Average Height of NBA teams

Ben Mendelowitz Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Basketball’s vertical continues to evolve, blending gargantuan centers with shifty guards in a sport where every inch matters. The NBA’s height dynamics reveal a complex interplay of physiology and shifting positional norms that redefine what it means to “play big.” In addition, this also affects the strategy aspect of the game. As a result, the NBA we watch today differs significantly from the NBA in the past.

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When Giants Roam the Court

The modern NBA team averages 6’6.17” in height, with players collectively towering nine inches above the average American male. This vertical arms race varies significantly across franchises. For instance, the Los Angeles Lakers lead with a 6'7.68" average roster height (despite their move to a ‘small ball’ strategy), while the Denver Nuggets trail at 6'7.13".

If we look at some current rookies, Memphis rookie Zach Edey (7’4”) dominates as the league’s tallest player. However, his teammate Yuki Kawamura (5’8”) holds the shortest distinction. This is a 22-inch gap on the same roster. This polarity can help us identify some trends:

• 16 players stand 7’0” or taller, the highest count in NBA history
• Only 6 players measure under 6’0”, down from 12 in 2015

Teams exploit these extremes strategically. Edey’s Grizzlies use his 320-pound frame to secure 13.2 second-chance points per game. On the other hand, Kawamura’s quickness generates 4.8 fast-break points – proving size isn’t one-dimensional.

Decades of Vertical Growth

If we examine the game's past, we can see how things have changed. In fact, this allows us to see the evolution of the game and its players throughout each phase.

In the early days of professional basketball, particularly in the 1950s, George Mikan, a 6'10 " giant, pioneered post-play. His impact was tremendous, establishing a new center benchmark that would be felt by future generations.

By the 1980s, legends such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were establishing centers as threats to score, taking average heights to their peak of around 6'7" during this period. The same pattern of play could be observed in the 2000s with the reigning Shaquille O'Neal.

Dirk Nowitzki changed the game in the 2000s by making stretch bigs—bigs who could shoot efficiently beyond the three-point line—the norm. This led to positionless lineups that valued wingspan over sheer vertical height.

According to the hoops geek, since their heyday, most centers have grown by roughly 1.7” on average. The same can be said for other positions as well, such as power forwards, as teams become used to more diversified skill sets that transcend all five positions on the court. Nowadays, height is like we have never seen it before, but so is the diversity of each player on the court regardless of it.

The Height-Win Paradox

Historical data reveals only a slight correlation between height and wins, as seen in team performance graphs. Taller teams like Phoenix (6'6.39") and Orlando (6'6.78") achieve mid-tier success (57.4% and 56.8% wins, respectively). On the other hand, exceptionally tall but poorly performing teams like Washington (6'6.38", 19.6% wins) underscore the paradox.

Modern strategies, such as Boston’s defensive versatility and Golden State’s perimeter dominance, prove that adaptability, shooting efficiency, and roster balance often outweigh sheer height in today’s positionless NBA.

Basketball has always had its big guys. Being tall usually means you will have more success in the sport—that is, if you put in the work. However, today, we see plenty of different skill sets that these players require to make it in the league. Players must adapt to different challenges throughout their careers to prove their usefulness.

Average Height of Every NBA Team

The 2024-25 NBA season showcases a clear hierarchy in team height, with the Los Angeles Lakers (202.38 cm / 6'7.68") and Denver Nuggets (200.98 cm / 6'7.13") leading the league’s tallest rosters. These teams leverage their size for advantages in rebounding (the LAL average 42.1 RPG) and rim protection. However, height alone doesn’t guarantee success. If we look at Portland’s win rate, while being the third tallest team at 6'7.08" on average, we see an emphasis on the need for balanced skill sets.

The Portland Trail Blazers (200.87 cm / 6'7.08") and Milwaukee Bucks (200.52 cm / 6'6.95") follow closely, using hybrid lineups that combine length with perimeter versatility. On the other hand, Orlando’s Paolo Banchero (6’10”) anchors a defense allowing just 108.9 PPG, ranking 8th league-wide.

Across the NBA, the average team height is 198.56 cm (6'6.17"), calculated from all 30 teams’ rosters. This reflects a stabilization in player dimensions since the early 2000s, as teams prioritize wingspan (e.g., OKC’s Jalen Williams with a 7’2.25” wingspan) over pure height. Taller teams like Charlotte dominate interior scoring (52.1 paint PPG), but the league-wide trend favors adaptable, positionless lineups blending size and agility.

The Chicago Bulls are listed on the smaller side of the league, with an average height of 6'5.88". Any Chicago based sports fans might want to have a look at this bet365 Illinois Bonus Code page.

Whilst the height of an NBA player might not influence gambling, keen bettors should check out these Fanatics Sportsbook Promo and Fliff Promo Code pages.

The data team at VegasInsider scraped the heights of the whole NBA of CraftedNBA.com.

You can find the dataset here.

Ben Mendelowitz

Ben Mendelowitz is a digital marketing expert who excels in digital PR across industries like finance, crypto, and iGaming. With a background in international political economy, he understands market dynamics and has a knack for creating high quality that garners attention. Ben is also committed to mentoring his team and collaborating closely with content creators and SEO specialists. More from Ben Mendelowitz