You don’t have to be a basketball player to know that size matters. Whether you’re looking for shoes or pants, being tall is a good thing when it comes to finding the right fit. The same can be said for the average NBA player’s shoe size. 

NBA players are some of the greatest athletes in the world. Their exceptional physical ability allows them to pull off plays that most people can only dream of. While we might not all possess their freakish athletic ability, there is at least one thing we can all do: respect their massive shoes. How big are they? Just how big? 

If you’re into this kind of thing, read on!

What is the Average Shoe Size of an NBA Player?

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has some of the world’s most talented and well-known athletes. These players are recognizable from the jerseys they wear, their tattoos, and their physical appearance. One of the most striking things about the NBA is how big these players are. The average professional basketball player stands six foot seven inches tall, weighing around 225 pounds.

To determine exactly how big these NBA players’ feet are, it is necessary to look at each player’s shoe size. Athletes of this size require shoes that meet their needs. A shoe that is too small can cause friction on an athlete’s foot and lead to blisters or even more severe injuries. The only way to ensure that a shoe is a proper fit is to get measured by a professional before making a purchase.

The most common shoe size for NBA players is between 13 and 17. These large sizes have caused difficulty for players over the years, as finding shoes that fit them has been challenging. Some shoes have even been custom-made to hold their feet properly and allow them to play comfortably without injury.

According to an article posted by healthline.com, the average shoe of men in the US is 10.5. On the other hand, Slam Magazine stated that the average shoe size of an NBA player during the 2013 NBA season was 14.81. 

As you can see, it turns out that NBA players have pretty big feet! The average size of an NBA player is larger than most people would expect. We’re talking about a league where the average player is about 6’7″ and weighs 240 pounds compared 5’9 average height of men in the US. 

There are all kinds of shoes on the market, but size-wise, none of them can compete with what you’ll find in an NBA locker room.

Who Has the Biggest Shoe Size in NBA?

The NBA is full of some of the most talented athletes in the entire world. But as you might imagine, they’re not all created equal. It turns out that the average shoe size among players in the NBA is around 15—but some players have been known to wear shoes much larger than that.

We did some digging and found that the NBA record for the largest foot/shoe size belongs to former LA Lakers star center Shaquille O’Neal. During his time in the NBA, O’Neal wore a colossal size 22 shoe. O’Neal’s gigantic feet made him a force reckoned with on the court, where he could dominate the paint and score from just about anywhere near the hoop. Some argue that his massive stride (due partly to his enormous feet) led him to become one of history’s best centers.

Aside from Shaq, two other players in the history of the NBA have massive feet – Bob Lanier and Tacko Fall.

Bob Lanier played fifteen NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. The 6’11 center out of St. Bonaventure has career averages of 20.1 PPG and 10.1 RPG. He was the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1974. Lanier also wore size 22 sneakers.

Tacko Fall went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft and played for the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. During his short stint in the NBA, he was the tallest player at 7 feet 6 inches. He also holds the NBA records for the tallest height in shoes (7 ft 7), highest standing reach (10 ft 2.5 inches), and the longest wingspan (8 feet 2.25 in). He recently signed a one-year deal with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.

With that height, it’s not surprising that Fall belongs to the list of the NBA’s largest shoe sizes. Like Shaq and Lanier, the Senegalese giant also rocks his size 22 shoes.

List of NBA Players’ Shoe Sizes from Biggest to Smallest

I’ve mentioned that Shaquille O’Neal, Bob Lanier, and Tacko Fall have the largest shoe size in the history of the NBA. The three have gigantic size 22 shoes. 

But do you know who has the smallest NBA shoe size? 

As the size of a man’s feet has a direct correlation to his height, it’s not a surprise that the smallest shoe size in the NBA belongs to one of the shortest NBA players in NBA history. Standing at 5’5, Earl Antoine Boykins has the smallest shoe size in the history of the NBA. 

Boykins is the second shortest player in NBA history. He is just 2 inches taller than the shortest player ever in NBA history, Muggsy Bogues. Boykins played beyond her height, logged 652 games from 1998 to 2012, and averaged almost nine points per game.

What about the other famous NBA players? What are their shoe sizes?

Check out the shoe sizes of some famous NBA players from biggest to smallest in the chart below:

Player	Shoe Size (US)
Shaquille O’Neal	22
Tacko Fall	22
Bob Lanier	22
Karl-Anthony Towns	20
Brook Lopez	20
Robin Lopez	20
Rudy Gobert	20
Boban Marjanovic	20
Andre Drummond	19
Kevin Love	19
Deandre Jordan	18
Dwight Howard	18
Yao Ming	18
Al Horford	17
Andre Iguodala	17
Anthony Davis	17
Blake Griffin	17
Donovan Mitchell	17
Kevin Durant	17
Larry Bird	17
Demarcus Cousins	16
Giannis Antetokounmpo	16
Kareem Abdul-Jabaar	16
Kristaps Porzingis	16
Manute Bol	16
Paul Millsap	16
Tim Duncan	16
Tracy McGrady	16
Vince Carter	16
Bradley Beal	15
Carmelo Anthony	15
DeMar DeRozan	15
Dirk Nowitzki	15
Draymond Green	15
Dwyane Wade	15
Kevin Garnett	15
LeBron James	15
Markelle Fultz	15
Patrick Ewing	15
Russell Westbrook	15
Andrew Wiggins	14
Bill Russell	14
Chris Bosh	14
James Harden	14
Jayson Tatum	14
Kawhi Leonard	14
Kobe Bryant	14
Kawhi Leonard	14
Magic Johnson	14
Derrick Rose	13
Jeff Teague	13
Jimmy Butler	13
John Wall	13
Klay Thompson	13
Kyle Lowry	13
Michael Jordan	13
Rajon Rondo	13
Stephen Curry	13
Chris Paul	12.5
Isaiah Thomas	12
Kyrie Irving	12
Michael Conley	12
Paul George	12
Kemba Walker	11.5
Eric Bledsoe	11
Reggie Jackson	11
Tony Parker	11
Nate Robinson	10.5
Earl Antoine Boykins	9.5

Wrapping Things Up: How Big is the Average NBA Player’s Shoe Size?

As we’ve seen here, there is definitely a strong relationship between height and shoe size, despite a few outliers. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to basketball fans or athletic clothing manufacturers. Their athletes are well known for their above-average physical statures, making sense that their shoes would be built accordingly.

We found that the average shoe size across the NBA hovers around 15. Although this is a large number, it’s not uncommon to see this sheer volume of 7-footers with long extenders strapped to their feet. 

While the size of one’s shoe may not be an exact indication of height at face value, the numbers reflect that these players are beasts with matching shoe sizes. No need for special promo billboards for these men; their shoes will be enough to do the talking for them!

We hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to check out our other basketball FAQ articles here.

> Are Basketball Player Heights Measured With Shoes On?

> How Often Do Basketball Players Change Shoes?

> Do NBA Players Wear New Shoes Every Game?

> Are Volleyball Shoes the Same as Basketball Shoes?