The 25 best NBA players over 7 feet tall

For a long time before LeBron, Kareem held the seemingly insurmountable all-time NBA scoring record. He was dominant from the start of his career, averaging 28 points per game his rookie year, and still scoring 23 a night when he was 38. That and his defense powered him to six championships and as many MVP trophies, the most ever won by a single player.

At the height of his powers, if Shaq was within a few feet of the basket, he was virtually unstoppable. The results speak for themselves: Three consecutive titles from 2000 to 2002, two scoring titles, an MVP, and 15 All-Star selections. For the bulk of his near-two-decade career, O'Neal was the most imposing player in the NBA.

Wilt had a career that will never be repeated. As far as individual statistics go, nobody will ever match him: 50 points and 25 rebounds per game across an entire season will not happen again in the NBA, and 100 points in a game is also wildly unlikely. In the league's early days, there was nobody else like Wilt.

Hakeem is one of the most talented and complete bigs to ever play the game. Despite his tall frame, he played with a nimbleness and touch of somebody much shorter. Between his unparalleled footwork and dominant defense, Hakeem "The Dream" was a nightmare to go up against.

Like Hakeem, Dirk is one of the greatest international players in NBA history. In an era before stretch bigs were the standard, Nowitzki changed the game with his shooting ability at his size. Inside the three-point arc, his one-leg fadeaway was unguardable, and he brought many great moments to Dallas basketball fans for over two decades.

Robinson delayed his NBA start due to military obligations, but the wait was worth it. First-year averages of 24 points, 12 rebounds, and a hair under 4 blocks per game earned him the Rookie Of The Year trophy and the first of many All-Star nods. "The Admiral" contributed to a bunch of winning, including two championships, and was one of the best centers of the '90s.

Injuries have unfortunately plagued Embiid throughout his career: As of the end of the 2025 season, he's never played over 70 games in a year, and routinely plays in around or under 50. When he's on the court, though, he's one of the most versatile and skilled big men the NBA has ever seen. He finished second in MVP voting for two years straight before finally winning the award in 2023.

There were a lot of great centers in the '90s, and Ewing was right up there with the best of them. He had the rare honor of being named an All-Star during his rookie season, and he used his stifling defense and prolific offense to earn plenty more nods during the rest of his 17-year career. He was the face of New York basketball for over a decade, most notably when he led the Knicks to the Finals in 1994.

In his ABA days, Gilmore was an immediate star, winning both Rookie Of The Year and MVP in his first season. The 7'2" big's success continued in the NBA, too, becoming a consistent All-Star and a highly efficient scorer, finishing his NBA career with a field goal percentage of just under 60. His rebounding was another critical asset, as he had 10 boards per game over 12 NBA seasons.

Dikembe wasn't a huge offensive threat, but he did his work on the other end of the floor; Over his career, he has more rebounds than points per game. He was a phenomenal shot blocker, leading the league in the stat for three straight years. Mutombo picked up an impressive four Defensive Player Of The Year trophies, too, cementing his status as one of his era's biggest legends.

Injuries shortened what should have been a much longer reign for Yao. What a player, though: He had surprisingly excellent touch for a guy who stood at 7'6". Not only was he dominant for a few years, but he also helped expand the NBA's global audience, particularly in China.

Kobe and Shaq were the NBA's most threatening duo of the late '90s and early 2000s, but later on, Kobe and Gasol were hard to stop, too. Gasol's complementary position and skill-based play made him and Kobe a great one-two, good enough to win back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. He had an unselfish play style but was more than capable of leading when the situation called for it.

Victor Wembanyama is still very early in his career, but the early returns are incredibly promising. He's 7'4" but has guard-like skills, dangerous on offense whether he's pulling up from three or towering over everybody in the lane. On top of that, he's, unsurprisingly given his length, one of the NBA's best defensive players, meaning that if he can stay healthy and continue on his current track, Wemby should have a phenomenal career ahead.

KAT is one of the most talented offensive big men of his generation. He was a No. 1 draft pick, and he has delivered on his promise so far, winning Rookie Of The Year and going on to average at least 24 points per game in six seasons. He's an outstanding shooter and not just for his size, as his career three-point percentage is right around 40.

Larry Bird and even Kevin McHale got most of the glory during the Celtics' prosperous 1980s, but Parish was a seven-time All-Star during that decade, too. He was also as durable as they came: He finished his career with 1,611 regular-season games played (a record that LeBron James is either about to break or has already broken).

So far, Gobert has finished in the top three for Defensive Player Of The Year voting six times and won the award four of those years. He's impactful as a complementary offensive piece, too, setting screens, rolling to the rim, and finishing high-percentage looks. It's the defense, though, that has landed him on multiple All-NBA teams.

Hopes were high for Porziņģis in New York, but injury ended his time with the Knicks prematurely. He has dealt with various health issues regularly since then, but when he's on the floor, he's a tough guard. At 7'2", he's a great shot blocker, but also has guard-like shooting range and otherwise makes a team's offense significantly more dynamic.

Lopez is one of the best-ever NBA stories of a successful career reinvention. After becoming an All-Star for his strong interior play, he developed an effective outside shot as he approached 30. As stretch bigs became more valuable, Lopez became one and extended his tenure as a valuable player for years.

Markkanen spent his first few years delivering solid play during stints with Chicago and Cleveland, but he really broke out after being traded to Utah. In his first season with the team, he averaged 25 points a game, made his first All-Star team, and was voted the Most Improved Player of the year. He has maintained a high standard of play since then, excelling as a tall and athletic forward.

Eaton started his NBA career at 26 years old because, although he stood at 7'4", it took being discovered by a basketball coach while working as a mechanic to get him to play professionally. After an underwhelming college career, he quickly made an impact, averaging three blocks per game his rookie season. He would go on to lead the league in them four times and earn two DPOY trophies.

With his long arms and exemplary mobility, Chandler was one of the best defensive players of his generation. Over a three-season stretch, he made three All-Defense teams and won a DPOY trophy. His defensive contributions were also invaluable during the Mavericks' 2011 title run.

After battling injuries early in his career, "Big Z" became a legend in Cleveland. He was there during the down years, and he remained valuable as he transitioned into LeBron's All-Star sidekick in the mid-2000s. He never won a title with the Cavs, but he was critical to their 2007 Finals appearance.

Smits may not have been the star a team would hope for as a No. 2 draft pick, but he gave the Pacers 12 excellent seasons. "The Dunking Dutchman" had a soft touch and a reliable mid-range game that was tough to defend given his 7'4" frame. He made his only All-Star team in 1998 and helped lead Indiana on its Finals run in 2000.

When the 7'3" Sabonis finally made it to the NBA in his 30s after establishing himself as an international legend, he demonstrated what the hype was about. His peak athleticism was behind him, but even without it, he was an impactful scorer, rebounder, and playmaker. He was ahead of his time, and basketball historians will always wonder what sort of NBA career he could have had if he had joined the league sooner.

Holmgren isn't long into his career, but it's clear he's one of the biggest success stories of the 2022 draft class. He has great perimeter skills for a player his size and also stands out as a rim protector. He was a key part of the championship-winning 2025 Thunder, and he earned his first All-Star selection in 2026, setting the table for a bright NBA future.