Your height makes you feel inferior as a basketball player, thus shaking your confidence when you want to dunk.
There is no doubt that this blog will be all about the shortest person to dunk ever in NBA history, who became the dunker by going through all the struggles and having a lot of practice in order to become one of the greatest dunkers in history.
Having such a passion for NBA, we have spent a lot of time researching and discovering about the players and their records. We have compiled a list of ten of the shortest dunkers in the history of the NBA.
In my opinion, these players have a great talent for jumping, and without a doubt, they have succeeded in achieving their goal with a lot of practice, determination, and dedication to their chosen sport.
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Basketball’s Shortest Dunkers – 2022 Updates
To gain an advantage of height, NBA players need to be among the tallest in the league. Nonetheless, a few players broke the stereotype and dunked with their short heights, breaking the stereotype. Let’s take a look at them.
10. Nate Robinson
It was he who became the first person to become a three-time slam dunk champion in 2010 with a height of 5 feet 9 inches. Despite being taller by 2 feet, the guy was able to jump block Yao Ming during the 2006 NBA playoffs by 43 inches.
While he was a student at Washington State University, he performed well in a variety of sports. After he graduated from Washington State University, Robinson attended Washington College on a football scholarship.
His decision to play basketball proved to have a significant impact on his career. In addition to being named to the Pac-10 Freshman Team, Robinson also earned Team Honors for the conference. A year after declaring for the NBA draft, Robinson gave up his eligibility for his final year of college.
His selection was made by the Phoenix Suns. In the subsequent draft night trade, he was dealt to the New York Knicks. As a Knicks player, he won three titles of slam dunk champion. In 2010, he retired from playing.
His desire to play in the NBA finally led him to change teams wherever he wished to play. In his career as an NBA player, Nate Robinson has earned over 24 million dollars.
A total of eight different teams signed Robinson in 11 seasons and Robinson earned these earnings. His career as a professional boxer began at 36 when he retired from the NBA.
9. Isaiah Thomas
A professional basketball player from the United States, Isaiah Jamar Thomas is commonly known as Isaiah Thomas. Isaiah stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and is known for his exceptional ability and dedication. In spite of Thomas’ height, he still succeeded in slamming the glass with courage and aggressive play despite being one of the shortest players ever.
Due to his remarkable jumps, Thomas is difficult to beat in the field. Thomas was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the final pick in the 2011 NBA draft.
Over the course of his NBA career, he has been with eight different teams. Currently, he is with the New Orleans Pelicans. Thomas has been selected as an NBA All-Star twice.
Furthermore, he was selected to the NBA Second Team in 2017. In addition to that, Thomas was also selected to the NBA’s second team for the All-Rookie team in 2012.
8. Calvin Murphy
Calvin Murphy, or Calvin Jerome Murphy, is an American former basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association for the San Diego Chargers and Houston Rockets.
Though he stands just under five feet tall, Calvin is among the shortest players to ever dunk in NBA history. Calvin always makes his opponents sweat with his incredible jumps and tricks as an NBA point guard.
Calvin was selected as the 18th pick in round two of the 1970 NBA draft by the San Diego Rockets. Moreover, Calvin was praised by the management in 1979 as an NBA All-Star.
In 1971, he was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Because of his substantial performance throughout his career, Calvin was awarded the Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award by the Public Broadcasting and Wrestling Association.
7. Kay Felder
Known as one of the shortest people in the NBA for his dunks, Kay Felder stands at 5 feet 9 inches tall. Kay plays fast and energetically, making him a difficult point guard to stop.
The Xinjiang Flying Tigers are the last team he played for in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). With the 54th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Kay in the 2nd round.
He has played for eight teams so far. In 2016, Associated Press, NABC, and Sports News recognized him as a third-team All-American.
In addition to the NBA, Kay won two Horizon League Player of the Year awards from the league and was named to the All-Horizon League first team twice in 2015 and 2016. Because of his performance in 2014, he was named Freshman of the Year by the Horizon League.
6. Charlie Criss
Charlie Criss, also known as Charles Washington Criss Jr., was a 5’8″ former basketball Point guard from the United States.
Criss was the shortest person to dunk on account of his awesome gameplay and short height.
At the time he joined the NBA, Chris was the shortest player. His career in the NBA spanned four teams.
Additionally, in 1976 and 1977, he was named the EBA’s Most Valuable Player.
5. Keith Jennings
Mr. Keith Jennings is a former NBA player who now coaches basketball. His passion for the game is evident in his coaching career.
