10 Shortest Players in the NBA Right Now: Chris Paul, Yuki Kawamura, and More

Height is considered an obvious advantage in basketball. Generally, the average height of an NBA player ranges between 6 feet 6 inches and 6 feet 8 inches. The larger the wingspan, the greater defense a center can make on the perimeter or in the paint.

Coming to the offensive advantages of height, a closer access to the rim through higher stature helps in easy scoring. The reach increases for such players, and they can score buckets without struggling with the defense of the opposite team. Yet, the league has witnessed short NBA players from time to time who defy this norm and still dominate the game.

It proves that the NBA is not just about the height advantage that players carry in a sport like basketball. Rather, it is more about the skills that players have as basketball prospects. Earlier, we made a list of the tallest NBA players in history, and today, we will tackle the list of the shortest players in the NBA right now to honor such players.

10 Shortest Players in the NBA Right Now

Shortest players in the league might not be able to reach the rim as easily as their other NBA colleagues. However, they are fast enough to move on their own and emerge as one of the best guards in the league. That's why the shortest players in the league cannot be underestimated, because it is not the height that takes the spotlight, but skill.

Based on that information and the available data about the current player, the following players have made it to the list of the 10 Shortest Players in the NBA Right Now.

#10: Aaron Holiday (6'0")

As a 6-foot point guard, Aaron Holiday is one of the most consistent players in the league. He debuted in the league in 2018 as a first-round 23rd overall pick for the Indiana Pacers. He has not received any major accolades in the league, but he has proved his versatility by playing for different teams.

The names of the teams that Aaron Holiday has appeared for since 2018 are Indiana Pacers(2018-2021), Washington Wizards(2021-2022), Phoenix Suns(2022), Atlanta Hawks(2022-2023), and Houston Rockets(2023-2025). He plays as a bench player, yet his defensive strength and three-point line shooting often match the level of the elites.

#9: Mike Conley (6'0")

Mike Conley, as a six-foot point guard, is a statue of consistency, just like legends like LeBron James. He has stood the test of time and survived 19 seasons in the league. Conley entered the NBA as a first-round fourth pick for the Memphis Grizzlies. He stayed committed to his first squad and played Grizzlies from 2007 to 2019.

After that, Conley played for the Utah Jazz(2019-2023) and then for the Minnesota Timberwolves(2023-present). In terms of NBA achievements, Mike made it to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2013 and the NBA All-Star game in 2021.

#8: Chris Paul (6'0")

Chris Paul is a future Hall of Famer who has left an indelible mark as a 6'0" point guard in the NBA. Despite below-average stature, Chris survived two decades in the league and completed 20 years this season. He is considered one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, and it was obvious since his debut. He was a first-round fourth overall pick for the New Orleans Hornets(2005) and won the Rookie of the Year award in his debut season. Paul played for New Orleans till 2011.

After that, CP3 continued to play for the Los Angeles Clippers(2011–2017), Houston Rockets(2017–2019), Oklahoma City Thunder(2019–2020), Phoenix Suns(2020–2023), Golden State Warriors(2023–2024), and San Antonio Spurs(2024-present). His major NBA achievements are 12× NBA All-Star selection, NBA All-Star Game MVP (2013), and 5× NBA assists leader.

#7: Kyle Lowry (6'0")

Kyle Lowry is also a 6'0" point guard who debuted for the Memphis Grizzlies through the 2006 NBA Draft class. Lowry was a first-round 24th overall pick and played for the Grizzlies till the 2009 season. Later on, he went on to play for teams like the Houston Rockets(2009–2012), Toronto Raptors(2012–2021), Miami Heat(2021–2024), and Philadelphia 76ers(2024–present).

After spending more than a decade in the league, Kyle has earned achievements like an NBA championship in 2019, 6× NBA All-Star selection(2015-2020), and All-NBA Third Team selection in 2016.

#6: Davion Mitchell (6'0")

Davion Mitchell, as a 6'0" point guard, is still a new prospect in the NBA. The Sacramento Kings picked him up as the first-round ninth overall pick in 2021. Davion had one of the best seasons in his career during the 2024-25 season, recording 10.3 points and 5.3 assists.

His game has even troubled the elite guards, earning him the moniker of “Off Night”. The teams he has played for in the NBA are the Sacramento Kings(2021-2024) and the Toronto Raptors(2024-2025). In the upcoming season, Davion will be playing for the Miami Heat. However, he has not earned any NBA accolades yet.

#5: Fred VanVleet (6'0")

Fred VanVleet is one of the most underrated performers in the NBA. The 6'0" point guard was not even selected in the 2016 Draft and went undrafted because he refused to play in the NBA G League. He did not want a second-round selection, but the Toronto Raptors ultimately gave him a chance. He attended training camp for the Raptors and continued to play in the G-League.

Furthermore, after that, he inked a multi-year contract with the Raptors and continued to play till 2023. Post the 2023 season, Fred started playing for the Houston Rockets and is still going on. In such a short span of time, Fred has won one NBA Championship in 2019, an NBA All-Star selection in 2022, and an NBA D-League title in 2017.

#4: Jordan McLaughlin (6'0")

The shortest current NBA players right now also include Jordan McLaughlin at number 4. McLaughlin went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft but steadily worked his way into the league. Standing at 6'0", the point guard started his NBA journey with the Minnesota Timberwolves and later went with the Kings.

After a stint with the Sacramento Kings, McLaughlin was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in early 2025. Even though he hasn't garnered major accolades yet, his journey underscores the impact of perseverance and professionalism in the NBA.

#3: Yuri Collins (6'0")

Yuri Collins went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, but the 6'0" point guard earned a chance with the Golden State Warriors on a two-way contract, splitting his time between the NBA roster and their G League affiliate.

Known for his precision passing and control of the game’s tempo, Collins has started to carve out his niche. Though he hasn’t put up big numbers or earned major accolades yet, his ability to lead an offense and make smart decisions on the court shows promise for a long-term role in the league.

#2: Jose Alvarado (6'0")

Jose Alvarado also went undrafted in the 2021 Draft class, yet he has made his place in fans' hearts with his hustle plays. With a stature of 6'0", the point guard started playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. However, he signed as a two-way contract player, shuffling between the NBA and the NBA G-League.

He is known for his grit and has played four seasons in the league. He had the best season of his career, recording 10.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Jose is known for his bold play against league bigwigs, but he has not won any significant NBA achievements so far.

#1: Yuki Kawamura (5'8")

Yuki Kawamura is hailed as the shortest player in the NBA right now due to his 5'8" height. As a point guard, Kawamura is extremely agile and signed with the Memphis Grizzlies last year on September 6. Kawamura is on a two-way contract with the Grizzlies.

He recorded a career-high 10 points and 7 assists against the Indiana Pacers on October 14, 2024. In the 2024-25 regular season, Yuki averaged 1.6 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 22 games. So far, he has not won any NBA accolades, but he is continuously playing in the NBA G League. So there are chances that he will return to the league again.