`Player, Players on the Court, Who’s the Tallest on the Floor?
Image Courtesy of The Athletic
By MaggieMae Dethlefsen
Height is something that is often associated with playing basketball; here are the top five historically tallest basketball players.
1.Malmut Alhassan
Mr. Alhassan was a center at The University of Tennessee at Martin. He was one of the tallest players to play in NCAA Division I basketball. Alhassan played for them in the early 2000s. Though he didn’t have an important career post his college career he did play overseas and in different leagues.
2. Gheorghe Muresan – 7’7″
Muresan played center at the University of San Diego (USD). He is a former Romanian basketball player. Muresan was the NBA MVP in 1996 got his start at USD and his height made him standout. He was drafted to the Wizards and became known in the NBA.
3. Manute Bol – 7’7”
He went to Division II Bridgeport where he played center. He became one of the most notable shot-blockers in NBA history. Bol played 10 seasons in the NBA and is one of the tallest players in professional basketball.
4. Sudanese-born Bol Ajak – 7’6”
He was a center at Northern Arizona University. He was most known for his rebounds and his height. He was a strong defensive presence and after college he predominantly played overseas. Bol Ajak ended up being a coach and mentor to younger athletes.
5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 7’2”
Abdul-Jabbar played as center at UCLA and is seen as one of the best players of all time. He played under Coach John Wooden at UCLA and helped lead the team to three back to back national titles from 1967-1969. In the NBA he won six championship titles and is one of the league’s highest scoring players.
