This big list of current 6’6 NBA players contains forwards and guards in both the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference.
A basketball court is surely the only place where the height of 6 foot 6 is considered average. So does this mean that 6’6 is a good height to play basketball?
Yes, but skills come first, as does your mentality. And with that said, let’s get into our alphabetic list of NBA players that are 6’6.
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List of the best 6’6 NBA players
Here’s an extensive list of the best 6’6 NBA players:
- A.J. Lawson
- Adonis Arms
- AJ Griffin
- Alec Burks
- Bogdan Bogdanovic
- Bryce McGowens
- Buddy Boeheim
- Cade Cunningham
- Caris LeVert
- Charlie Brown Jr.
- Chima Moneke
- Christian Braun
- Chuma Okeke
- CJ Elleby
- Cody Martin
- Corey Kispert
- Daeqwon Plowden
- Danny Green
- Danuel House Jr.
- David Roddy
- DeMar DeRozan
- Derrick Jones Jr.
- Draymond Green
- Dylan Windler
- Dyson Daniels
- Eric Paschall
- Eugene Omoruyi
- Evan Fournier
- Grant Williams
- Isaiah Livers
- Jae Crowder
- Jalen Williams
- Jared Rhoden
- Jarrett Culver
- Jaylen Brown
- Jaylen Sims
- Joe Harris
- Joe Wieskamp
- Johnny Juzang
- Jordan Schakel
- Juan Toscano-Anderson
- Justin Champagnie
- Justin Holiday
- Justise Winslow
- Keldon Johnson
- Kelly Oubre Jr.
- Kenrich Williams
- Keon Ellis
- Kevon Harris
- Klay Thompson
- Lamar Stevens
- Leandro Bolmaro
- Lindy Waters III
- Lonzo Ball
- Malcolm Hill
- Malik Ellison
- MarJon Beauchamp
- Max Christie
- Mikal Bridges
- Reggie Bullock
- RJ Barrett
- Ron Harper Jr.
- Shaedon Sharpe
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Spencer Dinwiddie
- Stanley Johnson
- Taurean Prince
- Terrence Ross
- Thanasis Antetokounmpo
- Trevelin Queen
- Troy Brown Jr.
- Tyrese Martin
- Vince Williams Jr.
- Zion Williamson
As you can see, all of the big names that you’d expect are on the list. We have the likes of Zion Williamson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, DeMar DeRozan, Jaylen Brown, and Klay Thompson.
What we noticed from our research is that there are far more 6’6 players in the NBA than 6’5 players and 6’4 players. This indicates that professional basketball is definitely a tall man’s sport, although height obviously isn’t everything.
Most 6 foot 6 NBA players play as small forwards or guards, with a few notable exceptions. Next, we’ll look at some popular 6’6 forwards in the West and East, and also some 6’6 NBA point guards.
Who are some notable 6’6 NBA guards?
Some of the best 6’6 NBA guards are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, Lonzo Ball, Jaylen Brown, Spencer Dinwiddle, Klay Thompson, and DeMar DeRozan.
Some of these 6’6 guards in the NBA play as point guards, such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cade Cunningham, while others primarily play as shooting guards, such as DeMar DeRozan and Jaylen Brown.
Of course, most point guards are under 6 foot 6, but it just goes to show that with the right skills, you can definitely play point guard if you’re 6’6 or even taller.
Point guards naturally have to be excellent ball handlers, which is a skill that the above players possess in abundance.
Who are some good 6’6 forwards in the NBA?
Some good 6’6 forwards in the NBA are Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett, Mikal Bridges, Keldon Johnson, Draymond Green, AJ Griffin, and Kelly Oubre Jr.
Some of these 6 foot 6 forwards, such as Zion Williamson and Draymond Green, play power forward, whereas the others typically play in a small forward role.
Most power forwards are bigger and stronger (and usually taller) than small forwards.
Yet, small forward is an incredibly important position and one that demands great versatility from the modern NBA player.
While 6’6 small forwards in the NBA don’t need to be the absolute best ball handlers on the court, they certainly need to be able to dribble well and also shoot when necessary.
On the flip side of this, the best small forwards have excellent vision on the court and can always pick out game-changing passes when they need to.
How much do 6’6 NBA players usually weigh?
Based on our body mass research, 6’6 NBA players usually weigh around 220 pounds or just under 100 kilograms.
With this kind of body type, the players are big and strong while still retaining their speed and athleticism.
Of course, body types can differ based on position. For example, a 6’6 power forward is going to need more weight and physical strength than a 6’6 point guard.
While 6 6 NBA players need to be strong, they don’t focus on physicality at the expense of skill and mentality. Yet, the best of the bunch are also complete players who rarely have any standout weaknesses in their game.
Is 6 foot 6 a good height for basketball?
Yes, 6 foot 6 is definitely a good height for basketball because this is the height of most NBA players (and if you can play in the NBA, you’re a pretty good basketball player).
Obviously, for certain positions, such as center or power forward, more height is better.
Additionally, at the height of 6 foot 6, you’re definitely not going to be the tallest player on the court, not by a long shot.
Because of this, 6’6 basketball players may want to play small forward rather than center, for example, which makes perfect sense.
Now, if you’re under 6 foot 6, then while you might be disadvantaged in some ways, you’re definitely not too short to play basketball or anything like that.
After all, some of the best NBA players are well under 6 foot 6, which just goes to show that skill is more important than stature in basketball, especially at the professional level.
Conclusion: Why are there so many good 6’6 players in the NBA?
Basketball naturally attracts a lot of tall athletes because they know that they can use their impressive height to their advantage.
Because of the obvious height component to basketball, there are a lot of 6’6 NBA players who’ve found great success in a variety of positions.
The fact that there are 6’6 power forwards and 6’6 point guards shows that 6 foot 6 is a great height for basketball because 6’6 basketball players typically have more versatility than those who are way taller or much shorter.
References
- Augustyn, A. (2023, February 8). The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/list/the-10-greatest-basketball-players-of-all-time
- Wells, A. (2017, October 3). Klay Thompson Says He and Steph Curry Are the Best Guards in the NBA. Bleacher Report. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2600986-klay-thompson-says-he-and-steph-curry-are-best-guards-in-the-nba
- The Definitive 6-Week Guard Workout. (n.d.). https://www.usab.com/youth/news/2012/06/the-definitive-6-week-guard-workout.aspx