’s body. It was likely unsustainable at the NBA level but he made a thrilling attempt and it’s unfortunate how much his career was cut short by injuries. Thanks to his size, skills, and NCAA accolades (along with Bill Walton, he’s one of just two players ever to win multiple Naismith Awards), Sampson was a no brainer as the #1 overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft and was expected to ascend to the throne of all-time center greats. Things started off strongly, with Sampson earning Rookie of the Year, playing in the All-Star Game in his first four seasons, and teaming up with Hakeem Olajuwon as the “Twin Towers,” leading the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals. But Sampson suffered a hard fall late in that ’85-’86 season and never recovered, physically or mentally. His career was already on a downfall by age 27, with late, unsuccessful, injury-riddled stops in Golden State, Sacramento, and Washington before retiring in 1992. His son, Ralph Sampson III, stands 6’11” and spent some time in the G-League and Summer League.

5) Priest Lauderdale

The ’90s were really the last era of the NBA where size could matter more than talent. Such was the case for Lauderdale, who clocked in at 7’4″ and 300+ pounds but just didn’t possess the skill set for a solid NBA career. At the college level Lauderdale was overlooked, going un-recruited by any major school after his prep career in Chicago, and making brief stops for a community college team in Illinois and an NAIA school in Ohio before turning pro. Despite struggling with his weight (which reportedly ballooned from 280 pounds to almost 350), Lauderdale was dominant in his first pro stint, a season spent towering over European players in the Greek League, averaging 16.1 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. The Hawks drafted him 28th overall in 1996 to back up Dikembe Mutombo but he barely left the bench in his rookie season or in his short time with the Nuggets after Atlanta traded him there in 1997. After just 74 career NBA games across two seasons, Lauderdale returned to international play, spending years in leagues across Europe, Asia, and Middle East. That sojourn does not include the Philippines, where the seven footer attempted to sign with a team in the PBA but was barred due to the league’s height restrictions on imports. 

6) Sim Bhullar

Though they were eliminated early, New Mexico State captivated basketball fans around the country in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, almost pulling off a first round upset on the back of their 7’5″, 360 pound center, Bhullar. Though he was shockingly not the tallest player in the NCAA that season (that would be UC Irvine’s Mamadou N’Diaye, who stood 7’6″), Bhullar did become the tallest player in the NBA when he made his debut for the Kings late in the ’14-’15 season. He also made history as the first player of mainly Indian descent to play in an NBA game (he was born in Canada to immigrant parents) but his mass was ultimately only so much, as Bhullar lacked the athleticism to compete at the NBA level. His career lasted just three games with Sacramento, nabbing two total points, one rebound, and one block. Bhullar kept his career alive in Asia and is still active, playing for a team in Taiwan. He has also represented his native Canada at the national level multiple times, including their silver medal performance at the 2015 Pan American Games. His younger brother, Tanveer, stands 7’2″ and was his teammate briefly at New Mexico State.

7) Yao Ming

Yao’s basketball career is full of superlatives but one that can get overlooked is that at 7’6″, he’s the tallest player in NBA history to make an All-Star team and the tallest ever inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. Born to Shanghai to a 6’7″ mother and a 6’3″ father who both played basketball for the Chinese national team, Yao exceeded six feet at age 11 and was a professional basketball player with the Shanghai Sharks at age 13. He dominated the Chinese Basketball Association, setting the stage for an NBA career that started as the top overall pick in 2002. Though Yao was hampered throughout by foot injuries, he was one of the NBA’s premier players in his first seven seasons, averaging 19.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and getting named 2nd-Team or 3rd-Team All-NBA five times. Along the way, he became one of the ultimate global ambassadors for both the sport itself and for his home country. Forming the “Great Wall” with fellow seven footers Wang Zhizhi and Mengke Bateer, Yao represented his national team at three Olympics, and was honored as China’s flag bearer in 2004 and 2008.

“People may have initially snickered at his size (7’5″), his goofy mustache, and his lack of athleticism and mobility but [Chuck] Nevitt lived an NBA life that most could only dream of, and did it with a self-deprecating humor that won over new fans at every stop along the way.”

8) Slavko Vranes

One of just 26 post-merger players whose NBA career lasted only one game, Vranes suited up for the Trail Blazers January 8, 2004 against the Timberwolves, logging zero points, rebounds, assists, blocks, or steals, but one turnover and one missed field goal in four minutes. That gives him a career PER of -20.4, which is the 15th worst mark in NBA history, and also puts him on a short list of players with a career negative win shares per 48 minutes. But one thing you can’t take away from Vranes is that he was one of the five tallest players in NBA history, measuring in at 7’6″. Only Gheorge Muresan, Manute Bol, and Tacko Fall have been measured as taller than Vranes, who was actually listed as 7’5″ for Portland but reportedly grew another inch while playing later on in Europe. Vranes can also lay claim as only the second Montenegrin born player in NBA history, following in the footsteps of Predrag Drobnjak. Drafted in the Knicks in the second round in 2003, Vranes was waived during the season, made his NBA solo appearance on a 10-day contract, and then spent the rest of his career playing for teams in Serbia, Iran, and his native Montenegro. 

