Shortest Shooting Guards to Play in the NBA
While many of us assume that NBA players are massive figures, towering over the rest of the population, that generally remains untrue. And while there definitely are some extremely tall players, particularly those playing the center position, a large number of NBA players are moderately taller than the average individual.
And to help dispel this myth, we are going to look at and review the shortest shooting guards to play in the NBA. And while, admittedly, the shooting guard position is not exactly known for its height requirement, these NBA players proved that success in the NBA isn’t correlated with height.
Looking for a full write-up on the shortest NBA players by position? We’ve got you covered here.
Allen Iverson
Height: 6’0
We’ve previously profiled Allen Iverson, including him being one of the poorest NBA players before entering the league and as one of the NBA players to be raised with his biological father absent.
But there is so much more to Iverson then his struggles as a youth and his height of 6’0″.
Allen Iverson was one of the most prolific ball-handlers and shooters in the NBA. Nicknamed “the Answer” and “AI”, he played 14 seasons in the NBA at both the shooting guard and point guard positions.
In his time in the league, he won NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1997 and was an 11-time NBA All-Star, won the All-Star game MVP award in 2001 and 2005, and was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player 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.
Isaiah Jamar Thomas
Height: 5’9″
Isaiah Jamar Thomas is both a shooting and point guard, who currently last played for the Charlotte Hornets. At just 5’9″, he is definitely one of the shortest shooting guards to have played in the league. However, he did not allow his smaller stature affect his time in the league.
Having played three years for the Washington Huskies, where he was a three-time all-conference selection in the Pac-10, he would forgo his senior year and declare his eligibility for the NBA draft. Selected by the Sacramento Kings with the final pick of the 2011 NBA draft, he would play for a number of teams in his NBA career, including the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
A 2-time NBA All-Star, an All-NBA Second Team member, and an NBA All-Rookie Second Team member, Thomas made the most of his NBA career even as a shorter shooting guard.
Derek Fisher
Height: 6’1″
Born on August 9, 1974, Derek Fisher is a current professional basketball coach and former NBA player. Having played in the NBA for 18 seasons, Fisher is most widely remembered, and loved, for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and their glory years in the 2000’s.
Standing in at just 6’1″, Fisher played college basketball for the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans, during which time he would earn the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 1996. He would be selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1996 NBA draft with the 24th pick.
Derek Fisher would win three consecutive championships with the Lakers and duo Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. An instrumental player to the Lakers success, Fisher was also the all-time NBA record holder in playoff games played until he was passed by LeBron James in 2020.
Lou Williams
Height: 6’1″
Lou Williams last played for the Atlanta Hawks. One of the few players to ever be drafted straight from high school, he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 45th overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. During his time in the NBA, he would win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award 3-times.
Similarly, as of 2022, Lou Williams is the NBA’s career leader in points off the bench. He has proved that shooting guards can find success in both being shorter and after coming off the bench.
Mo Williams
Height: 6’1″
Maurice “Mo” Williams is currently the head coach for the men’s basketball team at Jackson State University and formerly played 13 seasons in the NBA. He had a very successful basketball career in high school and attended the football powerhouse of the University of Alabama.
During his time at the University of Alabama, he led the team to a 27-8 record in his first year. After two years with Alabama, Williams declared his eligibility to play in the NBA and was drafted with the 47th pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2003 NBA draft.
Selected as an NBA All-Star in 2009, Mo Williams would also win his one and only NBA championship in 2016 while playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He would retire from the league in 2017.
Dana Barros
Height: 5’11”
Born on April 13, 1967, Barros played college basketball for Boston College and in 2017 had his number 3 retired by the team after having finished his college career as one of the school’s all-time leading scorers.
Professionally, Barros was drafted to the NBA by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 16th overall pick. However, he spent much of his time in Seattle as a backup to Gary Payton who was considered a more competent ball handler.
He would eventually be traded to the Philadelphia 76ers and saw much more playing time with the team.
During his time with the 76ers, Barros would become an NBA All-Star in the 1995 season and would also be awarded the NBA Most Improved Player award the same year.
After his time in the NBA, Barros has opened a basketball sports complex. Initially built in Mansfield, Massachusetts, the project proved costly, requiring the project to be abandoned and re-envisioned in Stoughton, Massachusetts.
In addition, Barros works in the media relations department for the Boston Celtics and as a “basketball insider” for the New England Sports Network (NESN).