According to NBA records, Victor Wembanyama is actually 7 feet and 3.5 inches tall barefoot, but could potentially reach a couple more inches with shoes on. Let’s say he clears the 7’4” category, where does Wembanyama rank among the tallest NBA players in history? Let’s find out.
Victor Wembanyama standing next to Kevin Durant is WILD 😮
(h/t @WorldWideWob) pic.twitter.com/hNISoaYgx7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 3, 2023
T-1. Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol (7 feet and 7 inches)
Tied for first place as the tallest player in NBA history are no other than the late great Manute Bol and the Romanian big man, Gheorghe Muresan.
Manute Bol had a pretty decent career. The Sudanese-American skyscraping of a man played 10 seasons during the tough era of the NBA. Although Bol never averaged more than 5 points a game, he will be remembered as an emphatic shot blocker, thanks to his extremely tall frame and long wingspan. Shockingly, Bol could also shoot the three-ball and he showcased that skill by hitting six three-point shots in just a half against the Phoenix Suns three decades ago.
On the other hand, Muresan was no bust. Despite only playing five seasons, he was a respectable center for the Washington Bullets (now the Wizards). In his third year, Muresan would win the Most Improved Player of the Year after averaging a nice 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, all while going toe-to-toe against star centers like Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and more. But, both Muresan and Bol’s career would be cut short due to injuries.
T-2. Shawn Bradley and Yao Ming (7 feet and 6 inches)
Tied again for the second spot are Dallas Mavericks legend Shawn Bradley and the Chinese sensation Yao Ming.
Yao Ming came into the league as a scrawny young Asian kid who carried his nation on his back. Being drafted first overall really has some pressure, especially if you’re a foreigner in the NBA, at least back in his day. Yao immediately showed what he was able to do and even had Shaq amazed. Yao was inducted in the Hall-of-Fame shortly after retiring.
Meanwhile, former Brigham Young University standout Shawn Bradley joined the league in 1993 after being picked second overall. Coincidentally, it’s the same class that had 7-foot-7 Gheorghe Muresan. Bradly stayed in the NBA for 12 seasons and would be remembered well for his time in Dallas. He had a great three-season run, from 1995-1996 to 1997-1998 where the German-American center would average more than double digits in scoring. Unfortunately, he would be paralyzed after being involved in a freak accident in 2022.
3. Chuck Nevitt (7 feet and 5 inches)
Among all of the names here, only one guy has ever had the chance to win an NBA championship. He won the trophy while playing for the Lakers in 1985 alongside Magic Johnson and co. With that, he became the tallest player ever to become a champion up until this day. Even the Hall-of-Famer Yao Ming never got past the second round of the playoffs and his chances of bringing a title for Houston went slimmer after multiple injuries. But, that’s not the case for Chuck Nevitt.
Nevitt was drafted very late in the 1982 draft but would become a serviceable big man for nine seasons for various teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, and the Chicago Bulls. Let’s just say that Chuck Nevitt was always on the right team at the right time.
T-4. Victor Wembanyama joins Rik Smits, Mark Eaton, Ralph Sampson, and Boban Marjanovic (7 feet and 4 inches)
Legendary names are actually all tied for the fourth place on this list. It features The Dunking Dutchman, Rik Smits, two-time Defensive Player of the Year Mark Eaton, the other half of the Houston Rockets Twin Towers, Ralph Sampson, and the fan-favorite Serbian baller Boban Marjanovic.
The late Mark Eaton was a defensive nightmare in the ’80s and ’90s. Getting two DPOYs and five All-Defensive Team selections really sums it all up. Despite being 7 feet and 4 inches, his body was durable and handled the rag-and-tag play of the NBA during his heyday.
Rik Smits, considered to be an Indiana Pacers icon, is also looked up by many up-and-coming centers. The talented Dunking Dutchman is well within the top 20-ish NBA centers of all time. It was really fun watching Reggie Miller and Rik Smits together on the floor. Unfortunately, they had to run against Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls many times, putting their championship hopes away.
Towering among them is one of the greatest “What Ifs” in NBA history, the 1983 first overall pick, Ralph Sampson. In his rookie season, Sampson was already putting up All-Star numbers of 21 PPG and 11.1 RPG, all while playing all 82 games for the Rockets. The following season, Samson would be paired with another talented young man, the 1984 1st overall pick, Hakeem Olajuwon. The two giants would be nicknamed The Twin Towers and wreak havoc in the NBA.
They would eventually reach the Finals after just two years of being together but went against a star-studded Boston Celtics in 1986. Unfortunately, injuries happened, which derailed Sampson’s path to greatness, He would only last 10 seasons in the league but was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame regardless. Had he not been injured, who knows what kind of damage the Sampson-Olajuwon duo would have done?
Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama, who’s listed as a 7’4” center, is only 19 years old. Rumor has it that the French superstar rookie is still growing. Could he become the tallest NBA player we’ve seen through the years?
