Height and wingspan are some of the physical characteristics that NBA scouts look for. However, among all the positions in the NBA, the point guard has always been the shortest position. This is because ball-handling skills and game IQ play a bigger role in this position than height advantage.
If you need any proof, players like Steph Curry at 6′ 3″ and Damian Lillard at 6′ 2″ are legendary point guards despite being shorter than the average NBA player. This does not mean there are no tall point guards in the NBA. G.O.A.Ts like Magic Johnson who was 6′ 9 and Oscar Robertson both excelled as tall point guards.
Tallest Point Guards in the NBA Currently
So, who are the tall outliers in the point guard position in the current NBA? NBA roster labels can vary, but the players below are among the tallest current guards or primary ball-handlers regularly discussed as point guards.
Josh Giddey
- Height – 6’8
- Team – Chicago Bulls
At 6’8, Josh Giddey is one of the tallest guards in the NBA and one of the best examples of a modern jumbo point guard. The Australian playmaker began his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder before joining the Chicago Bulls, and his size helps him see over defenses and create looks for teammates.
LaMelo Ball
- Height – 6’7
- Team – Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo Ball is a tall, creative point guard who uses his size and passing vision to make plays that shorter guards often cannot see. At 6’7, he is much taller than the traditional NBA point guard and remains one of the league’s most recognizable young playmakers.
Dyson Daniels
- Height – 6’7
- Team – Atlanta Hawks
Dyson Daniels is another tall guard who brings size, defense and secondary playmaking to the backcourt. At 6’7, he has the height to defend multiple positions while still handling the ball and helping initiate offense.
Cade Cunningham
- Height – 6’6
- Team – Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham is not as tall as the 6’8 and 6’7 names above him, but at 6’6 he is still a very tall point guard by NBA standards. His size allows him to operate as a lead ball-handler, pass over defenders and create mismatches against smaller guards.
Luka Dončić
- Height – 6’6
- Team – Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Dončić is often listed as a guard-forward, but he has long functioned as a primary ball-handler and one of the NBA’s premier playmakers. At 6’6, he brings the size of a wing with the passing, control and scoring responsibility of a point guard.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Height – 6’6
- Team – Oklahoma City Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is another 6’6 guard who can run offense, score from different levels and create for teammates. His length and control make him one of the toughest tall guards to defend in the NBA.
Related Read: What is an Assist in Basketball & Assists Leaders
Tallest Point Guards In NBA History
Basketball is constantly evolving and the average point guard height in the NBA has also changed over time.
However, even before the current crop of players, there have been some impressive point guards who were taller than the average height for this position. Some of the tallest point guards in NBA history are:
Magic Johnson
- Height – 6’9
- Team – Los Angeles Lakers
At 6’9 and widely regarded as the best point guard to have ever played in the NBA, Magic Johnson was one of the best and tallest point guards in the NBA. As a 12-time NBA All-Star who also won 3 MVP awards, Magic’s illustrious career is one that many point guards can only aspire to.
This Lakers legend combined high basketball IQ, outstanding passing skills and court vision to cement his name as the best point guard to have played in the NBA. While many ruthless guards are coming up in the NBA, so far, Magic remains in a league of his own.
Oscar Robertson
- Height – 6’5
- Teams – Milwaukee Bucks, Cincinnati Royals
6’5 may not seem like a tall figure in the NBA, but as far as point guards are concerned, Oscar Robertson was definitely on the taller end of the spectrum. This ruthless point guard was the first player in the NBA to ever average a triple-double for a whole season.
Robertson won an MVP award and an NBA championship. With career stats like 25.7 points per game 9.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game, Robertson’s talent as a point guard was quite impressive.
Jason Kidd
- Height – 6’4
- Teams – Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets
You may know him now as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, but before his coaching career, Jason Kidd was one of the best point guards in the game.
Jason played for various teams in the NBA during his career including the Suns, Nets, Knicks and Mavericks before finishing up with the New York Knicks.
With milestones like third all-time in assists and third all-time in steals in NBA history under his belt, Jason Kidd will always be regarded as one of the best point guards to have played in the NBA.
Gary Payton
- Height – 6’4
- Teams – Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat
Famously known as the glove, the 6’4 Gary Payton was the first point guard to win the best defensive player award in the NBA.
While he may not have been the tallest player in the game, at 6’4 he ranked among the tallest point guards of the time. Known for his outstanding defense, Gary Payton had an illustrious career playing for giants like the Celtics, Lakers, and the Miami Heat.
Related Read: 10 Tallest WNBA Players: Current and Historically
Conclusion
The NBA is almost synonymous with taller than average athletes. However, in some positions like a point guard, height is a secondary consideration.
Players like Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry and Damian Lillard have all excelled as point guards despite being on the shorter end of the scale by NBA standards. Ultimately in a sport like basketball, height will always be an advantage and tall point guards like Josh Giddey and LaMelo Ball will continue to make their mark in the game.