How Tall Were NBA Players at Age 13? See the Surprising Heights of Basketball Stars

The journey to the National Basketball Association (NBA) is often perceived as a guaranteed path for those blessed with extreme height from a young age. However, an analysis of the adolescent development of current and former NBA stars reveals a far more varied and surprising reality. While some future giants were already towering over their peers by age 13, many others were of average or slightly above-average height, relying on dramatic, often late, growth spurts to achieve professional stature. Understanding how tall were NBA players at age 13 provides critical context regarding the role of genetics, developmental timing, and athletic training in achieving elite basketball success.

The Myth of Predetermined Gigantism: Early Heights vs. Future Stardom

The common assumption is that future NBA centers and power forwards must be exceptionally tall throughout childhood. While this holds true for a subset of athletes—those who are early maturers and genetically predisposed to extreme height—it overlooks the significant proportion of professional players who experienced delayed growth. Early adolescence, specifically age 13 (the typical start of eighth grade in the U.S.), marks a critical window where the adolescent growth spurt is either beginning or about to accelerate dramatically for most males.

For context, the average height for a 13-year-old male in the United States hovers around 5 feet, 4 inches (162.5 cm) to 5 feet, 6 inches (167.6 cm). The variance among future NBA players at this age is vast. Some players might already be approaching 6 feet, while others may be only slightly taller than the national average. This developmental variance underscores that height alone at this stage is a poor predictor of ultimate professional success, which also hinges on skill, coordination, and mental fortitude.

The science of skeletal maturity further complicates predictions. A child's chronological age (e.g., 13 years old) may not align with their skeletal age. Two 13-year-olds might have vastly different growth plates, meaning one is near the end of his growth phase, while the other is just beginning his major acceleration. This is why players who were average at 13 often catch up to, and sometimes surpass, their early-maturing peers by their late teens.

Case Studies in Adolescent Growth: Tracking Future Hall of Famers

To truly understand how tall were NBA players at age 13, it is necessary to examine the documented or reliably estimated heights of historical figures and contemporary stars. These case studies illustrate the two primary trajectories: the early giant and the late bloomer.

The Early Giants: Established Height by Age 13

Players like LeBron James exemplify the early growth trajectory. By the time James was 13, he was reportedly already around 6 feet, 0 inches (183 cm) to 6 feet, 1 inch (185 cm) tall. This early height, combined with his unparalleled athleticism, immediately set him apart. Similarly, Shaquille O’Neal was famously large early on, already fitting into adult shoe sizes and exhibiting significant height advantage by this age. These players benefited from being able to develop skills relative to their height early, often playing center or power forward in youth leagues.

The Late Bloomers: Average Height at Age 13

Perhaps the most surprising revelations come from players who were not considered giants in their pre-teen years. Kevin Durant, now listed at 6 feet, 10 inches, is a classic example of a late bloomer. Reports suggest Durant was relatively average in height for his age group until his mid-teens, hovering around 5 feet, 9 inches (175 cm) at 13. He experienced several dramatic growth spurts later in high school, eventually reaching his current stature. This trajectory allowed him to develop guard skills while he was smaller, a factor often credited for his unique fluidity and shooting ability for a player of his size.

Stephen Curry, arguably the greatest shooter in history, also followed a similar path. Given his father Dell Curry's relatively moderate NBA height (6’4”), Stephen was not expected to be a giant. At age 13, Curry was likely around 5 feet, 6 inches (168 cm) or shorter. His significant growth spurts occurred later in high school and even into college, allowing him to refine his ball-handling and quick release against taller defenders during his formative years.

Scottie Pippen, a seven-time All-Star, is perhaps the most extreme example. Pippen began high school around 6 feet, 1 inch, but was reportedly closer to 5 feet, 9 inches (175 cm) at 13. He grew an astounding 7 inches between his high school graduation and college, finishing at 6 feet, 8 inches. This developmental path proves that intermediate height at 13 does not preclude massive growth potential.

The contrast between these two groups is critical. While LeBron James used his early size advantage to dominate, players like Curry and Durant used their initial average size to hone skills typically reserved for smaller players, making them uniquely versatile once their height eventually caught up.

