If you’ve ever stood next to a professional basketball player at a suburban airport or a high-end steakhouse, you already know the feeling. You feel small. Like, remarkably small. It’s not just that they’re tall; it’s that the scale of a human being seems to have been recalibrated in a lab somewhere.
But if you look at the box score or the back of a trading card, you’re often getting a filtered version of the truth. For decades, "NBA height" was a bit like a Tinder profile—everyone added an inch or two, and they definitely did it while wearing their thickest Nikes.
Then 2019 happened.
The league finally got tired of the "height inflation" jokes and made every team submit official measurements taken by team doctors without shoes. Suddenly, 6'10" behemoths were "shrinking" to 6'9" overnight. Even with that correction, the numbers tell a fascinating story about where the game is going in 2026.
The Magic Number: Average Height of a NBA Player Today
So, what is the average height of a NBA player right now? If you take every active roster spot, from the two-way contract rookies to the grizzled vets, the number settles in right around 6'6.3" to 6'7".
It’s a number that has been weirdly stable since the 1980s. You’d think humans are getting taller, or the "big men" are getting bigger, but the data doesn't really show that. Instead, the league is becoming more homogenous. Basically, everyone is becoming the same size.
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The traditional 7-foot "plodder" who just stands near the rim is a dying breed. At the same time, the tiny 5'10" speedster who can't defend the perimeter is also disappearing. What we're left with is a league full of 6'7" wings who can do a bit of everything.
A Quick Breakdown by Position (2025-26 Season)
- Point Guards: They’re the tallest they’ve ever been. We’re talking about an average of roughly 6'2.5" to 6'3". When you have guys like Luka Dončić (6'7") or Cade Cunningham (6'6") running the point, it pulls the average way up.
- Shooting Guards: These guys usually hover around 6'5". They’re the "swingmen" of the league.
- Small Forwards: This is the sweet spot. The average is about 6'6" to 6'7". Think Jayson Tatum or Kawhi Leonard.
- Power Forwards: Interestingly, this position has "shrunk" over time as teams prioritize shooting over bulk. Most sit at 6'8".
- Centers: The literal giants. The average is around 6'10" to 6'11", though the "barefoot" rule makes many former 7-footers look a bit more human on paper.
Why the "Shrinking" Center is a Myth
You might hear old-school fans complain that the league is "small ball" now and that the big man is dead. That's kinda true, but also kinda not.
The centers aren't necessarily shorter; they're just thinner and faster. In the 90s, a 7-footer might weigh 270 pounds and live in the paint. Today, a guy like Chet Holmgren (7'1") is built like a lightning bolt. He’s tall as a skyscraper but moves like a guard.
Then you have the outliers.
Victor Wembanyama is the ultimate "math-breaker." Standing at 7'5" (a measurement that actually went up as he finished growing), he’s the tallest active player in the league. When he’s on the floor, the average height of a NBA player doesn't really matter because he makes everyone else look like they’re playing on a different-sized court.
The Truth About the 2019 Measurement Crackdown
Before 2019, height was basically an "estimate."
Players wanted to be taller to seem more intimidating to scouts. Some, like Kevin Durant, famously wanted to be listed as shorter (he stayed at 6'9" for years despite clearly being 6'11" or 7'0") because he didn't want to be pigeonholed as a center. He wanted to be a small forward.
When the NBA mandated barefoot measurements, the "Great Shrinking" occurred:
- Dwight Howard went from 6'11" to 6'9".
- Kemba Walker dropped from 6'1" to 6'0".
- Derrick Rose was revealed to be closer to 6'1" than his long-listed 6'3".
It was a reality check for fans, but it also made the stats more impressive. If a guy is 6'1" and dominating a league of 6'7" giants, that actually says more about his skill than if he were 6'3".
Does Height Actually Guarantee Success?
Honestly, no.
If it did, every 7'5" person on Earth would have a Max Contract. But the "skill gap" is real. The average height of a NBA player is just a baseline requirement for entry. Once you’re in the door, your wingspan, "standing reach," and lateral quickness matter way more than the number on your driver's license.
Take a look at the shortest players to ever do it. Muggsy Bogues was 5'3". He played 14 seasons. He had to be ten times faster and twice as smart as the guy guarding him. In the current 2025-26 season, we still see "short" kings (by NBA standards) like Yuki Kawamura (5'8") proving that if you can pass and shoot at an elite level, teams will find a spot for you.
Real Talk: The "Wingspan" Secret
Most scouts care more about wingspan than height. A player who is 6'6" with a 7'2" wingspan (like Draymond Green) effectively plays like he's 6'10". This "functional height" is why some players can "play bigger" than they actually are. It’s about where your hands reach when you're jumping for a rebound, not where the top of your head hits the measuring tape.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Players
- Don't obsess over the listed height: If you're tracking player stats, remember that "listed height" is now barefoot. Add 1.5 inches to get an idea of how they look on the court in their sneakers.
- Focus on "Plus-Minus" size: If you’re a young player, don't worry if you aren't hitting the 6'7" average yet. The modern NBA values "positionless" skills. Can you shoot? Can you guard three different positions? That's more valuable than an extra inch of height.
- Watch the outliers: To understand the evolution of the game, watch how Victor Wembanyama (7'5") and Zach Edey (7'4") are used compared to "smaller" centers like Bam Adebayo (6'9"). The league is currently in a tug-of-war between extreme size and extreme mobility.
- Check official NBA.com data: For the most accurate, non-inflated numbers, always refer to the official NBA Roster Survey released at the start of each season. It’s the only place where the "no-shoes" rule is strictly enforced across the board.