NBA is the most prestigious professional basketball association in the world. It is every basketball player’s dream to play in the NBA. In basketball, height is might. Taller players have great advantage that is why tall players in basketball are among the most popular.
Here are the 10 greatest NBA players with a height of 7 feet or more. Most of them played the “center” position. These players are considered NBA’s greatest centers.
1.) Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Image via WikipediaName: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr.)
Born: April 16, 1947
Team: Milwaukee Bucks, LA Lakers
Height: 7’ 2”
Major awards/achievements
- 6 NBA Champion
- 6x NBA Most Valuable Player
- 19 NBA All Star
- 2x NBA Finals MVP
- 1970 NBA Rookie of the Year
- Career points: 38,387
- Career rebounds: 17,440
- Career blocks: 3,189
- Pro career: 1969 – 1989
- One of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History”
- He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points.
- Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA's all-time leader in points scored, games played, minutes played, field goals made, field goal attempts, blocked shots, defensive rebounds, and personal fouls.
2.) Wilt Chamberlain
Name: Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain
Born: August 21, 1936
Died: October 12, 1999
Team: Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, LA Lakers
Height: 7’1”
Major awards/achievements
- 2x NBA Champion
- 4x NBA Most Valuable Player
- 1972 NBA Finals MVP
- 1960 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1960 NBA All Star MVP
- 13x NBA All Star
- Career points: 31,419
- Career rebounds: 23,934
- Career assists: 4,643
- Pro career: 1959 – 1973
- One of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History”
- He is one of the greatest and most dominant players in NBA history
3.) Shaquille O’Neal
Name: Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal
Born: March 6, 1972
Nicknamed: "Shaq"
Team: Orlando Magic, LA Lakers, Miami Heats, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics
Height: 7’ 1” in
Major awards/achievements
- 4 NBA Champion
- 3x NBA Finals MVP
- 2000 NBA Most Valuable Player
- 1993 Rookie of the Year
- 3x NBA All Star Game MVP
- 15 Time NBA All Star
- Career points: 28,596
- Career rebounds: 13,099
- Career blocks: 2,732
- Pro career: 1992 - 2011
- One of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History”
- O’Neal was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA (147 kg).
4.) Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon
Name: Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon
Born January 21, 1963
Birthplace: Nigeria
Team: Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors
Height: 7’0” (He admitted though that he's just 6'10")
Major awards/achievements
- 2 NBA Champion
- 1994 Most Valuable Player
- 2x NBA Finals MVP
- 12x NBA All Star
- Career points: 26,946
- Career rebounds: 13,747
- Career blocks: 3,830
- Pro career: 1984 – 2002
- One of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History”
- Olajuwon is considered one of the greatest centers ever to play the game
5.) Patrick Ewing
Name: Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr.
Born August 5, 1962
Birthplace: Jamaica
Team: New York Knicks, Seattle Supersonics and Orlando Magic
Height: 7’ 0”
Height: 7’ 0”
Major awards/achievements
- 1986 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 11x NBA All Star
- Career points: 24,815
- Career rebounds: 11,617
- Career blocks: 2,894
- Pro career: 1985 – 2002
- One of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History”
- Ewing was named as the 16th greatest college player of all time by ESPN.
6.) Robert Parish
Name: Robert Lee Parish
Born August 30, 1953
Team: Golden State Warriors/Boston Celtics/Charlotte Hornets/Chicago Bulls
Nickname: The Chief
Height: 7’0”
Major awards/achievements
- 4x NBA Champion
- 9x NBA All Star
- Career points: 23,334
- Career rebounds: 14,715
- Career blocks: 2,361
- Pro career: 1976–1997
- One of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History”
- Robert Parish was known for his strong defense and jump shooting.
7.) David Robinson
Name: David Maurice Robinson
Born: August 6, 1965
Team: San Antonio Spurs
Nicknames: The Admiral, The Twin Towers (with Tim Duncan)
Induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: September 11, 2009.
Height: 7’1”
Major awards/achievements
- 1990 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 2x NBA Champion
- 1995 NBA Most Valuable Player
- 10x NBA All Star
- Career points: 20,790
- Career rebounds: 10,497
- Career blocks: 2,954
- Pro Career: 1989 – 2003
- One of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History”
- David Robinson is widely considered to be one of the greatest centers in NBA history.
8.) Dirk Nowitzki
Name: Dirk Werner Nowitzki
Born: June 19, 1978
Birthplace: Germany
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Height: 7’ 0”
Major awards/achievements
- 1 NBA Champion
- 2011 NBA Finals MVP
- 2007 NBA Most Valuable Player
- 10x NBA All Star
- 2002 FIBA World Championship MVP
- Pro career: 1998 – present
- He is one of the most prolific NBA players.
9.) Pau Gasol
Name: Pau Gasol Sáez
Born: July 6, 1980
Birthplace: Spain
Team: Memphis Grizzlies, LA Lakers
Height: 7'0"
Major awards/achievements
- 2x NBA Champion
- 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 4x NBA All Star
- 2006 FIBA World Championship MVP
- Pro career: 2001 – present
- He currently holds the Memphis Grizzlies franchise records for career games played, minutes played, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, offensive, defensive, and total rebounds, blocked shots, turnovers, and points.
10.) Yao Ming
Name: Yao Ming
Born: September 12, 1980
Birthplace: China
Team: Houston Rockets
Height: 7' 6"
Major awards/achievements
- 8x NBA All Star
- 3x FIBA Asian Championship MVP
- Career points: 9,247
- Career assists: 769
- Career rebounds: 4,494
- Pro career: 2002 – 2011
- He was the tallest in the NBA at 7’ 6” as of 2010-2011 NBA Season
See also
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