When you think about the NBA, you probably picture lean, hyper-athletic wings flying through the air or shifty guards weaving through traffic. But the league has always had a fascination with pure, unadulterated mass. We aren't just talking about "big guys" here. We’re talking about the human mountains who made standard basketball jerseys look like compression shirts and made the floorboards groan with every drop step.
Honestly, the conversation around the heaviest players in NBA history is usually a mess of "official" listed weights and "unofficial" training camp horror stories. Teams have a weird habit of lying about weight. Sometimes they under-list a guy to make him seem more athletic; other times, they over-list a player to intimidate opponents.
If you want the real story on who tipped the scales the most, you have to look past the back of the trading cards.
The King of the Scale: Oliver Miller
Most fans who grew up in the 90s remember Oliver Miller, but they might not realize he actually holds the crown. "The Big O" was a genuinely skilled player—soft hands, great passer, high IQ. But the man just could not stop growing.
Drafted out of Arkansas at a relatively "svelte" 270 pounds, Miller's weight became a career-long battle. By the time he was bouncing around between the Raptors, Kings, and Suns, his weight was a moving target. While he was often listed around 315 or 325, he reportedly hit 380 pounds during his final stint in the league with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2004.
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Some team insiders from that era suggest he might have even cleared 390 during training camps. It's a bit of a tragedy, really. If Miller had stayed at 280, he might have been an All-Star. Instead, he became the cautionary tale for every big man with a sweet tooth.
Shaq: The Most Dominant 400 Pounds Ever
We have to talk about Shaquille O'Neal because his weight is legendary. Shaq wasn't just heavy; he was dense. As a rookie in Orlando, he was a terrifyingly mobile 300 pounds. But as the Lakers dynasty took off, so did the number on the scale.
Shaq recently admitted on a podcast with Tom Brady that he wasn't anywhere near his listed weight of 325 during the Lakers' three-peat.
- In 2000 (first title): 345 lbs
- In 2001 (second title): 385 lbs
- In 2002 (third title): 415 pounds
Think about that. A 415-pound man was running the floor, dunking on All-Stars, and winning Finals MVP. It defies physics. By the time he reached the Celtics at the end of his career, he looked like a different species compared to the guards on the floor. He is, for all intents and purposes, the heaviest successful player to ever live.
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The Giants: Sim Bhullar and Priest Lauderdale
Height and weight usually go hand-in-hand, and these two were absolute skyscrapers. Sim Bhullar, the first player of Indian descent to play in the NBA, stood 7'5" and was officially listed at 360 pounds. He only played three games for the Sacramento Kings in 2015, but his presence was impossible to ignore. He literally didn't have to jump to dunk.
Then you have Priest Lauderdale.
He was a 7'4" behemoth who played for the Hawks and Nuggets in the late 90s. Officially, he was listed at 325, but draft reports from 1996 noted he had ballooned to 380 pounds with 28% body fat before working with trainer Tim Grover. He was essentially a wall that moved.
Why We Don't See Them Anymore
You've probably noticed that the heaviest players in NBA history mostly played 15 to 30 years ago. The game has changed. Basically, the "three-point revolution" killed the 350-pound center.
In 1995, a guy like Thomas Hamilton (who played at 330-360 lbs) could just sit in the paint and contest shots. Today? If you're that heavy, Steph Curry or Luka Doncic will put you in a pick-and-roll and make you move your feet until your lungs give out. Modern NBA bigs are built more like Giannis Antetokounmpo—long, lean, and fast.
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Who Are the Heaviest NBA Players Currently?
As of 2026, the "heavyweight" landscape looks a lot different. The days of 350-pounders are mostly over, but there are still some massive humans patrolling the paint.
- Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies): The rookie-turned-sophomore sensation currently holds the title. He weighs in at 305 pounds. Because he's 7'4", he actually carries it pretty well, but he is a massive outlier in today's "small ball" era.
- Jusuf Nurkic (Utah Jazz): The Bosnian Beast has stayed consistently around 290 pounds. He’s pure strength.
- Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets): The three-time MVP is listed at 284 pounds. While he famously shed some "baby fat" early in his career, he uses that 280+ pound frame to bully defenders in the post.
- Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans): This is the one everyone watches. Zion has been as high as 285-300 lbs in the past, but recent 2025-2026 reports suggest he’s leaned down to about 264-270 lbs to save his knees.
A Quick Look at the All-Time Heavyweights
| Player | Peak NBA Weight (Estimated/Official) | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Shaquille O'Neal | 415 lbs | 7'1" |
| Oliver Miller | 380 lbs | 6'9" |
| Sim Bhullar | 360 lbs | 7'5" |
| Thomas Hamilton | 360 lbs | 7'2" |
| Priest Lauderdale | 343 lbs | 7'4" |
| Michael Sweetney | 348 lbs | 6'8" |
| Eddy Curry | 350 lbs | 7'0" |
The "Bust" Factor: Michael Sweetney and Eddy Curry
It’s sorta sad to look back at the mid-2000s New York Knicks. They had a real "type." They drafted Michael Sweetney (9th overall in 2003) and traded for Eddy Curry. Both were incredibly talented but struggled immensely with their weight.
Sweetney was only 6'8" but tipped the scales at nearly 350 pounds. His career was over in four years. Eddy Curry, nicknamed "Baby Shaq," was a 7-foot scoring machine who also hit the 350-pound mark. He played 11 seasons, which is impressive, but he’s often remembered more for his conditioning battles than his post moves.
Takeaways for the Modern Fan
If you're tracking player weights for sports betting or just pure fandom, remember that the numbers you see on NBA.com are often a year old. Players fluctuate.
- Watch for "Contract Year" Slim-downs: Players like Zion or Luka often show up 15-20 pounds lighter when a $200 million extension is on the line.
- The "Weight Advantage" is Vanishing: In 2026, mobility is king. Being 300 pounds is only helpful if you can still sprint back on a fast break.
- Height Matters for Context: Zach Edey at 305 lbs is a lot "thinner" than Michael Sweetney was at 348 lbs. Always look at the BMI (Body Mass Index) or just use the eye test.
The era of the 400-pound dominant force like Shaq is likely gone forever. The game is too fast, the court is too spaced, and the medical staffs are too strict. We might never see another human being like Oliver Miller or Prime Shaq again, and honestly, the floorboards are probably grateful for that.
To keep up with how today's bigs are adapting, look at the official team injury reports. They often disclose current weights when a player is rehabbing a lower-body injury, as weight management is the first thing teams focus on during recovery. For those interested in the history of the game, searching through the 1990s "Draft Review" archives often reveals the raw, unedited weights that teams tried to hide once the season started.