We’ve already done the tallest NBA players so it’s about time the smaller guys get some recognition. We present to you the nine players who are/were 5’7 or less to grace the league with their petite stature.

Muggsy Bogues  – 5’3

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The smallest guy to ever play in the NBA, Tyrone Curtis “Muggsy” Bogues was one of the more popular players on a trendy 90’s Charlotte Hornets team and around the league. People always root for David. Bogues’ more famous pictures came during his rookie season in 1987-1988 with the Bullets, playing alongside Manute Bol, but his best basketball came in Charlotte. Always a nightmare mis match kind of player, Bogues was difficult to guard and nearly impossible to dribble against, finishing his career averaging 1.5 steals per game. He also averaged 7.7 points and 7.6 assists per game (17th best all time).

Earl Boykins, 5’5

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Just finished his 12th season in the NBA, Boykins has taken Bogues’ mantle as the league’s shortest player since 2001. Boykins has been around quite a few teams in the league, this season doing his thing with the Bucks. His best years were in the mid 00’s, playing for the Denver Nuggets. Career averages – 8.9 points, 3.2 assists.

Spud Webb, 5’6

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The most famous little dunker ever, winning the All-Star slam dunk contest in 1986, Anthony Jerome Webb played in the NBA for 13 years. Mostly remembered wearing the Hawks’ uniform, Webb best days came with the Sacramento Kings, earning the starting point guard there, scoring 16 points a game in 1991-1992. Finished his career averaging 9.9 points and 5.3 assists per game.

Greg Grant, 5’7

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He was never supposed to be an NBA player, but Greg Grant was so good in Divison III playing for Trenton State, averaging over 30 points per game there, the NBa came callin’. He was the 52nd pick in the 1989 draft, taken by the Phoenix Suns. He spent seven seasons in the league, starting only 5 games, moved around all time time between six franchises. He finished with career averages of 2.8 points, 2.7 assists in 12.2 minutes per game.

Keith Jennins, 5’7

A second team All-American in 1991 during his senior year with East Tennessee State, Jennings wasn’t picked in the draft but eventually did get to spend three years in the NBA. He played all of them with the Golden State Warriros, averaging 6.6 points and 3.7 assists in 18 minutes per game.

Some Real Old-Time short guys –

Mel Hirsch of the Boston Celitcs – He was 5’6, playing only 13 games in the 1946-1947 season when it was the BAA.

“Red” Klotz – 5’7, played with the Baltimore Bullets in 1947-1948. His more famous achievement is forming the Washington Generals and the New York Nationals, the teams that tour and play with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Wat Misaka – 5’7, the first non-Caucasian to play in the NBA. Played only 3 games with the New York Knicks in the 1940’s.

Monte Towe – 5’7, and one half of the duo credited for inventing the alley-oop. Towe played only one NBA season – the Denver Nuggets in their first year after the ABA-NBA merger. He played with David Thompson in college, dishing the non-dunk alley oops to him during the dunk-ban era.