Sports • Basketball

Shortest NBA player

The shortest NBA player in league history is Muggsy Bogues, who was listed at 5 ft 3 in (160 cm).

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The shortest NBA player in league history is Muggsy Bogues, who was listed at 5 ft 3 in (160 cm). As of the 2025–26 season, Yuki Kawamura is reported as the shortest player on an NBA roster, listed at 5 ft 7 in by the NBA’s official website and described in some coverage as 5 ft 8 in.

All-time record

Muggsy Bogues holds the record as the shortest player ever to appear in the NBA. Multiple sources list him at 5 ft 3 in (160 cm), and this figure is consistently cited across coverage.

Current shortest player

Recent reporting identifies Yuki Kawamura as the shortest player on an NBA roster. Sources disagree slightly on his listed height, but the most common figures are 5 ft 7 in and 5 ft 8 in.

Other short NBA players

The list of shortest players in NBA history also includes Earl Boykins, Spud Webb, Mel Hirsch, Greg Grant, Keith Jennings, and Wat Misaka. These players are commonly grouped among the league’s shortest ever.

Height in NBA context

Height is a prominent measurement in basketball, and the NBA’s shortest players are often highlighted because they are far below the league average. Recent articles note that only a handful of active players are under 6 feet tall.

Key facts

Muggsy Bogues is widely recognized as the shortest player in NBA history at 5 ft 3 in.
Yuki Kawamura is reported as the shortest player on an NBA roster in 2025–26.
Coverage differs on Kawamura’s listed height, with some sources giving 5 ft 7 in and others 5 ft 8 in.
Other notably short NBA players include Earl Boykins at 5 ft 5 in and Spud Webb at 5 ft 6 in.
Several sources note that only a small number of active NBA players are under 6 feet tall in recent seasons.

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Canadian context

Canadian readers may recognize this topic through NBA coverage in Canadian sports media and Canadian interest in the league’s historical records. Sporting News Canada has also covered the shortest players in NBA history.[12]

Frequently asked questions

Who is the shortest NBA player ever?

Muggsy Bogues is the shortest NBA player in history, listed at 5 ft 3 in (160 cm).

Who is the shortest active NBA player?

Recent reporting identifies Yuki Kawamura as the shortest player on an NBA roster.

How tall is Yuki Kawamura?

Sources report him at either 5 ft 7 in or 5 ft 8 in, depending on the outlet.

Are there other players close to this height?

Yes. Earl Boykins was listed at 5 ft 5 in, and Spud Webb at 5 ft 6 in.

Is the shortest current player always the shortest in NBA history?

No. The shortest active player can change over time, but the all-time record remains Muggsy Bogues at 5 ft 3 in.

References

Sports Illustrated — https://www.si.com/nba/shortest-nba-players-all-time
Supports: Yuki Kawamura as shortest player on an NBA roster in 2025–26; Muggsy Bogues as shortest all-time.
NBC New York — https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/nba/nba-shortest-players-right-now-all-time/5546472/
Supports: Yuki Kawamura as shortest current NBA player; Muggsy Bogues as shortest all-time.
BasketNews — https://basketnews.com/news-207157-who-is-the-shortest-nba-player-of-all-time.html
Supports: Muggsy Bogues at 5 ft 3 in; list of shortest NBA players of all time.
NBC — https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/who-are-the-tallest-and-shortest-nba-players-2025-2026-season
Supports: Yuki Kawamura as shortest current player; Muggsy Bogues as shortest all-time.
Sporting News Canada — https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/who-are-10-shortest-players-nba-history-mugsy-bogues-spud-webb-boykins/zjapq718gzek16uxepv5w284r
Supports: Muggsy Bogues as shortest in NBA history; Canadian-facing coverage of shortest players.