Average NBA Height Of Players By Decade

Ever wonder what the average NBA height of a player looked like in 1950?

Men like to measure thing in averages to counterbalance their insecurities. All men who are 5’7″ say, “I’m not short, I’m average.”

Every President of the United States that has been told he has small hands says, “They’re not small, they’re average.”

And well, every man who has been told he has a small joystick…

But how does average NBA height stack up for the not-so-average male?

What I’m talking about is the NBA. People have been saying for years that Wilt could never score as much in the current NBA scheme. He wouldn’t be strong enough or that much taller than anyone in the league today.

Not so fast.

We here at the I-80 Sports Blog pride ourselves on doing a copious amount of research so you all don’t have to. This time it takes us to the average NBA height by decade.

If you recall, we wrote about the tallest player in NBA history, Gheorghe Muresan. We also wrote this piece on the shortest player in NBA history, Muggsy Bogues. So we can be considered experts on height in the NBA.

Before the NBA existed, we took a look back on when basketball was first invented in 1891.

Back then, only the average man could play the sport. During that time the average man in North America was about 5’5″.

Fast forward about 60 years, and we double that number in the NBA’s inaugural decade.

1950s NBA Average Height: 6’5″

Average male height: 5’8″

Notable stars of the decade: Neil Johnston, Paul Arizin, Bob Pettit

1960s NBA Average Height: 6’5″

Average male height: 5’8″

Notable stars of the decade: Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Bill Russell.

1970s NBA Average Height: 6’6″

Average male height: 5’8″

Notable stars of the decade: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Elvin Hayes, John Havlicek

1980s NBA Average Height: 6’6″

Average male height: 5’8″

Notable stars of the decade: Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone

1990s NBA Average Height: 6’6″

Average male height: 5’7″

Notable stars of the decade: Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, David Robinson

2000s NBA Average Height: 6’7″

Average male height: 5’7″

Notable stars of the decade: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson

2010s NBA Average Height: 6’7″

Average male height: 5’7″

Notable stars of the decade: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard

Overall, the height goes up, and talent is talent.

All of you fools that believe that people are better because they’re taller, faster, stronger, etc. are wrong.

Players are getting taller on average, but the real difference maker is development and coaching.

The college process is more grueling, and there are leagues overseas that players *cough* *cough* LaMelo Ball *cough* can use to better their skills at a younger age.

LeBron James is a physical specimen that has reaped the benefits of entering the league at a younger age than most. Now his son is ready to make a splash, and look at the opportunities he has been given.

Hell, Tiger’s son Charlie already has odds on his first major win! The kid hits a better 3-Wood than I could ever imagine.

Technology and opportunity create success in professional sports. Not the physical attributes of a person.

If that were the case, Steve Emtman, Tony Mandarich, Johan Petro, Hamed Haddadi, and Hasheem Thabeet would be in their respective sport’s Hall of Fame.

So remember ladies, size isn’t everything. It’s how a man uses it that determines if he’s a Hall of Famer.