NBA ranking: The tallest teams in league history

Since we’re in the dog days of the NBA offseason, we’re busy creating evergreen content ranking players and teams historically from different angles.

Today, we’re focusing on listing the tallest teams in NBA history. For this exercise, we went through all NBA rosters throughout history, calculating the weighted average height of each team. We relied on the league’s official measurements (though we know they are to be taken with a grain of salt) and factored in the playing time of each player. (For example, a seven-footer averaging 35 minutes per game would have a greater impact on the final result than one playing only 10 minutes.)

The Showtime Lakers showed up a lot at the top of the ranking (playing with a 6-foot-9 point guard and a 7-foot-2 center will do that for you), but the No. 1 spot belongs to LeBron‘s rookie team: the 2003-04 Cavaliers.

1

2003-04 Cleveland Cavaliers

Weighted average height: 6-8.50

Regular season record: 35-47

Playoffs: No

Most used players: LeBron James (6-9), Carlos Boozer (6-9), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (7-3), Kevin Ollie (6-2), Eric Williams (6-8)

2

1985-86 Los Angeles Lakers

Weighted average height: 6-8.47

Regular season record: 62-20

Playoffs: Lost in Conference Finals to Rockets

Most used players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7-2), Magic Johnson (6-9), James Worthy (6-9), Michael Cooper (6-7), Byron Scott (6-4)

3

1994-95 Orlando Magic

Weighted average height: 6-8.44

Regular season record: 57-25

Playoffs: Lost in NBA Finals to Rockets

Most used players: Shaquille O’Neal (7-1), Anfernee Hardaway (6-7), Horace Grant (6-10), Nick Anderson (6-6), Donald Royal (6-8)

4

1988-89 Los Angeles Lakers

Weighted average height: 6-8.40

Regular season record: 57-25

Playoffs: Lost in NBA Finals to Pistons

Most used players: James Worthy (6-9), Magic Johnson (6-9), Byron Scott (6-4), A.C. Green (6-9), Mychal Thompson (6-10)

5

1995-96 Orlando Magic

Weighted average height: 6-8.39

Regular season record: 60-22

Playoffs: Lost in Conference Finals to Bulls

Most used players: Dennis Scott (6-8), Anfernee Hardaway (6-7), Nick Anderson (6-6), Horace Grant (6-10), Shaquille O’Neal (7-1)

6

1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers

Weighted average height: 6-8.37

Regular season record: 65-17

Playoffs: Won NBA title

Most used players: Magic Johnson (6-9), James Worthy (6-9), Byron Scott (6-4), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7-2), Michael Cooper (6-7)

7

1992-93 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-8.36

Regular season record: 41-41

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Knicks

Most used players: Detlef Schrempf (6-10), Reggie Miller (6-7), Pooh Richardson (6-1), Dale Davis (6-11), Rik Smits (7-4)

8

1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers

Weighted average height: 6-8.36

Regular season record: 62-20

Playoffs: Won NBA title

Most used players: Byron Scott (6-4), James Worthy (6-9), Magic Johnson (6-9), A.C. Green (6-9), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7-2)

9

1985-86 Houston Rockets

Weighted average height: 6-8.33

Regular season record: 51-31

Playoffs: Lost in NBA Finals to Celtics

Most used players: Ralph Sampson (7-4), Rodney McCray (6-8), Hakeem Olajuwon (7-0), Lewis Lloyd (6-6), Robert Reid (6-8)

10

1984-85 Houston Rockets

Weighted average height: 6-8.32

Regular season record: 48-34

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Jazz

Most used players: Ralph Sampson (7-4), Rodney McCray (6-8), Hakeem Olajuwon (7-0), Lewis Lloyd (6-6), Lionel Hollins (6-3)

11

1989-90 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-8.31

Regular season record: 42-40

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Pistons

Most used players: Reggie Miller (6-7), Vern Fleming (6-5), Chuck Person (6-8), Detlef Schrempf (6-10), Rik Smits (7-4)

12

1990-91 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-8.29

Regular season record: 41-41

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Celtics

Most used players: Reggie Miller (6-7), Detlef Schrempf (6-10), Chuck Person (6-8), LaSalle Thompson (6-10), Vern Fleming (6-5)

13

1983-84 Los Angeles Lakers

Weighted average height: 6-8.28

Regular season record: 54-28

Playoffs: Lost in NBA Finals to Celtics

Most used players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7-2), Magic Johnson (6-9), Jamaal Wilkes (6-6), James Worthy (6-9), Michael Cooper (6-7)

