Basketball is a Worldwide sport and it is filled with many great players and individuals, such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and many other great professional basketball players. They are known for their quick movements and amazing leaping ability. They all have one thing in common their massive height which gives them a advantage while dunking. But there are many other players who are not that gifted with their height like others but still have made a name for themselves and have flourished in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
So today we have compiled a list of some of the Shortest NBA player to dunk.
Will Bynum (5feet 11nch)
William Bynum is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Arizona and Georgia Tech before going undrafted in the 2005 NBA draft.
He was the 2007 Israeli Basketball Premier League Finals MVP.
After playing in the NBA Development League where he earned the NBDA Rookie of the Year Award.
After a two-year stint in the Euroleague, he impressed many teams. He came to limelight as he caught the attention of the Detroit Pistons in 2008 and parlayed that into a fruitful 7-year career in the NBA.
He was nicknamed the “Will the Thrill” and “Bynumite”. He was also called “Bynumite” because of his explosive athletic ability and agility.
Boston Celtics
On October 17, 2014, Bynum was traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Joel Anthony. Ten days later, he was waived by the Celtics.
On December 5, 2014, Bynum signed with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association as an injury replacement for Emmanuel Mudiay. In 30 games for Guangdong, he averaged 22.3 points, 7.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 32.1 minutes.
He had one of the best vertical jump in the Chinese league. He was probably one of the shortest NBA dunkers in NBA history.
Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed “the Answer” and “AI”, he played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) at both the shooting guard and point guard positions.
Iverson won NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1997 and was an 11-time NBA All-Star. He also won the All-Star game MVP award in 2001 and 2005, and was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2001.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. In October 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Allen Iverson is often regarded as one of the greatest scorers and one of the most influential players in NBA history.
He began his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996. Then in 2006, he moved to Denver Nugets where he spent two seasons, before moving to Detroit Pistons.
Allen Iverson became three time steals leader from 2000-2003. NBA Most Valuable Player in 2001.
The 76ers retired the no.3 Jersey in honour of Iverson.
He was one of the shortest NBA dunkers in NBA game.
Ty Lawson (5feet 11nch)
Tywon Ronell Lawson also known as Ty Lawson is an American professional basketball player who is currently plays for the Ball Hogs of the BIG3.
He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels where he won the 2009 national championship his junior year.
Lawson became one of the best NBA players under 6 foot, starting at point guard for the Denver Nuggets and helping them to a 57-25 record in the 2012-2013 season.
Ty Lawson was well known for his impressive dunks and flashy moves, but he was also equally dangerous from the back also as he could easily score 3-pointers from the court line.
He won ACC Player of the Year in 2009 and also became the NCCA Champion in the same year.
The North Carolina Tar Heels retired their no.5 Jersey in honour of him.
Ty Lawson was one of the shortest NBA players to ever play in the NBA.
Nate Robinson (5ft 9inch)
Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson aka Nate Robinson is an former American professional basketball player who currently works as a ESPN analyst.
He became the first three-time slam dunk contest winner in 2010. The guy has a memorable 43-inch jump block in 2006 against his 2 feet taller opponent Yao Ming. He is the only player in the NBA history to win the NBA Slam dunk contest.
He was a multi-sport athlete in his high school days in Washington. Later, Robinson enrolled at Washington College on a football scholarship. He played over 600 nba games in his career.
Robinson is also known for his high vertical leap. He could easily dunk from the free throw line during his first two years in the NBA and from the 3- point line during his rookie season with Seattle.
Robinson was named for the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team and also earned the All-Pac-10 Team Honors. Forgoing his final year of college eligibility, Robinson was declared for the NBA draft in April 2005.
The 5feet 9inches point guard, was drafted by the New York Knicks as there 21st overall draft pick. He playes five seasons for the team.
Nate Robinson earned over 24 million dollars throughout his career as an NBA player. These earnings are achieved by Robinson while playing for eight different teams in 11 seasons.
After retiring from NBA, he became a professional boxing player at the age of 36. Currently he serves as a analyst in ESPN. He was one of the shortest dunkers in the NBA history.
Isaiah Thomas (5feet 9inches)
Isaiah Jamar Thomas is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
He most notably played with the Boston Celtics from 2015 through 2017, when he was a two-time NBA All-Star and named second-team All-NBA.
The 5-feet-9-inches Isaiah is known for his extraordinary ability and efforts. His height makes him one of the shortest person to dunk, but he achieved success with courage and aggressive gameplay.
In the 2011, NBA draft, Isaiah Thomas was selected by the Sacramento Kings as their final pick. He has played for eight different team in his career and is currently playing for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA.
Isaiah also had a place on the All-NBA Second Team in 2017. Besides that, Thomas was also bestowed with NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2012 by NBA head coaches.
He was also a PAC-10 freshman of the year and two time Pac-10 Tournament MVP (2010, 2011).
