Top 10 Tallest Basketball Players: Nigerian Giant Makes List

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="504"] Boban Marjanovic[/caption]

During his time in the NBA, Sim Bhullar was a member of the Sacramento Kings basketball team. He is a Canadian professional basketball player of Indian descent. Weighing 360 pounds, Bhullar was the first player of Indian descent that played in the NBA. He played college basketball for New Mexico State University.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Sim Bhullar[/caption]

Pavel Nikolaevitch Podkolzin is a Russian former professional basketball player. Formerly, he played in the NBA and the NBA Development League. He is a 2.26 m tall center. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="541"] Pavel Podkolzin[/caption] https://youtu.be/Pq3_eSnYW1o?si=xJRjqsTs2e0X2f-Q

7. Chuck Nevitt (American)- 7'5

Chuck Nevitt is a former professional basketball player who played as a center in the NBA. He was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 1982 and played for six different teams in his career. He is known for winning the 1985 NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="301"] Chuck Nevitt[/caption] https://youtu.be/e66tgN-cuuc?si=nuMrp86B_GgI85oi

6. Shawn Bradley (German-American) - 7'6

Former NBA center for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks, Shawn Paul Bradley was born in Germany and raised in the United States. Bradley, at 7 feet 6 inches, is one of the tallest players in NBA history and has earned the nickname "the Stormin' Mormon."

5. Yao Ming (Chinese) - 7'6

The biggest Asian basketball player of all time, Yao Ming, is a retired Chinese professional basketball player who played for the Houston Rockets in the NBA. He was born on September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China. He is 7 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 311 pounds.  During his career, he played in 486 games. He was selected to play in eight All-Star games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="549"] Yao Ming[/caption] https://youtu.be/Ve3H4tYj47c?si=Pr0hb8mk2VeklkLo

4. Slavko Vraneš (Montenegro) - 7'6

Originally from Montenegro, Slavko Vraneš played basketball at the NBA level. At 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in), he is among the tallest players in the world. He was a member of the Montenegrin national basketball team and played professionally for a number of European and Asian clubs. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="588"] Slavko Vraneš[/caption] The New York Knicks selected him in the second round of the 2003 NBA draft, although he never made an appearance for the team. He made one NBA appearance for the Portland Trail Blazers. His career flourished in Europe, as he won multiple trophies with both Partizan Belgrade and UNICS Kazan. He called it quits from basketball in 2018. https://youtu.be/IwltYDJUvNc?si=wtFc3_AEgk4cVq4o

3. Tacko Fall (Senegalese) - 7'6

A native of Dakar, Senegal, Tacko Fall at 16 emigrated to the United States, where he enrolled at UCF and played basketball. With a height of 7 feet, 6 inches (2.29 meters), Fall is not only among the tallest NBA players, but also among the tallest people in the world. His standing reach of 10 feet and 2.5 inches (3.11 meters) and wingspan of 8 feet and 2.25 inches (250 centimeters) set new records at the NBA Draft Combine. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="561"] Tanko Fall[/caption] Even though he was passed over in the 2019 NBA draft, Fall has signed with the Boston Celtics. For two years, he was a member of the Celtics' organization, spending most of his time with the NBA G League's Maine Red Claws. In 2021, he became a free agent and subsequently signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. https://youtube.com/shorts/BmaeU24N1f0?si=0TtzBqkO0lO-aPCU In 37 career NBA regular season games, Fall has posted averages of 2.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks. His lifetime field goal percentage of.673 is the best of any player currently in the league. He has also competed in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and for the Senegalese national team. He is a member of the Nanjing Monkey Kings at the moment. https://youtu.be/2a1N4O6PJtI?si=tLyI0e0OqacBMN2I

2. Manute Bol (Sudanese-American)- 7'7

Manute Bol, of Sudanese and American descent, was a professional basketball player and activist. At 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 meters), he was one of the tallest NBA players ever. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="517"] Manute Bol (Right) with the shortest NBA player, Muggsy (Left).[/caption] The Washington Bullets, the Golden State Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Miami Heat were just a few of the NBA clubs he played for. He has the rookie record for blocks in a game with 15. He also led the NBA in blocks per game in 1986 and 1989. https://youtube.com/shorts/9YbqQI4Pb20?si=JbvemFuEWAsSmLFS Bol was also an activist and humanitarian in his home country of Sudan, where he advocated for many different causes, including those related to education, health, and peace. In June of 2010, he passed away. https://youtu.be/hePuvt8REqE?si=9LJdANH3NzQ4MRN8

1. Gheorghe Muresan (Romanian) - 7'7.5

Gheorghe Muresan, a former professional basketball player from Romania, holds the record for being the tallest player in NBA history. He was born on February 14, 1971 and has a height of 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m) due to a pituitary gland disorder called acromegaly. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="296"] Gheorghe Muresan.[/caption] From 1993 to 2000, he was an NBA player for the Washington Bullets/Wizards and the New Jersey Nets. Averaging 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while leading the NBA in field goal percentage (58.4%), he was voted the league's Most Improved Player for the 1995–96 season. While playing in France, he helped Pau-Orthez to two league titles (1992–1993, 2000–2001) and one cup title (1992–1993). After his retirement from basketball in 2001, he was involved in a wide range of endeavors, including the founding of the Giant Basketball Academy, a role as a team ambassador for the Wizards, film and television roles, and a cameo appearance with the Maryland Nighthawks. https://youtu.be/VugZTmf8wsM?si=6JRlJPnO1MNMXieX

CHAMPION - Abiodun Adegoke (Nigerian) - 7'11

Basketball player Abiodun Adegoke of Nigeria is notable for his towering stature. He is currently the tallest basketball players in the world. Adegoke, who will be 24 years old in 2023, is already 2.41 meters (7 feet 11 inches) tall. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="562"] Enigma Abiodun Adegoke. | source: Google[/caption] At the Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy in Wasinmi, Nigeria, Adegoke began playing basketball. He eventually settled in Dubai, where he currently competes in the MPAC Elite Youth League. The NBA has taken notice of him after a video of him showcasing his talents and physique went popular on social media. Shaquille O'Neal, an NBA legend, has also sent him words of support. A draft pick for Adegoke would make him the NBA's tallest player in history. https://youtu.be/miJpnMIx4Ks?si=o3TN6qmJ_ubNqXJt

Notable notes

• In NBA history, there have been 14 players to stand 7-foot-4 or taller. Of the nine, Boston Celtics center Tacko Fall is the only active NBA player.
• Tacko Fall, currently with the Cleveland Cavaliers, is the tallest active NBA player on this list. Dallas Mavericks' Boban Marjanovic is the only active player on the list.
• Mark Eaton's career blocks average of 3.50 is an all-time NBA record. His record of 456 blocks during the 1984-85 season are the most ever in NBA history. To show his prominence, Eaton was included in this list.

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