Despite the popularity of small ball lineups in recent years, tall and skilled players have reemerged as prized possessions in the NBA. Between 2021 and 2024, big men won four consecutive MVP awards, with Nikola Jokic claiming three and Joel Embiid the other.

With a player possessing the gift of height, franchises around the league can protect the rim, grab rebounds, and add another layer to their offenses.

Throughout the NBA's lengthy history, there have been several tall players who have towered even their opposing matchups at the five spot. GIVEMESPORT explores the tallest men to ever suit up in the NBA.

5 Victor Wembanyama, Mark Eaton, Boban Marjanovic

Height: 7'4"

Before the arrival of Victor Wembanyama, Boban Marjanovic was one of the tallest players in the NBA. He was never a prominent fixture on any of the teams he played for, averaging 8.9 minutes a game in his career, but his height provided a boost to squads that needed some height in various lineups, across spells with six franchises between 2015 and 2024.

In the 1980s, Eaton was a notable defender. In 11 years with the Utah Jazz, the one-time All-Star big man averaged 6.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game — which is the best in league history. He ranks fourth in NBA history when it comes to blocked shots with a total tally of 3,064.

Wembanyama, meanwhile, has already established himself as one of the most skilled players of any size the league has seen. Through his first three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, he matched Eaton’s 3.5 blocks per game, led the league in blocks three years running, and in 2025/26 became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, while also earning All-NBA First Team honours and leading the Spurs to the NBA Finals.

While he’s on the more slender side compared to the other two, he’s certainly more mobile, and he ranks among the best players in the NBA right now.

4 Chuck Nevitt, Pavel Podkolzin, Sim Bhullar

Height: 7'5"

Standing an inch taller than the previous three at seven-foot-five are Chuck Nevitt, Pavel Podkolzin, and Sim Bhullar.

Nevitt, the first of the trio, entered the NBA in 1982 as part of the Houston Rockets and ended up playing for various teams, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, and San Antonio Spurs. He remains the tallest player to win an NBA championship, which came during his stint with the Lakers in 1985.

Podkolzin, meanwhile, only spent two years in the NBA, playing a total of six games for the Dallas Mavericks.

Similarly, Bhullar also experienced the same fate as he only participated in three contests during the 2014-15 season. Nevertheless, his claim to fame is being the first player of Indian descent to make it to the NBA after signing with the Sacramento Kings as an undrafted free agent in 2014.

3 Yao Ming, Shawn Bradley, Slavko Vranes, Tacko Fall

Height: 7'6"

Tied for third-tallest NBA players are Yao Ming, Shawn Bradley, Slavko Vranes, and Tacko Fall, who all stood at seven-foot-six. While the first two went on to have impactful careers, the latter two did not.

Vranes played just three minutes in a single NBA game, while Fall could not make the most of his height in three seasons with the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, though he earned a return to the league with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2026.

Bradley played 12 seasons for the Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, and New Jersey Nets and led the league in blocked shots during the 1996-97 season.

Of the four, Yao is undoubtedly the most talented and accomplished player. The Chinese star boasts eight All-Star Game appearances, five All-NBA Team selections, and an induction into the Hall of Fame for his work as the Houston Rockets’ most prominent center from 2002 to 2011.

Yao is considered a legend, remains the tallest Hall of Famer in the sport’s history, and continues to be the most popular player of Asian descent.

2 Manute Bol

Height: 7'7"

Standing at seven-foot-seven, Manute Bol is the joint-tallest individual to ever play in the NBA. Entering the league during the 1985-86 season, the big man from what is now South Sudan would go on to play for the Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, 76ers, and Miami Heat. Along the way, Bol averaged 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game.

Throughout his time in the league, Bol established a reputation for himself as a reliable rim protector; the center blocked more shots than he scored points in the entire time he played in the NBA, finishing with 2,086 blocks to 1,599 points.

In his rookie season, he led the league with an average of 5.0 blocks per game and did it again during the 1988-89 season when he averaged 4.3 blocks per game. During that rookie year with the Bullets, he shared the floor with 5'3" Muggsy Bogues – the tallest and shortest players in league history on the same team. Thanks to his ridiculous height and great defensive prowess, Bol went down as a force to be reckoned with for anyone attempting to attack the rim.

Throughout his career, Bol totaled 2,086 blocked shots, which ranks among the 20 most in league history. On a per-game basis, Bol has the second-best career mark with 3.34, only behind Eaton’s tally of 3.50.

1 Gheorghe Mureșan

Height: 7'7"

Standing alongside Bol at the top of this list is Gheorghe Mureșan at seven-foot-seven. With the 30th pick in the second round, the Washington Bullets selected the Romanian big man back in the 1993 Draft. He then spent six seasons playing for the Bullets and New Jersey Nets.

The center realized his potential when he won the Most Improved Player award in 1996 after averaging 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. He also led the NBA in field goal percentage in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons.

Mureșan’s record looks set to stand for some time. Wembanyama and Fall are the only players on this list still on NBA rosters, and no prospect taller than seven-foot-seven has yet established himself in the league.