Traditionally, the center forward in the number 5 position has been dominated by the best and tallest defensive player in the team. However, you'd be surprised to learn that none of the 5 shortest centers in NBA history are that tall! The players on this list are usually not big names. Despite their short stature, these players have the best defensive ability in league history to protect and control the box.
Here are five of the shortest centers in NBA history.
5. Bam Adebayo (6'9").
Over the past few years, Bam Adebayo has emerged as one of the main options for the Miami Heat. Whether it's the regular season or the playoffs, he's been a key part of the Heat's success. Bam Adebayo doesn't have the height of a typical centre-forward, however, that doesn't prevent him from dominating the box.
Adebayo is 6'9" tall and has a wingspan of 7'3", which is crucial to his defensive presence as the Heat. In the memory of NBA fans, his middle finger block for Jayson Tatum is still green, which allowed the Heat to lock up a spot in the NBA Finals.
He played seven seasons with the Miami Heat. In 456 career games, he averaged 152 points, 86 rebounds, 35 assists and 09 caps. Adebayo is now only 26 years old and has plenty of time to establish himself as one of the best players in Heat history.
4. Ben Wallace (6'9").
Ben Wallace is one of the greatest players on the basketball court. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. A little-known fact about Wallace? He was not selected in the 1996 NBA Draft!
One of the greatest centers of all time, Wallace is 6 feet 9 inches, not typical for this position. During his 16-year NBA career, Wallace was named to the All-Star team four times and to the All-NBA team five times. But Wallace's real legacy lies in his elite defense, something he rarely saw since retiring.
Wallace is an NBA champion, four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, five-time NBA Defensive First Team (one Second Team), two-time rebounding leader, and 2002 Blocks Leader. Despite his modest height, Wallace surpassed that barrier on the basketball court.
During his career, he played for five teams: the Detroit Pistons, Washington Bullets, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2004 NBA champion averaged 57 points, 96 rebounds and 2 blocks.
3. Wes Weinsell (6'7").
Wes Winced was selected with the second overall pick by the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) in the 1968 NBA Draft. Over the course of his career, Winside has had to play against some of the league's legendary centers.
In an era ruled by NBA legends, in 1978, Winside became an NBA champion and NBA Finals MVP. He also won the league's Most Valuable Player award in 1969. The Hall of Fame is a five-time All-Star, a 1969 All-NBA First Team selection, and a Rookie of the Year award.
Wes Winside played 984 games in 13 seasons in the NBA. He averaged 10 per game8 points, 39 assists and 140 rebounds.
2. Chuck Hayes (6'6").
Chuck Hayes may not be as well-known as other NBA greats. However, he was one of the league's first unlikely centers. Chuck Hayes made an instant hit with the Houston Rockets during the 2010-2011 season.
However, after averaging career-high rebounds and blocks per game that season, Hayes was traded to the Sacramento Kings. Hayes played in 644 games in 11 seasons in the NBA, averaging 37 points, 50 rebounds and 04 caps. During his 11 years, Hayes played for the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors.
1. Draymond Green (6'6").
Draymond Green may not have entered the prime of his NBA career, but he will go down in history as one of the most skilled defenders in NBA basketball history. Green isn't a typical NBA center either, as he's 6'6" tall and has the technical skills of a center and the playmaking ability of a guard. When it comes to pick-and-roll and fast-breaking, few players can be as good as Green.
Whenever there's a dynasty talking about the Golden State Warriors and their decade of rule, Green is always in the middle of it. Not only was his defense crucial to the Warriors' four-time championship win, Green also became a leader in the Warriors' locker room culture.
Green played 778 games in his 12-season NBA career. He averaged 8 per game7 points, 69 rebounds, 56 assists and 1 block. He won four NBA championships, won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017, and was named to the NBA All-NBA Team twice in his career. During his career, he also led the steals list and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team eight times.
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