There have been many great players in NBA history that were 6’6″ tall (approximately 2.01m tall).
In this post, I take a look at the greatest 6’6″ NBA players of all time. The list includes a couple of the undisputed greatest players of all time (i.e Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant), a couple of the most entertaining players ever (i.e. Vince Carter, Manu Ginobli), and more!
In no particular order, the ten best 6’6″ NBA players of ALL TIME are:
- Michael Jordan
- Kobe Bryant
- Charles Barkley
- Manu Ginobli
- Chris Mullin
- Billy Cunningham
- Chet Walker
- Bob Dandridge
- Dave DeBusschere
- Vince Carter
Note: This list does not include currently active 6’6 players like DeMar DeRozan
Read on for a detailed description of each player, and more:
🐐 Michael Jordan, SG
Michael Jordan, a.k.a Air Jordan, a.k.a. the GOAT, is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time. His career spanned over 15 NBA seasons with two NBA teams (Chicago Bulls: 1984-1998, Washington Wizards: 2001-2003).
Even if you don’t consider Jordan the greatest, you will agree he has been the most influential basketball player of all time.
Jordan revolutionized the game, and is responsible for popularizing basketball and the NBA around the world.
Some of Jordan’s NBA career achievements include: 6x NBA Champ, 6x Finals MVP, 5x MVP, 14x All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA First Team, 1x All-NBA Second Team (1985 – Rookie Year), 1x Defensive Player of the Year (1988), 9x All-Defensive First Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, All Rookie First Team, 10x Scoring Champion, 3x Steals Leader, 2x Dunk Contest Champion.
Jordan is also part of the NBA Anniversary Team (50th, 75th).
He also won two Olympic gold medals (1984, 1992).
Michael Jordan is also the first billionaire NBA player (former or current), with a net worth around $3 billion.
🐍 Kobe Bryant, SG
Kobe Bryant, a.k.a “Black Mamba”, is one of the greatest, and most respected, players of all time. He was best known for his unmatched offensive skill, and work ethic.
His career spanned 20 seasons, all with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Some of Kobe’s career achievements include: 5x NBA Champ, 2x Finals MVP, NBA MVP (2008), 18x All-Star, 4x All-Star Game MVP, 15x All-NBA Team (11x First, 2x Second, 2x Third), 9x All-Defensive Team (9x First, 3x Second), 2x Scoring Champ, Slam Dunk Contest Champ (1997), All-Rookie Second Team (1997).
Kobe Bryant is also a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. He also won two Olympic Gold Medals (2008 Beijing, 2012 London).
Similarly to how Jordan was the most influential player of the 90s, Kobe was one of the most influential players of the 2000s. Many of this generation’s current NBA players looked up to Kobe, including stars like DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine, Klay Thompson, and Jrue Holiday.
🍩 Charles Barkley, PF/SF
Charles Barkley, a.k.a. “The Round Mound of Rebound“, is a former MVP, and one of the greatest rebounders in the history of the NBA . His career spanned over 16 NBA seasons (1984-2000) with three teams (Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets).
He is the shortest player to ever lead the league in rebounding.
Barkley’s other NBA career achievements include: MVP (1993), 11x All-Star, All-Star Game MVP (1991), 11x All-NBA Team (5x First, 5x Second, 1x Third), All-Rookie First Team, 1x Rebounding leader (1987), and member of NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th).
Barkley also has two Olympic gold medals with Team USA (1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta).
These days, Barkley is better known as a humorous TV / analyst for the show “Inside the NBA / NBA on TNT“
Manu Ginobli, SG/SF
Manu Ginobli is best remembered for his exciting playing style, and as one of the greatest “6th man” players ever. The lefty Argentine helped popularize the “Euro-step” move in the NBA, and is one of the most important international players (i.e. non-American) in NBA history.
Ginobli’s NBA career spanned 16 seasons (2002–2018), all with the San Antonio Spurs.
His NBA career achievements include: 4x NBA Champ, 2x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA Third Team, NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2008), and All-Rookie Second Team (2003).
Ginobli also won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Ginobli could have potentially achieved much more in the NBA, but he did not join the league until he was 25 years old (after playing professionally for 7 years in Argentina / Italy). He is considered one of the greatest 2nd round draft picks of all time (57th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft).
Chris Mullin, SG/SF
Chris Mullin is perhaps one of the greatest unathletic NBA players ever. The left-handed sharpshooter managed to carve out a hall-of-fame career despite lacking the speed, or jumping ability of many of his peers.
His career spanned over 16 seasons (1985-2001) with the Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers. Mullin is best remembered for his time with the Warriors as part of the “Run T.M.C” trio during the early 90s (featuring Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin).
Mullin’s NBA career achievements include: 5x NBA All-Star, and 4x All-NBA Team (1x First, 2x Second, 1x Third). He averaged over 20ppg for 6 straight seasons with the Warriors.
He was also a member of the “Dream Team” that won a gold medal at 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Billy Cunningham, SF/PF
Billy Cunningham, a.k.a. “Kangaroo Kid“, is one of the great rebounders of early NBA history. He got the his nickname for his jumping abilities.
He played 11 seasons in the NBA/ABA (1965-1976) for Philadelphia 76ers and Carolina Cougars (ABA).
