You’ve probably heard the old saying that you can’t coach height. It's a staple of basketball commentary, usually whispered when a 7-foot-4 behemoth like Victor Wembanyama steps onto the floor. But if you look at the history of the league, some of the most disruptive, annoying, and frankly legendary players have been the ones who had to look up just to see a referee’s shoulder.
Being the shortest guy in the nba isn't just a fun trivia fact. It's a survival mission.
Right now, in the 2025-26 season, that title belongs to Yuki Kawamura. He's a 5-foot-8 whirlwind of energy currently on a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls. In a league where the average player towers at 6-foot-6, Kawamura is essentially playing a different sport. He’s darting through forests of limbs, throwing passes from angles that giants can't even see, and proving that if you’re fast enough, height is just a suggestion.
The King of the Small: Muggsy Bogues
We can't talk about the little guys without starting with the blueprint. Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues. Honestly, his stats don't even make sense when you realize he was 5-foot-3.
Imagine being 5-foot-3 and walking into a paint occupied by Patrick Ewing or Shaquille O'Neal. Most people would just turn around and go home. Muggsy? He stayed for 14 seasons. He didn't just exist; he was a problem. He is the all-time leader in minutes, assists, and steals for the Charlotte Hornets.
One of the wildest things about Muggsy’s career was his 1987-88 rookie season with the Washington Bullets. He was teammates with Manute Bol. Bol was 7-foot-7. That’s a 28-inch height difference on the same roster. They looked like a living cartoon, yet Muggsy was the one orchestrating the offense.
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He once blocked Patrick Ewing. Yes, a 5-foot-3 man blocked a 7-foot Hall of Fame center. It wasn't a fluke; it was a testament to timing and the fact that Muggsy was basically a ball of muscle with a 44-inch vertical. He couldn't dunk because his hands were too small to palm the ball, but he could certainly get up there.
Who Is the Shortest Guy in the NBA Right Now?
If you're watching the NBA today, you’ve likely noticed the "short" guys are getting a bit taller, but they're still outliers. Yuki Kawamura took the mantle recently. Before him, the title was bouncing between guys like Markquis Nowell (5'7") and Jacob Gilyard (5'8").
Kawamura's path to the Bulls via the Memphis Grizzlies is the classic "small guard" story. He was a superstar in Japan's B.League, winning MVP honors and leading his team to championships. But the NBA is a different beast. To survive at 5-foot-8, Kawamura has to be:
- Faster than anyone else on the break.
- Smarter at reading screens to avoid getting crushed.
- More accurate from three-point range because he can't finish over length at the rim.
He’s currently the only active player under 5-foot-9. Think about that. Out of roughly 450 players in the world’s elite league, only one is under that mark. It shows you just how narrow the window is for someone of that stature.
The Spud Webb Factor: Defying Gravity
You can’t mention the shortest guy in the nba without bringing up the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest. Anthony "Spud" Webb, standing at 5-foot-7, did the impossible. He beat Dominique Wilkins—one of the greatest dunkers ever—in a dunk-off.
People forget that Spud wasn't just a dunker. He played 814 games in the NBA. He averaged double-digit scoring in five different seasons.
The thing about Spud was his "hidden" strength. Shorter players often have to be pound-for-pound stronger than the bigs. Earl Boykins, who stood 5-foot-5 and weighed only 135 pounds, could reportedly bench press 315 pounds. That’s how you survive a screen from a 280-pound center. You have to be a literal brick wall in a small package.
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How Do They Actually Survive?
It's not just about being fast. If you're the shortest guy in the nba, every single possession is a tactical battle.
- The "Disappearing" Act: Muggsy Bogues was famous for this. He would get so low to the ground that tall dribblers literally couldn't see him. By the time they realized he was there, he’d already ripped the ball away.
- The Floater: Since they can’t dunk over a 7-footer, small guards like Yuki Kawamura or Isaiah Thomas (5'9") mastered the high-arcing floater. You have to get the ball over the outstretched hand of a defender before they can even jump.
- Pest Defense: Think about Jose Alvarado (6'0") today. He’s not "Muggsy short," but he’s small by NBA standards. His "Grand Theft Alvarado" move—sneaking up from the baseline for steals—is a direct evolution of the small-man survival kit.
The Hall of Fame Outlier: Calvin Murphy
Most of the shortest players in history are remembered as cult heroes or "spark plugs." Calvin Murphy is the exception. At 5-foot-9, he is the shortest player ever inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
He didn't just "play" in the NBA; he dominated. He averaged 17.9 points per game over a 1,000-game career. He was a world-class baton twirler (seriously), and he used that hand-eye coordination to become one of the best free-throw shooters in history. He once held the record for consecutive free throws made (78) and shot 95.8% from the line in a single season.
Why We Still Root for the Underdog
There’s something deeply human about watching the shortest guy in the nba. When we see a guy like Yuki Kawamura or Ryan Nembhard (5'11") drive into a crowded lane, we see ourselves. Most of us aren't 6-foot-10. We know what it's like to be the smallest person in the room.
These players prove that basketball isn't just a game of physical measurements. It’s a game of leverage, angles, and relentless will.
Actionable Insights for the "Small" Player
If you're a shorter player looking to make an impact, the history of these NBA legends offers a clear roadmap:
- Master the "Stop and Go": Speed is useless if it’s predictable. Players like Isaiah Thomas and Yuki Kawamura rely on change of pace to keep defenders off balance.
- Develop a 90% Free Throw: If you’re small, you will get fouled when you drive. You cannot afford to waste those points.
- Conditioning is Your Best Friend: You have to run more miles than the big guys just to stay in the play. Muggsy Bogues used to say he never got tired because he knew his energy was his only advantage.
- Lower Your Center of Gravity: In a battle for a loose ball or a rebound, the person who gets lowest usually wins. Use your height—or lack thereof—as a leverage tool.
The shortest guy in the nba will always have a target on his back. Teams will try to post him up and hunt him on switches. But as guys like Muggsy, Spud, and now Yuki have shown, being the smallest person on the court just means you have to be the biggest personality.
Height might be uncoachable, but heart is what actually keeps you on the roster.
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Next Steps for Your Basketball Knowledge
To truly appreciate the skill level required to play at this size, watch film of Yuki Kawamura's playmaking for the Bulls or his highlights from the 2024 Olympics. Pay close attention to how he uses his eyes to manipulate defenders and how he uses his low center of gravity to navigate screens. You'll quickly see that while he’s the shortest guy on the floor, he’s often the one in total control of the game’s rhythm.