If you’ve ever seen Stephen Curry standing next to a 7-foot monster like Joel Embiid or Rudy Gobert, you probably thought he was a "little guy." It’s an easy mistake to make. On a basketball court, everyone looks like a dwarf next to the giants of the NBA. But the reality of steph curry real height is actually a bit of a shock when you see him in person.
He isn't small. Not even a little bit.
Honestly, if Steph walked into your local grocery store, he’d be the tallest person in the building. Most people have this weird idea that he’s maybe 5’10” or 6 feet flat because he’s "The Baby-Faced Assassin." The TV camera lies to you. It's all about perspective.
The Great NBA Shrinkage of 2019
For years, NBA heights were basically a game of make-believe. Teams would list players with their shoes on, or sometimes they’d just flat-out lie to make their roster look more intimidating. Kevin Durant famously claimed to be 6’9” for a decade when everyone knew he was a 7-footer.
Then came the 2019-20 season.
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The league finally got fed up and cracked down. They mandated that every player had to be measured by team physicians—not equipment managers—without shoes on. This led to what fans called "The Great NBA Shrinkage."
When the dust settled, steph curry real height was officially clocked in at 6 feet, 2.75 inches.
"Without shoes, I'm officially 6-2 and 3-quarters," Curry told reporters back in 2019. "But I don't play basketball without shoes."
That last bit is key. Because in his Under Armour sneakers, he's a solid 6’3” or even 6’3.5”. That’s the height he was listed at for the first ten years of his career. So when people ask how tall he "really" is, the answer depends on if he's at the beach or at the Chase Center.
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Why Steph Looks Tiny on Your TV
It’s easy to forget that the average NBA player is roughly 6’6”. When Steph is standing at the top of the key, he’s usually being guarded by someone significantly longer and heavier.
Take his wingspan for example.
Most NBA players have "ape indexes"—meaning their arms are much longer than their height. Steph has a wingspan of about 6’4”. While that’s great for a normal person, it’s actually pretty short for a pro athlete. This "short" reach makes his overall frame look more compact and "normal" compared to the lanky freaks of nature he plays against every night.
Compare him to other guards:
- Russell Westbrook: Listed at 6’3” (barefoot 6’2.25”)
- Kyrie Irving: Listed at 6’2” (barefoot 6’1.75”)
- Damian Lillard: Listed at 6’2” (barefoot 6’1.75”)
Basically, Steph is actually one of the taller "small" guards in the league. He’s taller than Kyrie. He’s taller than Dame. He’s even taller than some guys who look way "bigger" because they have more muscle mass.
The "Normal Person" Test
If you want to understand steph curry real height, look at photos of him with people outside the NBA. There’s a famous photo of him standing next to Novak Djokovic. Djokovic is 6’2”, and Steph clearly has an edge on him.
Or look at him next to former President Barack Obama. Obama is a legit 6’1”. In every photo of the two together, Steph is noticeably taller.
It’s sort of a mind-bending thing. We’ve spent nearly two decades watching him get bullied in the paint or shooting over 6’9” defenders, so our brains have categorized him as "short." He’s a victim of his own environment.
Does the Height Actually Matter for His Game?
You’d think being "only" 6’2” and change would be a massive disadvantage in a league of giants. But for Steph, it’s almost the opposite.
His lower center of gravity is part of why his handle is so tight. He can get lower than the guys guarding him, change direction on a dime, and lose them in a maze of screens. If he were 6’6”, he might not have the same "jitterbug" movement that makes him impossible to pin down.
Plus, his shooting form is built for his size. He has one of the fastest releases in history. Because he isn't 6'10", he had to learn how to get the ball off before a defender could even react. That necessity became his greatest weapon.
How to Gauge His Size Yourself
Next time you watch a Warriors game, try to ignore the 7-footers for a second.
- Look at Steph when he’s standing near the referees. Most refs are average-to-tall men, and Steph usually towers over them.
- Watch him in the layup line next to the "smaller" guards on the roster.
- Check out his frame when he's wearing a suit. The dude is lean, but he’s broad-shouldered and has a legitimate "pro athlete" build that the baggy jersey often hides.
The "6’3” with shoes" listing is the one that actually matters for basketball, because as he said, he isn't playing in socks.
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Actionable Takeaway
If you're ever debating someone about steph curry real height, remember the number 6’2.75”. That is the cold, hard, barefoot truth. If they don't believe you, tell them to look at the 2019 official NBA measurement audit. It’s all there in the books.
Stop thinking of him as the little guy. He’s a 6’3” world-class athlete who just happens to work in a land of literal giants. Knowing his actual size makes what he does on the court even more impressive—he isn't "small," he's just perfectly sized to break the game of basketball.