This article lists some of the best 6 1 NBA players currently playing and also some 6’1 basketball players who have played in the past.
Then, we’ll see whether the height of 6 foot 1 is tall enough to find success in the NBA, with a specific focus on the point guard position.
As you’ll soon see, height is an obvious advantage in basketball, but height alone doesn’t guarantee skill in the often misunderstood game of basketball.
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Who are the best 6’1 NBA players?
As you can imagine, there aren’t loads of 6’1 NBA players. However, some of the best 6 1 NBA players are Patrick Beverely, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Trae Young, Denis Schroder, and Darius Garland.
These basketball players—despite not being that tall—are exceptionally talented, with most of them naturally playing point guard (PG).
Some other good 6’1 basketball players are Fred VanVleet, Tre Jones, Cameron Payne, Payton Pritchard, Malachi Flynn, Terry Rozier, T.J. McConnell, and Miles McBride.
So, while there are more NBA players over 6 foot 1 than under 6 foot 1, you can see that height isn’t the barrier that many people make it out to be. More on that in a minute.
Who are some good 6’1 guards in the NBA?
There are some excellent 6’1 guards in the NBA, including the following:
- Jevon Carter
- Kennedy Chandler
- Colin Sexton
- Donovan Mitchell
- Darius Garland
- Trae Young
- Mike Conley
- Kira Lewis Jr.
- Payton Pritchard
- Jalen Brunson
These 6 1 guards are of differing abilities. But what they all have in common is that they’ve played in the NBA despite only being 6 foot 1, which many people believe is too short to play basketball.
Obviously, if you’re a 6’1 guard who’s quick, agile, and has great ball handling skills, you’re going to be a better player than a taller guy who can barely pass the ball.
Height goes a long way in the NBA if you can use it to your advantage. But as countless talented 6’1 NBA players have shown, stature isn’t everything, and you can compensate for your relative lack of height by being more skillful than the competition.
Do 6’1 basketball players have a disadvantage?
Now that you know who in the NBA is 6’1, we can move on to the question that’s on the edge of everyone’s lips: Are 6’1 basketball players at a big disadvantage compared to taller players?
Honestly? Yes, they are. But if they’re playing point guard or even shooting guard and are highly skillful, the disadvantage might not be as significant as you think.
Point guards need exceptional ball handling abilities. So if you’re a 6’1 guard and have mastery over the ball, you can definitely set your team up for offense better than many taller players.
6 1 basketball players typically have to work harder than their taller counterparts. But it’s not just basketball skills that shorter players need to work on.
If you look at some of the 6 1 guards in the NBA, they’re much more bulky and heavier set than the taller players. So, at 6’1, they might have an equivalent body mass in terms of weight as a player who’s 6’6.
Obviously, you shouldn’t gain a bunch of fat because getting unnecessarily heavy will hinder your game big time. However, most 6’1 will need a fair amount of muscle in order to compete with the natural physicality of the taller players.
Conclusion: Is it good to be a 6 foot 1 NBA player?
It’s good to be a 6 foot 1 basketball player if you believe in yourself and are prepared to work that bit harder on your skillset.
At the height of 6’1, you won’t be able to rely on your physicality like the taller players can.
Yet, numerous 6 1 NBA players have shown that with enough skill and athleticism, height is no barrier to basketball success.
Just make sure to spend a good amount of time in the gym so that you have a greater physical presence on the court.
References
- Top 10 point guards in the NBA right now. (2022, November 30). RSN. https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/top-10-point-guards-nba-right-now
- National Academy of Sports Medicine. Return to Performance Programming: Court Sports. https://blog.nasm.org/sports-performance/speed-and-agility-training-for-basketball
- Basketball Ball Handling Drills – Basketball Tips. https://www.ussportscamps.com/tips/basketball/ball-handling-drills