10 heaviest NBA players of all-time

It’s not even two weeks since news flashed about Dallas Mavericks’ star player – Luca Doncic’s sudden weight loss. With the NBA’s weight controversy seeing a never-ending debate, the ardent fans are often confused about who’s the heaviest NBA player gracing the court currently. If you are busy searching out a list of NBA all star players by weight, your search ends right here! 

In this article, you will get an idea about the heaviest players gracing the court and the basic requirement that the NBA has in terms of weight. Let’s get started – 

Listing out the heaviest NBA player

This section will detail the players in ascending order – from the lighest to the heaviest of the players. 

10. JaVale McGee (270 pounds)

He’s an NBA star – currently with Dallas Mavericks as a center who has notable experience playing in multiple NBA teams. See him on the court, and there’s nothing that seems to stop him from achieving his target. With time, despite all the NBA guideline controversies, he has shown how to leverage his weight and make the best of the moves on-court. 

9. Kenneth Lofton Jr (275 pounds)

In 2022 NBA undrafted him for Memphis Grizzlies. Though he hasn’t to date played many games to showcase his prowess on the field, he’s a promising star nonetheless. Also, given that he is the youngest on this list, time and tide seem to wait for him. In the meantime, fans can only hope that the untoward weight controversy, which in no way has marred his performance on court, does not get the better of him, and he can make a solid comeback. 

8. Andre Drummond (279 pounds)

From having a dream debut with Detroit Pistons to being held up officially for being overweight, it seems that Drummond has had a lot to deal with. Technically speaking, he is one of the fastest and best rebounders that the league can boast of. Therefore, despite all the controversies that he has courted in all these years, Drummond has been retained by his clubs – all thanks to his foot movements. 

7. Joel Embiid (280 pounds)

He is the best center in this sport! He might be in the news most of the time, all thanks to the new weight regulations of the NBA that he doesn’t care to meet, but the Philadelphia 76ers and the 6 times NBA star – is the ‘one’ to average a massive 30 points per game/per season since Malone in 1982. Thus, one may state after looking at this achievement that – with the best efforts and constant perseverance, there’s nothing that one cannot achieve! 

6. Robin Lopez (281 pounds)

The Cleveland Cavaliers rebounder has been more in the news for changing clubs and his weight-related controversies – than his game. He has sweated it out for New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Sun, Orlando Pirates, Portland Blazers, New York Knicks and a handful more, and the club owners and his fans, despite him being on the heaviest NBA player list have only seen him getting actively involved in the court. 

5. Brook Lopez (282 pounds)

This Lopez twin playing for Milwaukee Bucks joined the Lakers in 2017 with a weight that was consistently above the set benchmark. Though initially, he had received flak for his weight, but since the time he made his mark in the 2021 NBA Championship, clearly, critics seem to notice nothing but his agility on the court. 

4. Zion Williamson (284 pounds)

If you are looking for the most controversial heaviest NBA player – Zion Williamson from New Orleans Pelicans takes the cake. Since his introduction to the professional grounds in 2019, he has been one of the nimblest on the court, despite multiple controversies regarding his weight. 

It was only in the 2021-22 season that he had a foot injury that medically required him to shed some weight. As of now, fans cannot wait to see more of him on screen and in court. 

3. Nikola Jokic (284 pounds)

He’s with Denver Nuggets. He’s a shooter, scorer and rebounder. He’s been awarded the Most Valuable Player of the NBA twice. His nimbleness is unmatchable. Yes, that’s exactly what Jokic stands for on the field. Though his weight is considerably more than the latest specified guidelines that NBA has set forth, in no way this stops him from depicting the fierceness on the court. Giving his co-players and opposition equal competition, the man just knows his way forth. 

2. Jusuf Nurkic (290 pounds)

Coming second last in this surprising domain of heaviest NBA player chart- this center player has been scoring big in the NBA for close to a decade now. Garnering massive experience with teams such as Portland Trail Blazers (he currently plays for them) and Denver Nuggets – his moves on the court have been nothing short of the best! His fans love him, and his haters, despite all their negation, cannot stop praising his lunges. Clearly, the man has never let his weight reduce his movability. 

1. Boban Marjanovic (290 pounds) 

Surely, the heaviest of the lot and currently associated with Houston Rockets, the Serb has time and again shown how despite being one with a maximum girth, his agility is equivalent to a cheetah. Using his weight to his benefit, rather than negating his pace – the basketball player ensures that he scores big and moves around the court like nobody else! 

Also the tallest of the NBA lot, he has previously played for Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers and scored big with every team! 

What is the NBA’s weight requirement? 

Now that you have got the names of heaviest NBA player in a descending chronology – before you leave this page, how about checking out the specifications of weight that NBA players require? Here’s the details – 

The average weight of the player is determined by the position that he plays for. For example, if one talks about the player’s total weight, that should amount to 216.52 pounds. However, position-specifically – in case you wish to know about the weight of the guard’s position player, the metrics stick to 198.87 pounds. Similarly, if the player has to be positioned as a forward, the average weight will be – 222.70 pounds. 

Playing as a guard forward, the basketball star has to maintain an average weight of 212.33 pounds. At the same time, the forward-center position demands an average weight of 240.67 pounds, and that of a center is 251.30 pounds. 

For the unversed, NBA strictly maintains this weight level to ensure that the players in no way compromise their agility due to a weight issue. After all, the last thing that the basketball federation wants is for their star players like Shaquille O Neal and Thomas Hamilton to give up on their dreams due to their weight. 

Final Thoughts

In the 73-year-old NBA history, the world has witnessed a host of players who have demonstrated fierce agility on the court because of their weight. However, NBA strictly adheres to the weight constraints and has set out the team of proficient NBA all star players by weight. Thus, this clears specifics for one and all and ensures that the weight is only managed to that level wherein the players can use it for their advantage. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Who is the heaviest NBA player ever?

Ans: The heaviest NBA player ever recorded is Oliver Miller, who weighed around 375 pounds (170 kilograms) during his career.

Q2: How tall was the heaviest NBA player?

Ans: Oliver Miller stood at a height of 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) during his time in the NBA.

Q3: Did being the heaviest player give Oliver Miller any advantages?

Ans: Oliver Miller’s size and weight provided him with advantages in terms of strength and the ability to hold his ground against opponents, particularly in the post area.

Q4: Are there any current NBA players who are considered heavyweights?

Ans: As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, there were no active NBA players who could be classified as the heaviest players in the league. However, player rosters can change over time, so it’s best to check current NBA rosters for the most up-to-date information.

Q5: How does a player’s weight impact their performance in the NBA?

Ans: A player’s weight can affect their performance in various ways. While heavier players may have advantages in terms of strength and physicality, excess weight can also hinder mobility, speed, and endurance, making it important for players to find the right balance for optimal performance.