You’d think being the tallest guy on a basketball court would be a simple, straightforward advantage. You stand near the rim, you reach up, and you drop the ball in. Easy, right? Well, if you’ve been watching the league lately, you know it’s gotten way more complicated than that.
The hunt for the tallest center in NBA history used to be about finding massive "space eaters" who could barely move but could block a shot just by existing. Today, the giants are different. They’re mobile. They shoot threes. They handle the ball like guards. If you aren't paying attention, you might miss just how much the "height ceiling" of the league has shifted in the last 24 months.
Who Is the Tallest Center in the NBA Right Now?
Right now, in 2026, the crown belongs to Victor Wembanyama. Honestly, calling him a center is almost a disservice because he does everything, but he’s the guy every team is terrified to see in the paint.
Official measurements for the 2025-26 season have him at 7 feet 5 inches (226 cm). That’s without shoes. There’s been a ton of chatter—especially from insiders like Brian Windhorst—that he might actually be closer to 7'7" now, but the Spurs' official roster has settled on 7'5" and 235 pounds.
Wemby isn't just a tall guy; he’s an anomaly. He’s currently averaging over 4 blocks per game while also hitting step-back jumpers. It’s a bit ridiculous.
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Following closely behind him is Zach Edey. The Memphis Grizzlies giant stands at 7 feet 4 inches (224 cm). While Wembanyama is all wingspan and fluidity, Edey is a 305-pound force of nature. He’s much more of a traditional "bruiser" in the post, though he's surprisingly nimble for a guy his size. Watching these two go at it is like watching a Godzilla movie, but with better footwork.
The 7'3" Club and Beyond
Behind the top two, the league has a handful of other massive human beings.
- Bol Bol: Standing 7 feet 3 inches, the Phoenix Suns forward/center remains one of the most polarizing players because of his guard-like skills.
- Rocco Zikarsky: The Australian phenom joined the Minnesota Timberwolves and is officially listed at 7'3".
- Dereck Lively II: There were reports he had a late growth spurt, pushing him into that 7'2" or 7'3" territory for the Mavericks.
What Most People Get Wrong About NBA Heights
For years, NBA heights were basically "choose your own adventure." Teams would list a 6'9" guy at 6'11" to make him sound more intimidating, or a 7-footer would ask to be listed at 6'10" because they didn't want to be pigeonholed as a center (Kevin Durant was the king of this for a long time).
Everything changed in 2019 when the NBA started requiring official, "socks-only" measurements. This is why you saw some players "shrink" overnight.
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The Wembanyama Factor
What’s wild is that Wembanyama actually grew after he was drafted. He entered the league at 7'3" and change, and now he’s solidly at 7'5". When we talk about the tallest center in NBA circles, we usually assume they’ve stopped growing by age 20. Wemby proved that wrong.
A Look at the All-Time Giants
To understand where we are, you have to look at where we’ve been. The current crop of centers is tall, but they aren't the tallest ever—at least not yet.
- Gheorghe Mureșan: 7 feet 7 inches. The Romanian giant remains the tallest to ever play.
- Manute Bol: Also 7 feet 7 inches. He was famously so thin he looked like he might snap in a stiff breeze, but he was a shot-blocking machine.
- Yao Ming: 7 feet 6 inches. Probably the most skilled "super-giant" until Wembanyama showed up. Yao was a Hall of Famer who could hit free throws at a 83% clip.
- Tacko Fall: 7 feet 6 inches. A modern fan favorite who, unfortunately, struggled to keep up with the pace of the modern game.
Why Being 7'7" is Harder Today
Back in the 90s, if you were 7'5", you just stood in the lane. There was no defensive three-second rule (in the way we have it now) and the game was much slower.
In 2026, a center has to be able to "switch." This means if a 6'3" point guard gets a screen, that 7'5" center has to be able to move their feet on the perimeter. If they can’t? They get played off the floor. This is why Boban Marjanović—who is 7 feet 4 inches—has struggled to find consistent minutes in the later stages of his career. He’s incredibly efficient, but the modern pace is a nightmare for guys that big.
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The Health Risks of Extreme Height
It’s the elephant in the room. When you're the tallest center in NBA history, your joints are under a lot of pressure. We saw it with Yao Ming’s feet and Ralph Sampson’s knees.
Wembanyama and his team are trying to rewrite the script on this. He reportedly spends hours on "toe flexibility" and specific stretches designed to keep his long levers from snapping. It’s a science now. They aren't just lifting heavy weights; they’re doing yoga and proprioception drills.
The Grizzlies are doing something similar with Zach Edey. They’re managing his minutes carefully to ensure his 300-plus-pound frame doesn't wear out before the playoffs.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Scouts
If you’re tracking the next generation of giants, don’t just look at the height. Look at the "functional" height.
- Check the Standing Reach: Height is one thing, but standing reach (how high they can touch without jumping) is what actually matters for rim protection. Wembanyama has a 9'7" standing reach. He can almost touch the rim while standing flat-footed.
- Watch the Lateral Quickness: A 7'2" guy who can move sideways is more valuable than a 7'5" guy who can only move forward and back.
- Ignore the Shoes: When comparing players across eras, remember that older players were often measured in thick sneakers. Modern official measurements are much more "honest."
Keep an eye on the 2026 draft class and international prospects. With the success of Wemby, every scout is looking for the next "unicorn"—a player who breaks the traditional mold of what a center should be. The era of the "unskilled giant" is over. We’re now firmly in the era of the "oversized playmaker."
To stay ahead of the curve, watch how teams like the Spurs and Grizzlies use their giants in transition. The tallest center in the NBA is no longer a stationary object; they're often the ones leading the break.