His NBA/ABA career achievements include: NBA Champ (1967), 4x NBA All-Star, 4x All-NBA Team (3x First, 1x Second), All-Rookie First Team, ABA MVP, All-ABA First Team, ABA All-Star (1973).
Cunningham was also named a member of the NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th), and ABA All-Time Team.
After retiring as a player, Cunningham became the coach of the 76ers (1977-1985). He won another championship as a coach (1983), and is still the winningest coach in 76ers history (.698 winning percentage).
Chet Walker, SF
Chet Walker, a.k.a. “Chet the Jet“, is another great players of the 60s and 70s. He was teammates with Billy Cunningham (listed above) on the Philadelphia championship team of 1967.
Chet played 13 seasons in the NBA (1962-1975) for two teams (Syracuse / Phildelphia; Chicago).
He was never really “the star” of the team, but was known as one of the league’s most consistent scorers, and better defensive players.
Chet averaged double digit scoring every season of his career, and only twice averaged less than 15ppg.
His other NBA achievements include: NBA Champ (1967); 7x All-Star; All-Rookie First Team
🎬 After retiring, Chet became a TV movie producer. He produced “The Mary Thomas Story“, a movie about NBA great Isaiah Thomas’ mother.
Bob Dandridge, SG/SF
Bob Dandridge was one of the best all-around players of the 1970s.
Similar to Chet Walker (above), Dandridge was never the main “star” of the team, but was an important contributor on two different championship teams (Milwakuee, Washington).
Dandridge’s career spanned 13 seasons with two different teams (Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Bullets). He averaged double digit scoring every year of his career except his final season (where he only played 11 games).
His other NBA achievements include: 2x NBA Champ; 4x All-Star; All-NBA Second Team; NBA All-Defensive First Team, All-Rookie First Team.
Interesting stat: Dandridge scored the most total points in the NBA Finals during the 1970s. He played four Finals series, and scored a total of 450 points.
Dave DeBusschere, SF/PF
Dave DeBusschere was a star player in the 1960s and 70s. He was known for his rugged, physical style of play; becoming one of the league’s best rebounders and defensive players.
DeBusschere played 13 seasons with two different teams (Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks).
He averaged a “double-double” (points and rebounds), in 11 of his 13 seasons.
Some of Debusschere’s other NBA achievements include: 2x NBA Champ, 8x All-Star, 6x All-Defensive First Team, All-NBA Second Team, All-Rookie First Team.
He was also a member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
⚾️ Fastball: Dave Busschere was also a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox from 1962-1963. He is one of 13 athletes to have played in both the NBA and MLB.
Vince Carter, SG/SF
Vince Carter, a.k.a. “Half-man Half-amazing“, a.k.a “Vinsanity“, is possibly the greatest dunker EVER, and one of the most naturally talented athletes to ever play in the NBA.
His career spanned 22 seasons (1998-2020), with 8 different teams (Toronto, New Jersey, Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Memphis, Sacramento, Atlanta).
He currently holds the record for most seasons played in NBA history.
Some of Vince Carter’s other NBA achievements include: 8x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team (1x Second, 1x Third), Rookie of the Year (1999), All-Rookie First Team, Slam Dunk Contest Champ (2000), Sportsmanship Award (2020), and Teammate of the Year (2016).
The 2000 Slam Dunk Contest was perhaps the greatest dunk contest in history.
🥇 Dunk of Death: Vince also won a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he had perhaps the greatest in-game dunk of all time (a.k.a. the “dunk of death”).
Some Other Notable 6’6 NBA Players
There have been a ton of other great 6’6″ players in NBA history.
Some other notable 6’6″ players (past or present) include:
- DeMar DeRozan*
- Richard Hamilton
- Ron Harper
- Andre Iguodala
- Eddie Jones
- Dan Majerle
- Michael Redd
- Jerry Stackhouse
- J.R. Smith
- Klay Thompson*
(* still currently playing in the NBA)
Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments below.
Best Current 6’6″ NBA Players
There are currently 69 players in the NBA that are listed at 6’6″ tall. The best current players are:
Of these players, only DeRozan would probably qualify for the all-time great list at this point. The other players like Shai and Booker are still a bit young, but are well on their way to all-time greatness.
👉 Click here for more about 6’6 players currently in the NBA
FAQ
Which NBA players are 6 foot 6?
Click here for a full list of current 6 foot 6 NBA players.
Who is the best 6 6 NBA player of all time?
Michael Jordan is the best 6’6 NBA player of all time.
Check out these posts for more lists (i.e. best 6’7 player of all time; best 6’8 player, etc.):
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Is 6 6 short for NBA?
No, 6’6 is not short for the NBA.
It is actually around the average height for an NBA player. It is also a considered a good height, as 6’6 players can play a variety of positions depending on their particular skill set (guard, forward, and sometimes center).
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Is 6 6 short for NBA?
No, 6’6 is not short for the NBA.
It is actually around the average height for an NBA player. It is also a considered a good height, as 6’6 players can play a variety of positions depending on their particular skill set (guard, forward, and sometimes center).
-
Is 6 6 short for NBA?
No, 6’6 is not short for the NBA.
It is actually around the average height for an NBA player. It is also a considered a good height, as 6’6 players can play a variety of positions depending on their particular skill set (guard, forward, and sometimes center).
Summary
Who is your favorite 6’6″ NBA player of all time? Favorite current player?
Did I miss any notable players on this list?
Let me know in the comments below!
