If you want an exhaustive list of the best 6’5 NBA players, then this basketball guide is for you.
I think it’s fair to say that a basketball court is the only place where 6 foot 5 is considered a below-average height.
Yet, being a touch shorter than average hasn’t stopped these 6 5 NBA players from achieving serious success as forwards and guards on the competitive NBA courts.
Related Basketball Articles:
- Average NBA height
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The best 6’5 NBA players (extensive list)
Here is an alphabetical list of the best 6’5 NBA players. You can see some really talented names on this list who have achieved worldwide fame for their skills and charisma.
- Aaron Nesmith
- Admiral Schofield
- Alex Caruso
- Alondes Williams
- Andrew Nembhard
- Austin Reaves
- Blake Wesley
- Caleb Martin
- Chris Duarte
- Damion Lee
- DaQuan Jeffries
- David Nwaba
- Davon Reed
- Delon Wright
- Desmond Bane
- Devin Booker
- Devin Vassell
- Garrett Temple
- Garrison Mathews
- Gary Trent Jr.
- Hamidou Diallo
- Isaac Okoro
- Ish Wainright
- Jalen Suggs
- James Harden
- Javante McCoy
- Javonte Green
- John Konchar
- John Petty Jr.
- Johnny Davis
- Josh Green
- Josh Hart
- Josh Richardson
- Kellan Grady
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Kenyon Martin Jr.
- Killian Hayes
- Lester Quinones
- Malaki Branham
- Malcolm Brogdon
- Marcus Garrett
- Matisse Thybulle
- Max Strus
- Moses Moody
- Nassir Little
- Nate Hinton
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- Ochai Agbaji
- P.J. Tucker
- Pat Connaughton
- Quenton Jackson
- Romeo Langford
- Royce O’Neale
- Shake Milton
- Sterling Brown
- Terry Taylor
- Theo Pinson
- Tim Hardaway Jr.
- Trevor Keels
- Ty Jerome
- Tyler Hall
- Tyler Herro
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Wendell Moore Jr.
- Will Barton
- Zach LaVine
Naturally, some of these 6’5 basketball players are better than others. Not everyone is going to be world-class, even if they play in the NBA.
One thing that we can say from our research is there are more 6’5 players in the NBA than 6’4 players and 6’3 players.
This shows that height—while not the be-all and end-all of NBA greatness—is undeniably important for reaching the top level.
Obviously, you don’t need to be extremely tall. Rather, you just need enough height for your particular position, although there are exceptions, usually when shorter players are extremely skillful.
6’5 forwards in the NBA
Small forwards need excellent defensive skills and a larger body size than the likes of shooting guards and pointing guards, meaning that most forwards are quite a bit taller than 6 foot 5.
Still, there are some excellent 6’5 forwards in the NBA, such as Desmond Bane, Josh Hart, Devin Vassell, Terance Mann, Tim Hardaway Jr., Max Strus, Aaron Nesmith, Nassir Little, Josh Green, Hamidou Diallo, and Isaac Okoro.
There are more 6’5 NBA forwards than this, especially knowing that some players are small forwards as well as shooting guards. This makes sense considering that 6 foot 5 is what you’d call an in-between height.
In other words, most point guards are under 6 foot 5, but most small forwards are a couple of inches taller than 6 foot 5.
6’5 guards in the NBA
There are a fair few 6’5 guards in the NBA, especially if we’re talking about 6’5 shooting guards.
Some notable 6’5 point guards in the NBA are Malcolm Brogdon, Alex Caruso, Jalen Suggs, Killian Hayes, Delon Wright, Ty Jerome, Andrew Nembhard, and Blake Wesley.
There are fewer 6’5 point guards in the NBA than 6’5 shooting guards.
Some good 6’5 shooting guards in the NBA include James Harden, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Austin Reaves, Gary Tren Jr., Tyler Herro, Zach LaVine, shake Milton, Javonte Green, Luke Kennard, and Josh Richardson.
Is 6 foot 5 a good height for basketball?
While shorter than average (for an NBA player), 6 foot 5 is definitely a good height for a basketball player because you can excel as a shooting guard and, depending on your skills and body type, as a point guard or small forward also.
Obviously, there are a lot of NBA players who are considerably taller than 6 foot 5, meaning that they will likely have more physical strength (though not always) and better defensive abilities.
Of course, if you’re a 6’5 basketballer who’s still growing, then there’s a decent chance that you’ll end up taller than you are now, which may mean changing position.
Still, many shorter basketball players would love to be 6 foot 5, so even though you are technically a bit shorter than average, you should still be happy that you’re plenty tall enough to play in the NBA—skills and determination permitting.
The verdict: How successful are most 6’5 NBA players?
There are many successful 6’5 NBA players—Harden, Haliburton, Booker, Bane—most of whom play shooting guard.
Yet, some 6 5 NBA players have also found success in positions such as point guard and small forward, so not every 6 foot 5 basketball player is going to play SG.
Hopefully, our extensive list of 6’5 guards and forwards in the NBA inspires you to make the most of your own height and physical attributes when you’re on the court.
References
- Ranking the top 74 NBA players of all time – Nos. 10-1. (2020, May 13). ESPN.com. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29105801/ranking-top-74-nba-players-all-nos-10-1
- The Ultimate Guide to Playing Shooting Guard. https://www.usab.com/youth/news/2011/06/the-ultimate-guide-to-playing-shooting-guard.aspx
- The Importance of Determination in Basketball – Basketball Tips. https://www.ussportscamps.com/tips/basketball/the-importance-of-determination-in-basketball