His career included playing for various leagues, including the NBA. He considered himself one of the shortest people to dunk. Over the course of his career, Keith played for nine different teams.
Since 2004, he has been coaching women’s basketball at Lees-McRae College. In 1999, he won the French League Foreign MVP award in the Club basketball league in France, as well as being named the French League’s Best Scorer.
During his time as a basketball player in the Southern Conference, Keith was named both the 1990 and 1991 Players of the Year. He also received a second-team All-American ranking from Consensus in 1991, as well as the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, because of his exceptional performance on the court.
4. Greg Grant
A former basketball player, Greg Grant stands 5 feet 7 inches tall and is the shortest person to dunk in history. He worked as a fisherman while in high school. The authority enrolled Greg in The College of New Jersey because of his outstanding abilities and considerable talent.
His short height never became a hindrance to his achievements after that. Phoenix Suns selected him 52nd overall in the 1989 NBA draft.
Additionally, he played for sixteen different teams throughout his career, and in 1995 he was named CBA’s All-Assists.
He was named the 1989 NABC Division III Player of the Year. Additionally, Greg won First-Team All-American honors twice in 1988 and 1989.
3. Spud Webb
Anthony’s Rome, later known as Spud Webb, was his real name. Among all dunkers in NBA history, Spud is the third shortest. His teammate Dominique Wilkins beat him in an NBA small dunk contest in 1986. He leaps over the giant competitors despite being only 5’7 feet tall. Spud was one of the best players the NBA has ever had because of his leaping ability and practice.
Thanks to his dedication and talent, this guy gained a lot of popularity among his fans. The fact that he was tall did not stop him from playing at a high level. His exceptional dunking ability was a great asset to him.
He was drafted 4th overall by the NBA in 1985. He was selected by the Detroit Pistons. His first six seasons were spent with the Atlanta Hawks. As a professional basketball player, he retired in 1997.
His NBA career spanned seven different teams and he played for those teams throughout his career. His record, in terms of vertical jump, was 42 inches. In the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Spud Webb held the record for being the shortest person who has ever taken part.
There are currently only three players who are shorter than him to ever play in the NBA league. In the history of the NBA, he is still regarded as one of the greatest players because of his incredible speed to attack.
2. Earl Boykins
Earl Antoine Boykins has the distinction of being the second shortest player to dunk in NBA history. He stands at 5 feet 5 inches. Boykins retired from basketball in 2012 after playing for the United States for years.
Despite his short height, he still managed to compete with his opponents due to his exceptional jumping skills and practice. There were twelve teams Earl represented.
The NBA never drafted Boykins, who contracted with different teams. Earl became the shortest player in NBA history to score 30 points in a game for Detroit.
The Associated Press named him to their 1998 honorable mention All-American team; the MAC named him to its 1997 and 1998 first teams. Moreover, USA basketball also honored Boykins with the Male Athlete of the Year award in 1997.
1. Muggsy Bogues
Muggsy Bogues, Tyrone Curtis Bogues, the shortest NBA player to ever do a dunk, stood 5’3″ tall. As a rule, most people think he’s too short to participate in a normal playground basketball match. However, the guy has proven that everyone was wrong through his outstanding efforts to become a dunker.
The American point guard was a former professional basketball player. As well as being one of the shortest basketball players ever, he also wears glasses.
His career of 11 seasons included playing for five different teams. He was selected 12th overall by the Washington Bullets in round 1 of 1987.
As a result of his performance, he was named to the 1987 First-Team All-ACC. In 1987, the authority honored him with the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as a result of his outstanding efforts and passion for basketball.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed our list of the short people in the NBA who have dunked the most in their careers. It would be great if you could leave a comment in the comment box with your valuable feedback.
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FAQs: Shortest Person to Dunk
Competition for small dunks in the NBA saw Webb crowned the shortest competitor. The final round of the 1986 game saw him defeat Dominique Wilkins (also a legend). It is widely believed that he is the world’s shortest dunker.
The track and field star went to college on a football scholarship and excelled in track and field during high school. In 2009, Thabo Sefolosha won the Dunk Contest dressed as ‘Kryptonate’ over six-foot-ten Dwight Howard.
Michael Jordan was able to jump 48 inches (4 feet) vertically. Even though I hope NBA players will continue to improve, I believe this is probably nearing the limit of what human beings are capable of. A dunk requires a standing reach of 6 feet and a vertical jump of 48 inches.