The Spectrum of Development: Understanding Growth Velocity

Growth velocity—the rate at which a child gains height—is highly individualized. For most boys, the peak height velocity (PHV) occurs between ages 13.5 and 14.5. However, in basketball, this window is often stretched. Players who are already tall at 13 are usually early maturers who hit their PHV sooner. Those who are average height at 13 are often late maturers whose PHV is delayed.

This delay can have significant consequences for scouting and recruitment. Talent evaluators must often project future height based on parental genetics and physical indicators, a process that is far from foolproof. Many talented players who were overlooked in early adolescence due to perceived lack of size matured into NBA-caliber athletes later on.

• Early Maturation (High Height at 13): Often associated with centers and power forwards (e.g., O'Neal, Dwight Howard). They possess an immediate physical advantage but may plateau earlier.
• Late Maturation (Average Height at 13): Common among modern versatile forwards and guards (e.g., Durant, Pippen). They gain key guard skills before their height surge, leading to greater positional flexibility.

The statistical average height of 13-year-olds who eventually make the NBA is skewed upwards by the early giants, but it is not uniformly extreme. The data confirms that a significant portion of the league's talent pool was still actively undergoing major developmental changes well past age 13, reinforcing the idea that talent identification must look beyond current physical stature.

Predictive Factors and Developmental Science in Basketball

Modern sports science attempts to minimize the uncertainty associated with adolescent growth. While genetics remain the primary determinant of ultimate adult height, factors such as nutrition, overall health, and sleep patterns play supporting roles in maximizing genetic potential. For organizations investing in young talent, predicting future height is a crucial, if imperfect, science.

One common method for estimating adult height is assessing bone age. Physicians use X-rays of the wrist and hand to determine the maturity of the skeletal structure, comparing it to standard developmental charts. This can give a clearer indication of how much growth remains, regardless of the player’s chronological age.

"The biggest mistake coaches make at the middle school level is assuming the tallest kid is the best player," notes Dr. Mark R. Johnson, a sports physiologist specializing in adolescent growth. "We have seen countless examples where the 5’7” player at 13, whose growth plates are wide open, ends up being the 6’8” professional, while the 6’1” kid who is already skeletally mature tops out at 6’3”."

Genetic modeling is also becoming sophisticated, utilizing parental heights to establish a target range, but outliers remain common, especially in highly athletic populations. The presence of hidden growth potential—or a lack thereof—is often the definitive factor determining how tall were NBA players at age 13 compared to their adult height.

Positional Variance: Height Requirements Across the Court

The height of an NBA player at 13 years old often correlated with his eventual position, though modern basketball blurs these lines. Traditionally, centers and power forwards (positions 5 and 4) were almost exclusively the early giants. Their size advantage was necessary for rebounding and interior defense. Consequently, a high percentage of future centers were likely 6 feet or taller by age 13.

Conversely, point guards (position 1) and shooting guards (position 2) are far more likely to have been average or even slightly below average height at 13. Their ultimate adult height (typically 6’3” to 6’6”) is often achieved through later growth. For instance, Chris Paul (6’0”) or Damian Lillard (6’2”) likely benefited from developing elite speed and ball control before their final growth phase, a skill set that became disproportionately powerful when paired with NBA-level size.

The rise of the "positionless" player, exemplified by the growth path of Kevin Durant, highlights the premium placed on versatile skill sets developed during the adolescent years when the player was still smaller. If Durant had been 6'10" at 13, he likely would have been pigeonholed into the post, potentially limiting the development of his perimeter game.

The Final Analysis of Adolescent Development

The question of how tall were NBA players at age 13 reveals that there is no singular blueprint for reaching professional basketball height. Instead, there are two viable paths: the steady, dominant growth of early maturers, and the dramatic, often surprising, late acceleration of others. The key takeaway for aspiring young athletes and talent scouts is that size at 13 is merely a snapshot in time, not a final verdict on potential.

The success stories of late bloomers like Pippen and Durant serve as powerful reminders that dedication to skill development and maximizing one's physical potential, regardless of current height, is paramount. The NBA’s talent pool is richer precisely because it draws from both extremes of the developmental spectrum, valuing the unique skill sets forged during distinct periods of adolescent growth.