The 15 Greatest Short NBA Players of All Time

The average height of an NBA player in today's league is 6'7". While the NBA has always been known as a big league, highlighted by its numerous dominant seven-footers, the NBA has also featured some entertaining and talented players on the other end of the height spectrum. These shorter players came into the L with a clear disadvantage in their size, but were able to compensate with varying talents on the basketball court. Slater Martin was an elite defender for his size, and players like Earl Boykins and Nate Robinson have proven to be very explosive scorers despite vertically challenged.

In light of Nate's 29th birthday, we're taking a look at the NBA's little guys (5'10" and under) who came up big on the court. From Calvin Murphy to Muggsy Bogues, here are the 15 Greatest Short NBA Players of All Time.

Listed height: 5'7"
Years: 1992-95
Team(s): Warriors
Career statistics: 164 G, 6.6 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 3.7 APG

Keith "Mister" Jennings did not spend much time in the NBA, but he made his mark on the game in the limited time that he saw. Although Jennings only lasted in the Association for three seasons, he provided solid bench production for Golden State. Tiny KJ endeared himself to the Golden State crowd as the energetic reserve guard with some spectacular plays like this.

Listed height: 5'8"
Years: 1977-85Team(s): Hawks, Clippers, BucksCareer statistics: 418 G, 8.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 3.2 APG

Charlie Criss was a major success story coming into the NBA despite being undrafted and starting his career off in the CBA. After joining the Atlanta Hawks, Criss debuted as the smallest active player during his time and still was able to average double figures his rookie year. Criss played for two more teams throughout his eight year career.

Listed height: 5'10"
Years: 1997-2009
Team(s): Cavs, Hawks, Grizzlies, Suns, Wizards, Bucks, Bobcats, Clippers, Jazz
Career statistics: 729 G, 7.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 6.1 APG

Brevin Knight was a throwback player when he came into the NBA. The Stanford Cardinal was a consistent and solid leader as a point guard. Knight was known for his steady play and finished top-10 in assists four different seasons and top-10 in steals in three different seasons. While he played for nine different teams in his career, Knight was solid at every stop.

Listed height: 5'10"
Years: 1949-51
Team(s): Indianapolis Olympians
Career statistics: 126 G, 15.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.4 APG

Ralph Beard might have only two seasons under his belt in the NBA, but he was a solid player. Beard was a one-time All-Star and second leading scorer on the Western Division champion Indianapolis Olympians back in the 1949-50 season. Unfortunately for Beard and his teammate Alex Groza, they were banned from the NBA for life by then-commissioner Maurice Podoloff after they admitted to point shaving during their college tenures.

Listed height: 5'9"
Years: 2011-Present
Team(s): Kings
Career statistics: 144 G, 12.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.0 APG

Surprises come in many different shapes and forms. For the Sacramento Kings, a surprise came in the form of guard and last pick in the 2011 NBA Draft Isaiah Thomas. The 5'9" Washington native wasn't a guarantee to make the team but after a great rookie season, Thomas made the All-Rookie Second Team, and followed that up with an impressive sophomore season. With only two years under his belt, Thomas seems primed to improve on his past two seasons and become even more of a threat on offense. Too bad he won't be making the playoffs anytime soon with that sorry excuse for a franchise in Sacramento.

Listed height: 5'5"
Years: 1998-2012
Team(s): Nets, Cavs, Magic, Clippers, Warriors, Nuggets, Bucks, Bobcats, Wizards, Rockets
Career statistics: 652 G, 8.9 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 3.2 APG

While Muggsy Bogues was more of a pass-first point guard, Earl Boykins was a shoot-first dynamo at his position. Initially undrafted, Boykins found a home in Denver after a few years bouncing around the league. Boykins provided a big punch on offense with a unique ability to score despite him being the second shortest player in NBA history. Boykins made plays like this seem routine, which was a spectacle considering his height.

Listed Height: 5'6"
Years: 1986-98
Team(s): Hawks, Kings, Wolves, Magic
Career Statistics: 814 G, 9.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 5.3 APG

Spud Webb was a fourth-round pick who initially got his start in the USBL, and eventually ended up on the Atlanta Hawks where his legend was born. Webb surprised everyone when he entered the 1986 Slam Dunk contest as a rookie and won in an upset. He defeated his teammate Dominique Wilkins who had never seen Webb dunk before. Webb became a legend with that performance, but also proved he was more than just a slam dunk performer averaging 13.6 PPG and 6.5 APG from 1990-95.

