Ever since the inception of basketball as a sport in the later 19th century, height has been the one dominant trait that gives a clear advantage in playing. Since the basketball rim stands 10 feet above the ground, obviously the closer a player is, the easier it is to score and block baskets. The basketball player and later profuse television commentator Bill Walton is fond of quoting “You can’t teach height,” which succinctly points out the obvious advantage that height gives a player above all other skills. In basketball short players are a rare find and in the professional league, they are even rarer. The shortest basketball player to ever play in the NBA is Mugsy Bogues.

Seeing these players on screen, you probably would have never guessed their size. With the use of electronic basketball scoreboards, these short players’ plays become larger than life..

This is a run down of the shortest players in NBA history and some highlights:

The shortest player to ever play in the NBA is Tyrone “Mugsy” Bogues. Mugsy, standing at just 5 foot 3 inches, was drafted twelfth in the 1987 draft after playing for Wake Forest in college. He went on to play 14 seasons in the NBA for five different teams. Before retiring in 2001, he had racked up 6,858 point, 6,726 assists and 1,369 steals–impressive stats for any NBA player.

Among the shortest players in NBA history is also the famous Spud Webb who stood at 5’7”. After leading his North Carolina college team to the Sweet 16, Spud was not drafted until the fourth round by the Detroit Pistons. Spud went on to enjoy a 13-year NBA career and amassed over 8,000 points during his time in the league. Spud, however, is known for being the shortest player in basketball to compete and win the NBA Slam Dunk Competition in 1986. He amazed journalists, fans and even his teammate and dunk competitor Dominique Wilkins with his memorable assortment of dunks.

Earl Boykins rounds out the list of shortest players in NBA history, standing at just 5’5”. Still active in the NBA, Boykins began his career with the New Jersey Nets in 1998. His 10-year career was highlighted by the four years he spent as a member of the Denver Nuggets from 2003-2007 when he was their back up point guard. Not only were his regular season averages impressive, he was a playoff performer, upping his averages in every category. He also has one of the most memorable photos with him and Yao Ming standing side-by-side.

There are many basketball short players who stand between 5’7” and 6” to list and many are notable. These include: Damon Stoudamire (“Mighty Mouse”) at 5’10”, and 5‘9” Nate Robinson who plays for the New York Knicks. The shortest basketball player to ever become the Most Valuable Player in the league is Allen Iverson, who stands just six feet tall (on a good day). Iverson not only has performed despite his height, he has dominated the league because of it; routinely using his speed and size to elude defenders and score baskets. He has averaged better than 27 points per game for his entire career and currently has just under 20,000 total points in his 13-year career.