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The best 6’4 NBA players in basketball (guards and forwards)

The best 6’4 NBA players in basketball (guards and forwards)

This list of the best 6’4 NBA players includes world-class point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards.

Although 6 foot 4 is a couple of inches shorter than average for an NBA player, these basketball superstars show that stature doesn’t determine skill and that, with enough self-belief and dedication, 6 foot 4 NBA players can find lasting success in the National Basketball Association. 

Related Height and Basketball Articles:

The best 6’4 NBA players

Some NBA players that are 6’4 playing basketball

Here is an exhaustive list of the best 6’4 NBA players in alphabetical order:

  • A.J. Green
  • Aaron Wiggins
  • Anthony Edwards
  • Austin Rivers
  • Ayo Dosunmu
  • Bradley Beal
  • Bruce Brown
  • Buddy Hield
  • Coby White
  • D’Angelo Russell
  • Daishen Nix
  • David Duke Jr.
  • Dejounte Murray
  • Denzel Valentine
  • Deonte Burton
  • Derrick White
  • Donte DiVincenzo
  • Edmond Sumner
  • Frank Ntilikina
  • Gary Harris
  • George Hill
  • Grayson Allen
  • Haywood Highsmith
  • Isaiah Joe
  • Izaiah Brockington
  • Jaden Hardy
  • Jaden Ivey
  • Jaden Springer
  • Jae’Sean Tate
  • Jalen Green
  • James Bouknight
  • Javon Freeman-Liberty
  • Jaylen Nowell
  • Jerome Robinson
  • Joel Ayayi
  • Jordan Clarkson
  • Jordan Poole
  • Josh Okogie
  • Joshua Primo
  • Keon Johnson
  • Kevin Porter Jr.
  • Kyler Edwards
  • Landry Shamet
  • Lonnie Walker IV
  • Malik Beasley
  • Marcus Smart
  • Markelle Fultz
  • Quentin Grimes
  • R.J. Hampton
  • RJ Nembhard Jr.
  • Rodney McGruder
  • Ryan Rollins
  • Sam Merrill
  • Talen Horton-Tucker
  • Terence Davis
  • Theo Maledon
  • Trent Forrest
  • Tyler Dorsey
  • Victor Oladipo
  • Wesley Matthews

What you’ll notice if you’ve read our other height guides is that as the height increases, so too does the number of NBA players—up to a point.

This should give younger 6’4 basketball players the confidence to give the NBA their best shot even though they’re a couple of inches shorter than average for a professional basketball player.

Obviously, not all 6 4 NBA players are as good as each other. Most are good, some are average, and a few are world-class. 

So while aiming for the stars should be encouraged, you don’t need to be the biggest and brightest superstar to find NBA success at the height of 6 foot 4.

List of 6’4 guards in the NBA

Some 6’4 guards in the NBA playing a game of basketball

Some of the best 6’4 guards in the NBA are Anthony Edwards, Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, D’Angelo Russell, Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Bradley Beal, Jalen Green, and Jordan Clarkson.

While there are plenty of point guards and shooting guards who are under 6’4, there are also many 6’4 NBA players who excel in these two positions.

While some of the 6’4 NBA guards may not have the physical presence that taller players have, they often make up for it by being better handlers of the ball and being more agile and explosive.

There are quite a lot of 6’4 guards in the Western Conference as well as the Eastern Conference, so you’ll never be short on talent to watch and emulate.

Shooting guard is the typical position for a 6 foot 4 basketball player, with only a minority of men this height playing point guard.

Who are some good 6’4 forwards in the NBA?

One of the best 6’4 forwards in the NBA throwing a basketball

Obviously, many 6 4 NBA players can play shooting guard as well as small forward, so there’s naturally going to be some crossover with these two positions.

With that in mind, here’s a list of some 6’4 forwards in the NBA:

  • Buddy Hield
  • Jordan Clarkson
  • Talen Horton-Tucker
  • Bruce Brown Jr.
  • Grayson Allen
  • Jae’Sean Tate
  • Quentin Grimes
  • Terence Davis
  • Isaiah Joe
  • Josh Okogie
  • Wesley Matthews

Obviously, most small forwards in the NBA are a fair bit taller than 6 foot 4, and not all of the players mentioned above regularly play in this competitive position.

Generally, most 6 foot 4 NBA players are excellent 3-point shooters, meaning that they can get away with less athletic ability than the likes of point guards.

Are 6’4 basketball players at a disadvantage or not?

A group of 6’4 basketball players with their coach

Most shooting guards are at least 6’4, with many being a couple of inches taller. So does this mean that 6’4 NBA players are at a natural disadvantage?

Obviously, in some ways, they are. But if you can shoot 3-pointers consistently, then your relative lack of height compared to other players on the court isn’t really going to matter.

After all, other skills don’t matter as much in the SG position. So while having good ball handling abilities would be the icing on the cake, it’s not the main requirement for a shooting guard in basketball.

Now, some 6’4 basketball players might be intimidated about being one of the shorter players on the court. But you need to remember that there are many great NBA players under 6’4 who have achieved lasting fame and success due to their superior skill set.

To be sure, you need to be pretty athletic in the NBA these days. But most players can easily work on their athleticism in the gym. What separates the greats from the average players is their skill level, so focus on perfecting your game more so than on being the best athlete. 

Conclusion: What can we learn from 6’4 NBA players?

A glimpse of who is 6’4 in the NBA

So, now that you know who the best 6’4 NBA players are, what can we actually learn from these guys? Well, for one, we can see that most of them play shooting guard, some play point guard, and some play small forward.

Additionally, we can see that skill trumps height (not that height isn’t important in basketball). If it were the other way around, then there would be no 6’4 NBA players on the court.

This obviously isn’t the case, so given the right skills and sufficient athleticism, a 6’4 basketball player shouldn’t feel like they can’t make the NBA.

References

  1. 2022: Ranking the top 20 NBA players right now. (2022, July 12). RSN. https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/2022-ranking-top-20-nba-players-right-now
  2. Staff, H., & Staff, H. (2022, September 23). 20 greatest point guards ever: The HoopsHype list. HoopsHype. https://hoopshype.com/lists/20-greatest-point-guards-ever-the-hoopshype-list/
  3. 5 Ways to become more MENTALLY TOUGH – Basketball Tips. https://www.ussportscamps.com/tips/basketball/5-ways-to-become-more-mentally-tough