Listed Height: 5'10"
Years: 1949-55
Team(s): Washington Capitols, Syracuse Nationals, Bullets, Pistons, Celtics
Career Statistics: 381 G, 10.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.1 APG

Usually when a player is nicknamed "Fat Freddy," it's not a term of endearment. In the case of Freddy Scolari, it was something positive. Scolari was well known for his overweight and undersized physique as well as his unique and efficient from-the-hip shot. He also had an aggressive defensive style that helped him make the All-Star team twice.

Listed height: 5'9"
Years: 2005-Present
Team(s): Knicks, Celtics, Thunder, Warriors, Bulls
Career statistics: 530 G, 11.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.0 APG

From the moment he entered Madison Square Garden, Nate Robinson captured NBA fans with his ebullient personality and freakish athleticism. As he moved from team to team, Nate has entertained across the league in many different roles from bench cheerleader to clutch performer. With performances like his 34-point outburst against the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013 Playoffs, Nate has slowly been able to remove the dunker/sideshow image and replace it with more of an offensive energy type of classification.

Listed height: 5'10"
Years: 1988-2004
Team(s): Sonics, Nuggets, Spurs, Rockets, Mavs
Career statistics: 1054 G, 8.4 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 5.5 APG

If we're talking about heart on the court, it's very hard to match the heart that Avery Johnson had during his career in the NBA. "The Little General" played a pivotal role for San Antonio in the 1999 NBA Finals hitting the championship-winning shot in Game 5. While his individual statistics aren't wildly impressive, his ability to lead a team on the court sure is. Hey Mikhail Prokhorov, how do you say "FOH" in Russian?

Listed height: 5'10"
Years: 1996-2008
Team(s): Raptors, Blazers, Grizzlies, Spurs
Career statistics: 878 G, 13.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 6.1 APG

When it comes to small players, Damon Stoudamire was one of the best individual short players to come into the NBA. Despite his small size, "Mighty Mouse" was an effective guard with a lightning-quick first step and had a great amount of range on his jumper. The former '96 Rookie of the Year moved on to Portland, where his role was diminished, but he was the starting point guard on one of the better teams to not make the NBA Finals.

Listed height: 5'10"
Years: 1985-96
Team(s): Kings, Bullets, Nuggets, Hornets
Career statistics: 653 G, 14.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 6.4 APG

Michael Adams led the NBA for four consecutive seasons in three-point attempts and was never shy. Adams had a record 79 consecutive games with a three-point field goal (from January 28, 1988 - January 23, 1989). At one point, Adams was averaging 26.5 PPG, 10.5 APG, and 2.2 SPG for the high-octane Denver Nuggets. He also dropped 54 points in a game that season.

Listed height: 5'3"
Years: 1987-2001
Team(s): Bullets, Hornets, Warriors, Raptors
Career statistics: 889 G, 7.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 7.6 APG

Many people would struggle with the idea of a 5'3" player excelling on the court, but Muggsy Bogues didn't. While he was the smallest player in NBA history, Bogues' ability as an exceptional passer, a great ball-stealer, and one of the fastest players on the court erased any notion that his height would hinder him on the floor. His time with the Charlotte Hornets during the '90s forever remains one of the most popular eras in Charlotte's basketball history.

Listed height: 5'10"
Years: 1949-60
Team(s): Lakers, Knicks, Hawks
Career statistics: 745 G, 9.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.2 APG

Championship teams are always known for featuring leaders with a hard mettle and tough defensive mindset. Slater Martin represented this to the fullest. During his playing days in the '50s, Martin was known for being an exceptional defender. His toughness could be encapsulated in this quote after warning competitor Bob Cousy about palming:

Martin is best known for playing on the Minneapolis Lakers team built around George Mikan that won four NBA championships between 1950 and 1954. The Hall of Famer also made seven consecutive All-Star teams from 1953-1959.

Listed height: 5'9"
Years: 1970-83
Team(s): Rockets
Career statistics: 1002 G, 17.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 4.4 APG

They do not make them meaner than Calvin Murphy. Despite his size, Murphy was an electric scorer and a tough customer on the court. Murphy's best known for taking down 6'9" Sidney Wicks and bloodying his nose during a confrontation. Murphy also made one all-star team (1979) and helped lead the Rockets to the 1981 NBA Finals. We wonder what got him into the Hall of Fame, his actual game or the fight?