Gone are the days when athletes are confined to specific standards, be it size or weight. The only certainty is that the NBA is not a place for frail athletes, for size is celebrated among players in the league. Hence, shun your worries if you think you are too big to become an NBA star. 

Taking the heaviest player in NBA history as an example, Oliver Miller did not lose hope and proved to everyone that weight is just a number. If you are curious about the story of the heaviest NBA player of all time, keep reading through.

What’s the Average Weight of an NBA Player?

The heaviest players ever defied the stereotypes against NBA players, or athletes in general, by showing that anyone can be an excellent athlete with the right mindset and skills. Although smaller players are seen as more agile and favorable, these players set the bar that basketball is not all about your body image.

Thus, it is essential to talk about the average weight of an NBA player first to acknowledge how incredible these athletes are. If you are an avid NBA fan, it is a no-brainer that it is uncommon to see huge players because most athletes follow specific body standards.

Now, what’s the average weight of an NBA player? The average weight of NBA players over 70 years is 217 lbs or 98.42 kg, according to a study published on the website Run Repeat that analyzed more than 24,800 NBA players from the past 69 NBA seasons.

What’s more interesting is that the average NBA weight had grown from the 70s and reached its peak during the 2010 NBA season. However, the average weight has since declined until now.

The decline is also evident in the BMI records of the players, which show that it only averages 24.77. This data could also mean that the trend in body weight among players decreases over time. In like manner, most of them also acknowledge the benefit of becoming fit.

Since you are already informed about the average weight, what is considered overweight in the NBA league? Below is a section that thoroughly discusses this matter.

What is Rated as an Overweight in the NBA?

In previous years, the debate about being an overweight player in the NBA is getting more recognition. The thing is, fans often relate weight to skills. While your body size can sometimes lessen your movement, it is unfair to discredit their entire capacity just because of their size. 

It proves that weight players and fans alike are very particular regarding weight and body image. The more firm and fit you are, the more positive people look at you. Now, what is rated as overweight in the NBA, then?

According to an article from ESPN, the NBA follows the Body Mass Index (BMI) data to measure whether a player is standard, under, or overweight—like how most of us identify our weight. It states that the regular BMI is 24; anything beyond 25 to 29.99 is considered overweight. Therefore, a 30+ BMI translates to obesity.

In other words, your body figure is not the basis for checking your weight. Even if you are a bit heavy, as long as other factors like height coincide, you can still have an average weight status.

Going back to the topic, the article also stated that the Boston Celtics had the most overweight players in 2011. One of its overweight players includes Shaq O’Neil, with a BMI of 31.62. Despite that, he managed to cement his name as one of the most important centers the NBA had.

Therefore, it would be best for you to take your skills more seriously than how your figure is. Take O’Neal as living proof that one can be bigger in size and be a valuable basketball athlete simultaneously.

Speaking of him, perhaps you are ecstatic to know who else made it to the biggest players in the history of the NBA. Check out the bulleted points below and see if your favorite player is among them.

Top 5 Heaviest NBA Players

Most people need to realize that being tall in the NBA league is not a holy grail; you need extra weight to gain that monster guard. If you are tall and massive, your opponent will likely feel intimidated, and it is easier for you to block shots. Below are some of the heaviest NBA players in history who will convince you to gain more fat and muscle.

1. Oliver Miller: 375 Lbs

Imagine being next to a player who stands 6’9″ and weighs 375 pounds. You would probably get intimidated, and that is how Oliver Miller earned his title “The Big O.” He made himself a legend by becoming the heaviest player in the history of the NBA.

Initially, he was drafted with a weight of 270 pounds but staggeringly gained more muscle and fat over time. In his 11-year NBA career, he played for several teams like the Suns, Pistons, Mavericks, Kings, and Raptors. According to his ESPN profile, he secured an average of 7.9 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game. 

2. Shaq O’Neal: 360 Lbs

If you think that no one can get close to Miller’s weight, Shaq O’Neal will tell you otherwise. 

For a reason, he is a prominent player, as he stands 7’1″ and weighs 360 Lbs. No wonder he is regarded as one of the greatest forwards of all time, despite his weight. He averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. 

You should never provoke this big guy because his physique and skills can put you off quickly with just a snap of his fingers.

3. Eddy Curry: 350 Lbs

He started as a promising athlete when the Chicago Bulls drafted him as the fourth overall pick. However, his weight kept expanding in the following years, and the Bulls let go of his spot to the New York Knicks. His weight rose to 350 Lbs until his final game for the Mavericks in the 2012-2013 NBA season.

4. Sim Bhullar: 350 Lbs

Aside from becoming one of the heaviest players of all time, weighing 350 Lbs, Sim Bhullar carries other valuable recognitions. He is the first NBA player of Indian descent. Plus, he stood 7’5″ tall enough to be included in the tallest NBA players roster. Intimidating as he is, his career stats recorded 0.7 points, 0.3 assists, and 0.3 rebounds per game. 

5. Michael Sweetney: 348 Lbs

The last player on the heaviest roster is Michael Sweetney, who weighs 348 Lbs. Like other players on the list, he started lean and was even recognized as a finalist in Naismith College Players of the year in 2003. Throughout his NBA stint, he averaged 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in a game.

3 Heaviest NBA Players Currently

The NBA league has seen NBA players come and go. Since you have read the heaviest players in NBA history above, let us check out the heaviest player in the NBA currently, according to sportskeeda.

1. Tacko Fall: 311 Lbs

This player from the Cleveland Cavaliers did not come to play. He stands 7’5″ and weighs 311 Lbs. He averages 2.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per match. He will surely intimidate his opponents in the coming seasons. 

2. Boban Marjanovick: 290 Lbs

The second NBA player who may follow the same fate as listed in the history section is Boban Marjanovick, currently weighing 290 Lbs. He is currently a center in Houston Rockets and averages 1.3 points, one rebound, and 0.3 assists every game.

3. Jusuf Nurkic: 290 Lbs

The third heaviest player on the active roster is Jusuf Nurkic, a 290-pound player from the Trail Blazers. He is the only player in the top three with decent career stats, averaging 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.

Wrapping Things Up: 5 Heaviest Players in the NBA History

The bottom line of this article is encouraging our heavy aspirants to take a step towards the highly coveted NBA dreams. Take Shaq O’Neal as an inspiration because he never failed to use his weight to intimidate opponents and benefit from it.

Even if you become the heaviest player in NBA history or the lightest NBA player ever, it is nothing if you have the right mindset and proper training. Hence, do not worry about your size and start worrying about your athleticism.

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