The Washington Huskies retired the No. 2 Jersey in honour of him.
With a height of 5feet 9inches, Isaiah Thomas is probably one of the shortest person to play in the NBA.
Calvin Murphy (5feet 9inches)
Calvin Jerome Murphy is an former American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a point guard for the San Diego/Houston Rockets from 1970 to 1983.
At 5feet 9inches, Calvin is considered as one of the shortest dunkers in NBA. As a point guard he was a menace for the opponents, he used to give a tough time to all his opponents with his agility and jumps.
In 1970, the San Diego rockets picked Calvin as the second round pick with the 18th overall pick in the NBA draft. Furthermore, Calvin was also praised as NBA All-Star in 1979 by the management.
Calvin won the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1971. Due to his significant entire career performance, he was awarded J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award by PBWA.
He is also a member of the Connecticut Coaches Association Hall of Fame and a Connecticut Sportswriters Gold Key Award winner.
Calvin Murphy was one of the shortest NBA dunkers in the NBA history.
Kay Felder (5feet 9inches)
Kahlil Ameer “Kay” Felder Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Shanxi Loongs of the Chinese Basketball Association.
The 5-foot-9-inch point guard, declared for the 2016 NBA draft at the conclusion of his junior year at Oakland. Felder is the Horizon League career assists leader.
He was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 NBA Summer League, where he spent only one season. Felder tied Pat Connaughton for the second-highest maximum vertical leap recorded in draft combine history at 44 inches (110 cm).
He then played for three different nba teams like, Canton Chargers and Chicago Bulls, along with the Piston Rockets before moving to the Chinese league.
In 2019, he joined the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball League.
After spending one season, he then signed for the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions. He is currently playing for the Shanxi Loongs.
The 5feet 9inch, player is a Horizon League Player of the Year. He aslo won the 2× First-team All-Horizon League.
Kay Felder was probably one of the shortest NBA person to play in the NBA history.
Keith Jennings
Keith Russell “Mister” Jennings aka Keith Jennings is a former American basketball player who played professional in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and overseas in European leagues.
He is considered to be one of the shortest player to dunk, he played for various leagues in his career, including the NBA. Keith played for nine different teams in his career.
After retirement, he started coaching in 2004, in the Highland School. He is currently coaching the Lees–McRae (women’s) team.
He was honored with the French League Foreign MVP in the Club basketball League in France, and also he won the French League Best Scorer award in 1999.
He was probably one of the shortest dunkers in NBA history.
Greg Grant (5feet 7inch)
Gregory Alan Grant also known as Greg Grant is a retired American professional basketball player. Throughout his career Greg has played for many teams in the NBA.
At 5feet 7inches, he was one of the shortest person to ever dunk.
In high school, he has to work as a fisherman. Because of his jumping ability, agility and talent, Greg was enrolled in The College of New Jersey by the authority in 1986.
In 1989, he was selected in the NBA draft as the 52nd overall pick by Phoenix Suns. Moreover, he has played for sixteen different teams in his entire career and was also honored with CBA assists leader in 1995.
He was awarded NABC Division III Player of the Year in 1989. Moreover, Greg won First-team Division III All-American two times in 1988 and 1989.
He was one of the shortest NBA players to play in NBA.
Spud Webb
Anthony Jerome “Spud” Webb also known as Spud Webb is an American former professional basketball player.
Webb, is the shortest NBA dunker to have won an NBA Small Dunk contest in 1986. He defeated his teammate Dominique Wilkins (a great dunker himself) with two perfect 50s, a feat achieved by some players in the final round. The commentators used to say that the little guy has spring in his legs due to his unreal leaps.
He shocked the world with his height sleeping ability and dunking prowess for such a short guy of 5feet 7inches.
He was one of the shortest dunker in NBA history, being listed at 5 ft 6 in tall. He was also one of the shortest players to ever play.
Earl Boykins (5feet 5inch) – Shortest NBA player to dunk
Earl Antoine Boykins is a former American professional basketball player. Standing at 5 feet, 5 inches in height, he is the second-shortest player in NBA history behind Muggsy Bogues, who is 5 feet, 3 Inches tall.
He was the head coach for the Douglas County High School boys varsity basketball team.
He began his NBA career with1 the Rockford Lightning where he spent only one season.
He then moved to New Jersey Nets but was transferred to Cleveland Cavaliers in 1999.
In 2000, he signed for the Los Angeles Clippers where he spent two seasons. Then in 2003 he signed a five-year, $13.7 million contract with the Denver Nuggets. On November 11, 2004, Boykins scored 32 points in a 117–109 Nuggets’ home win over the Detroit Pistons,
Boykins was well known for his agility and vertical jump. He could also score 3-pointers from the court line.
In total he played 13 season for different teams averaging over 8.9 points per game and 19.9 minutes a game.
He was one of the shortest dunkers in NBA history.
Also check out the list of Top 10 shortest players in the NBA history.
