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Best 6’8 NBA players in basketball (forwards, guards, centers)

Best 6’8 NBA players in basketball (forwards, guards, centers)

This guide contains a big list of all the best 6’8 NBA players currently playing. We’ll go through the best 6’8 NBA forwards as well as the top 6’8 NBA guards and centers so that you can see all the top talent at the height of 6 foot 8.

A 6 foot 8 basketball player is, statistically, 11 inches taller than average for a man but barely 2 inches taller than average for a basketball player.

So while height isn’t everything in a skillful sport like basketball, being tall is an undeniable advantage to have on the court, especially if you know how to use your size well.

Related Basketball Height Articles:

List of all the best 6’8 NBA players

A quick glimpse of who is 6’8 in the NBA currently

Here is a list of all the best 6’8 NBA players:

  • Aaron Gordon
  • Alize Johnson
  • Bismack Biyombo
  • Brandon Clarke
  • Brandon Ingram
  • Braxton Key
  • Caleb Houstan
  • Cam Reddish
  • Cameron Johnson
  • Chris Silva
  • Darius Bazley
  • De’Andre Hunter
  • Deividas Sirvydis
  • Fabian White Jr.
  • Feron Hunt
  • Gabe Brown
  • Harrison Barnes
  • Isaiah Mobley
  • Isaiah Roby
  • Isaiah Stewart
  • Jabari Walker
  • Jake LaRavia
  • Jake Layman
  • Jalen Johnson
  • JaMychal Green
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Jeff Green
  • Jerami Grant
  • Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
  • Joe Ingles
  • Josh Giddey
  • Josh Jackson
  • Josh Minott
  • Julius Randle
  • Justin Jackson
  • Justin Tillman
  • Keegan Murray
  • Keita Bates-Diop
  • Kendall Brown
  • Kevin Love
  • KZ Okpala
  • Michael Foster Jr.
  • Onyeka Okongwu
  • Otto Porter Jr.
  • Pascal Siakam
  • Paul George
  • Peyton Watson
  • Precious Achiuwa
  • Rudy Gay
  • Rui Hachimura
  • Simone Fontecchio
  • T.J. Warren
  • Tari Eason
  • Thaddeus Young
  • Trendon Watford
  • Trey Murphy III
  • Udonis Haslem
  • Usman Garuba
  • Vit Krejci
  • Vlatko Cancar
  • Xavier Tillman Sr.

As you can see from our extensive alphabetical list of the best 6 8 NBA players, all of the world-class superstars are in there, including Jayson Tatum, Julius Randle, Paul George, Pascal Siakam, and Brandon Ingram.

Of course, there are loads of great NBA players who are 6’8, as the National Basketball Association naturally attracts a lot of tall athletes.

You’ll also notice that there are far more 6’8 forwards than 6’8 guards, which makes sense, considering that forwards rely more on their physicality than guards.

The best 6’8 forwards in the NBA

One of the best 6’8 forwards in the NBA throwing the basketball in the hoop

The best 6’8 forwards in the NBA are Jayson Tatum, Pascal Siakam, Paul George, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Aaron Gordon, Harrison Barnes, and Jerami Grant.

The majority of these players are power forwards, but some are small forwards as well.

6 foot 8 NBA players are naturally suited to the power forward position due to being much taller than the average guard and also a bit bigger than your typical small forward.

Of course, there are numerous 6’8 small forwards who’ve found great basketball success; it’s just that 6’8 power forwards are more common.

The best 6’8 guards in the NBA

Two of the best 6’8 guards in the NBA playing basketball

As you would expect, there aren’t that many 6’8 guards in the NBA because most guards are quite a bit shorter than 6 foot 8.

Still, there are some 6 foot 8 guards. And some of the best 6’8 NBA guards are Josh Giddey and Vit Krejci. Obviously, players like Paul George and Joe Ingles can play shooting guards as well, but they’re primarily small forwards.

Clearly, most 6 foot 8 basketball players don’t play point guard or shooting guard because they can better utilize their size and strength in other positions.

The best 6’8 centers in the NBA

A 6 foot 8 basketball player passing the ball

Center is a basketball position for the big men, so there will naturally be a few 6’8 centers in the NBA, including Onyeka Okongwu, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Stewart, Xavier Tillman, and Chris Silva.

Most NBA centers are a fair bit taller than 6 foot 8 and may not have the mesmerizing skill set of players in other positions.

Still, centers need good mobility, which means being able to run and jump quickly. You might think this is easy for a professional athlete, but these attributes are much harder to attain when you’re in excess of 6 foot 8.

Are there any 6’8 female basketball players?

A 6’8 female basketball player dunking the ball

Yes, there are some notable 6’8 female basketball players like Maria Stepanova, Liz Cambage, Katie Mattera, Lindsay Taylor, and Razija Brcaninovic.

While there are many tall WNBA players, there are far more 6’8 basketball players in the NBA because men are naturally taller than women.

Still, it’s interesting to know that these accomplished 6’8 female basketball players are two full inches taller than a typical male NBA player!

Some of the above-mentioned players are currently playing, whereas others are retired. This just shows how rare it is statically for a WNBA player to be 6 foot 8.

Is 6 foot 8 a good height for a basketball player?

One of the 6’8 basketball players

The height of 6 foot 8 is definitely a good height for a basketball player because you’re a couple of inches taller than the average player and can really use the extra height to your advantage.

Taller players are often stronger and have an easier time imposing themselves in forward positions.

Yet, at 6 foot 8, they’re not so tall that they lack good mobility. So in this sense, you could say that 6 foot 8 is a truly excellent height for an NBA player.

You’ll have the potential for great defensive ability due to your size, which really enables you to slot nicely into the forward positions.

In conclusion: What can we learn from the NBA players that are 6’8?

NBA players that are 6’8 playing some basketball on the court

We know from watching the best 6’8 NBA players that despite being tall, most of these men are extremely athletic as well.

Of course, all 6’8 players in the NBA have their own individual strengths and weaknesses, which really makes the game interesting.

Sometimes you think that a tall player is going to play a certain way, but then they surprise you with their amazing shooting and passing, for example.

References

  1. Olojede, Z. (2022, October 5). The 30 Best Players in the NBA Right Now, Ranked. Complex. https://www.complex.com/sports/best-nba-players-2022
  2. Rookie Road. (2023, February 7). Basketball Power Forward. https://www.rookieroad.com/basketball/player-positions/power-forward/
  3. Cissik, J. (2021, November 14). Basketball Off-Season Workout: Strength and Size. Stack. https://www.stack.com/a/basketball-offseason-strength-workout/