9) Mark Eaton

Imagine taking your car in for maintenance and out strides a 7’5″ mechanic. This fortuitously happened in 1977 to Tom Lubin, an assistant basketball coach at Cypress, a community college in Southern California. He encouraged the big man to enroll at the school and join the basketball team but Eaton was reluctant. Gangly and uncoordinated, he had struggled to succeed on his high school despite his height and was ready to give up on the sport altogether when Lubin finally coaxed him back. This eventually led to a stint at UCLA and then a lengthy pro career with the Jazz, where Eaton established himself as one of the greatest shot blockers in league history. In ’84-’85, he put together arguably the most dominant defensive season ever, winning Defensive Player of the Year while setting the still standing records for blocks in a season (456) and blocks per game (5.6). Back problems ended his career relatively early in 1993 but prior to that Eaton was surprisingly consistent and durable for a man his size, missing just nine total games in his first 10 seasons. He recently became a mentor to fellow defensive minded Utah big man Rudy Gobert and made a memorable cameo in the 2013 Slam Dunk Contest, getting leaped over by Jeremy Evans. Eaton passed away tragically in 2021 at age 64, following a bike accident.

10) Pavel Podkolzin

Scouts and front office personnel across the league weren’t sure what to make of Podkolzin heading into the 2004 NBA Draft. The 7’5″, 303 pound Russian was hailed by some as the next Shaquille O’Neal and derided by others as a potential mega-bust. Originally projected as a lottery pick, he fell to the 21st spot due to lingering effects of acromegaly, the disorder that granted him his exceptional height but was also causing him severe pain. Podkolzin soon after underwent surgery for that disorder and joined the Mavericks late in his rookie season but looked completely out of his element at not just the NBA level but also the G-League and Summer League. His time in the NBA ultimately lasted just six games over two seasons, averaging 0.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game, arguably the worst ever career of a first round draft pick. He returned to his native country, crafting a solid, lengthy career with several franchises in the Russian Super League and United League. 

11) Tacko Fall

“Tacko Time” has thus far been a relatively disappointing experience at the NBA level but the Senegalese big man is still a sensation both in the U.S. and his native country due to his incredible size, his improbable journey to the NBA, and his dynamic personality. Listed as 7’6″, Fall set the all-time height record at the NBA Draft Combine, as well as the highest marks ever recorded for wing span (8’2″) and standing reach (10’2″). Born in Dakar, he was discovered on the streets as a teenager, towering over his peers in pick-up games, and recruited to a basketball camp by Ibrahima N’Diaye (whose brother, Mamadou, became the first Senegalese player ever drafted in the NBA in 2000). From there, Fall moved on to an academy in Houston, where he received training from Hakeem Olajuwon, to Orlando, where he played for Central Florida and memorably sparked a near upset of Duke in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Though Fall’s time with the Celtics and Cavaliers has been nondescript in terms of stats, he’s immediately a fan favorite wherever he goes. In the 2020 NBA bubble in his adopted hometown of Orlando, Fall was a popular player for fans to track his exploits on the Disney World campus. 

12) Rik Smits

Being a man of Smits’ size (7’4″) is hard enough on your feet and knees but it can be exacerbated even further by a lack of proper equipment to match your frame. At size 21, Smits had some of the biggest feet on record in NBA history and growing up in his native Netherlands, it was difficult to find shoes that fit. This caused incredible stress on his feet that was relieved in his NCAA and NBA career thanks to advanced footwear but ultimately caused him to retire at age 33 due to the continual pain. When he was able to play, Smits was one of the best centers of his era and became a legend in the Pacers franchise. He averaged 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds over 12 seasons, all with Indiana, was named 1st-Team All-Rookie, and in 1998 tied Ralph Sampson as the tallest ever All-Star (a record later broken by Yao Ming). In addition to his status on this list of the all-time tallest players, Smits is also distinct as one of just six Dutch players in NBA history, and the only Netherlands-born All-Star.

13) Chuck Nevitt

People may have initially snickered at his size (7’5″), his goofy mustache, and his lack of athleticism and mobility but Nevitt lived an NBA life that most could only dream of, and did it with a self-deprecating humor that won over new fans at every stop along the way. Drafted by the Rockets in the third round in 1982, Nevitt officially became the tallest player in NBA history when he first took the floor in April of 1983 (a record that stood for about two-and-a-half years before Manute Bol broke it). He never played much in his nine NBA seasons, averaging just 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game for his career, but how many guys can lay claim to being the backup center to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Los Angeles, Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston, and David Robinson in San Antonio. In 1985 with the Lakers, Nevitt added another superlative to his resume: tallest player to win an NBA title, a mark which still stands. During that 1985 postseason, he also became notable as the first player to whom the nickname “Human Victory Cigar” was applied, due to his propensity for only appearing late in Lakers blowout wins. Though his career ended in 1993, Nevitt is also still the tallest American-born player in NBA history.

14) Gheorghe Muresan

The tallest person ever measured by the Guinness Book of World Records was Robert Wadlow, an American that clocked in at 8’11” in 1940. The tallest basketball player in recorded history was Suleiman Ali Nasnush, who was measured at just shy of eight feet when he suited up for the Libyan national team in 1962. But the tallest ever NBA player was Muresan, who first took the floor for the Bullets in 1993 at a listed height of 7’7″. Born in the Transylvanian region of Romania with a pituitary gland disorder, Muresan was quickly towering over his average sized parents and was got his start thanks to the family dentist, who also happened to moonlight as a basketball referee. After winning pro titles in Romania and France, Muresan was drafted by the Bullets in 1993. Wearing jersey #77 in reference to his height, he towered over his opponents but struggled at first to adjust to NBA athleticism. He settled in soon enough and peaked in ’95-’96, averaging 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game for the Bullets, while leading the league in field goal percentage. But Muresan’s peak was brief before injuries took hold, including a foot ailment reportedly suffered while filming “My Giant.” After his playing career ended, Muresan hung around the game and the D.C. area, opening a youth basketball academy (appropriately called “Giant”) in Virginia, taking various roles in the Wizards’ front office, and watching his son, the 6’9″ George, playing as a walk-on for Georgetown.

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