If you’ve watched a San Antonio Spurs game lately, you’ve probably done a double-take. It’s hard not to. Seeing a human being move that fluidly while looming over everyone else on the floor feels like a glitch in the Matrix. It leads to the question everyone asks as soon as they see him: who is the tallest man in the NBA right now?
The answer is Victor Wembanyama.
But "tall" doesn't quite cover it. We are talking about a guy who was officially measured at 7 feet 5 inches (226 cm) without shoes at the start of the 2025-26 season. That’s a jump from his rookie year measurement of 7'4". Apparently, at 22 years old, the "Alien" is still growing.
The Current Giants: Who Else is Up There?
Wemby isn't the only skyscraper in the league, even if he’s the most famous one. For a while, there was a heated debate about whether he or Zach Edey held the crown. Edey, the Memphis Grizzlies' massive center and former Purdue standout, is a legitimate 7 feet 4 inches.
Edey is built differently than Wembanyama. While Wemby is lean and wiry, Edey is a 300-pound powerhouse. Watching them play against each other is like watching a fencing master take on a castle wall.
Then you have the rookies and the "vets" of the tall-man club:
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- Rocco Zikarsky: The Australian rookie joined the Minnesota Timberwolves and stands a massive 7 feet 3 inches. He’s already being groomed to follow in Rudy Gobert’s footsteps.
- Bol Bol: Still kicking around the league (currently with the Phoenix Suns) at 7 feet 3 inches.
- Dereck Lively II: The Dallas Mavericks center actually grew! He entered the league listed at 7'1" but was re-measured at 7 feet 3 inches after a late growth spurt.
- Kristaps Porzingis: The "Unicorn" remains one of the most effective giants at 7 feet 2 inches, though injuries have been a constant shadow on his career.
Why Wembanyama is Breaking the NBA
In the past, being the tallest man in the NBA was kinda a curse. You were expected to stand under the hoop, block shots, and maybe grab a rebound if your knees weren't screaming. You didn't dribble. You certainly didn't shoot step-back threes.
Wembanyama changed that.
He leads the league in blocks, sure. That’s expected when you have an 8-foot wingspan. But he’s also bringing the ball up the court and hitting transition jumpers. It’s terrifying for defenders. If you get too close, he blows by you. If you sag off, he shoots over you. Honestly, there is no "correct" way to guard a 7'5" man who has the handle of a shooting guard.
The All-Time Skyscrapers
To appreciate how tall these guys are, you have to look at the history books. We aren't quite at the "tallest ever" mark yet, though Wemby is getting close.
The record for the tallest player in NBA history is actually a tie between Gheorghe Mureșan and Manute Bol. Both were listed at 7 feet 7 inches. Mureșan was a bit heavier and more of a traditional post presence for the Washington Bullets. Bol, on the other hand, was so skinny he looked like a stick figure come to life. He once famously hit six three-pointers in a single half, which felt like a fever dream to anyone watching in the 90s.
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Other legends of the "super-tall" category include:
- Yao Ming: 7'6" and a Hall of Famer. He wasn't just tall; he was incredibly skilled.
- Shawn Bradley: 7'6" and a shot-blocking machine (who unfortunately ended up on a lot of posters).
- Tacko Fall: 7'6" and a massive fan favorite during his stints with the Celtics and Cavs.
Comparing Modern Giants to the Legends
| Player | Height | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gheorghe Mureșan | 7'7" | Retired |
| Manute Bol | 7'7" | Retired |
| Victor Wembanyama | 7'5" | Active (Spurs) |
| Zach Edey | 7'4" | Active (Grizzlies) |
| Yao Ming | 7'6" | Hall of Fame |
Does Being the Tallest Actually Help?
You’d think being the tallest man in the NBA is an automatic ticket to stardom. It’s not. In fact, for a long time, the league was moving away from "true" giants. The "Small Ball" era led by the Golden State Warriors made 7-footers look slow and obsolete. They were getting "played off the floor" because they couldn't guard smaller players on the perimeter.
But the pendulum is swinging back.
The new breed of giants—Wemby, Chet Holmgren (7'1"), and even Zach Edey—are more mobile. They’ve spent their whole lives learning to play like guards because that’s what the modern game demands. Being 7'5" is only an advantage if you can actually keep up with the pace of the game.
The Health Risks of Towering Height
We have to be real here: being this tall is hard on the human body. The history of the NBA is littered with "what ifs" involving players over 7'2". The stress on the feet, knees, and back is immense.
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Yao Ming’s career was cut short by foot injuries. Ralph Sampson (7'4") had his prime stolen by knee issues. This is why the Spurs are so protective of Wembanyama. They’ve put him on a specific "body mechanics" program designed to strengthen his joints and improve his flexibility. They aren't just training a basketball player; they’re maintaining a very tall, very expensive piece of precision machinery.
What to Expect Next
As we move deeper into the 2026 season, the "tallest man" title might even change again. There are prospects in Europe and high school like Olivier Rioux—who is already 7'9"—making waves.
For now, the crown stays with Victor Wembanyama. He’s the tallest, but he’s also becoming one of the best, period. If you want to see how size is evolving in the league, keep an eye on the Spurs' injury reports and the Grizzlies' rebounding stats. These guys aren't just outliers anymore; they are the blueprint for the future of the sport.
To stay ahead of the curve, watch how teams like the Grizzlies use Zach Edey’s 7'4" frame in specialized "drop" coverages, or how the Spurs allow Wemby to roam the perimeter. The height is the hook, but the skill is what keeps them on the floor.
Check the official NBA active rosters periodically, as "official" measurements can sometimes fluctuate by an inch during mid-season weigh-ins or training camp re-evaluations.