14

1988-89 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-8.25

Regular season record: 28-54

Playoffs: No

Most used players: Chuck Person (6-8), Vern Fleming (6-5), Reggie Miller (6-7), Rik Smits (7-4), Scott Skiles (6-1)

15

1998-99 Dallas Mavericks

Weighted average height: 6-8.23

Regular season record: 19-31

Playoffs: No

Most used players: Michael Finley (6-7), Hubert Davis (6-5), Gary Trent (6-8), Shawn Bradley (7-6), Steve Nash (6-3)

16

1993-94 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-8.23

Regular season record: 19-31

Playoffs: No

Most used players: Reggie Miller (6-7), Derrick McKey (6-10), Dale Davis (6-11), Rik Smits (7-4), Antonio Davis (6-9)

17

1990-91 Los Angeles Lakers

Weighted average height: 6-8.22

Regular season record: 58-24

Playoffs: Lost in NBA Finals to Bulls

Most used players: James Worthy (6-9), Magic Johnson (6-9), Byron Scott (6-4), Sam Perkins (6-9), Vlade Divac (7-1)

18

1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers

Weighted average height: 6-8.22

Regular season record: 62-20

Playoffs: Won NBA title

Most used players: Magic Johnson (6-9), James Worthy (6-9), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7-2), Byron Scott (6-4), Michael Cooper (6-7)

19

1986-87 Houston Rockets

Weighted average height: 6-8.21

Regular season record: 42-40

Playoffs: Lost in Conference Semifinals to Sonics

Most used players: Rodney McCray (6-8), Hakeem Olajuwon (7-0), Robert Reid (6-8), Jim Petersen (6-10), Dirk Minniefield (6-3)

20

2004-05 Cleveland Cavaliers

Weighted average height: 6-8.20

Regular season record: 42-40

Playoffs: No

Most used players: LeBron James (6-9), Jeff McInnis (6-4), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (7-3), Drew Gooden (6-10), Eric Snow (6-3)

21

1980-81 Chicago Bulls

Weighted average height: 6-8.20

Regular season record: 45-37

Playoffs: Lost in Conference Semifinals to Celtics

Most used players: Artis Gilmore (7-2), Reggie Theus (6-6), Dave Greenwood (6-9), Bob Wilkerson (6-6), Larry Kenon (6-9)

22

1994-95 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-8.19

Regular season record: 52-30

Playoffs: Lost in Conference Finals to Magic

Most used players: Derrick McKey (6-10), Reggie Miller (6-7), Mark Jackson (6-3), Rik Smits (7-4), Dale Davis (6-11)

23

1995-96 New Jersey Nets

Weighted average height: 6-8.19

Regular season record: 30-52

Playoffs: No

Most used players: PJ Brown (6-11), Armen Gilliam (6-9), Chris Childs (6-3), Shawn Bradley (7-6), Jayson Williams (6-10)

24

1993-94 Miami Heat

Weighted average height: 6-8.16

Regular season record: 42-40

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Hawks

Most used players: Glen Rice (6-8), Steve Smith (6-8), Rony Seikaly (6-11), Grant Long (6-9), Brian Shaw (6-6)

25

1991-92 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-8.14

Regular season record: 40-42

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Celtics

Most used players: Reggie Miller (6-7), Chuck Person (6-8), Micheal Williams (6-2), Detlef Schrempf (6-10), Rik Smits (7-4)

26

1987-88 Boston Celtics

Weighted average height: 6-8.10

Regular season record: 57-25

Playoffs: Lost in Conference Finals to Pistons

Most used players: Danny Ainge (6-5), Larry Bird (6-9), Dennis Johnson (6-4), Kevin McHale (6-10), Robert Parish (7-1)

27

1987-88 Dallas Mavericks

Weighted average height: 6-8.10

Regular season record: 53-29

Playoffs: Lost in Conference Finals to Lakers

Most used players: Derek Harper (6-4), Mark Aguirre (6-6), Rolando Blackman (6-6), James Donaldson (7-2), Sam Perkins (6-9)

28

1998-99 Phoenix Suns

Weighted average height: 6-8.10

Regular season record: 27-23

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Trail Blazers

Most used players: Jason Kidd (6-4), Clifford Robinson (6-10), Tom Gugliotta (6-10), George McCloud (6-8), Danny Manning (6-10)

29

2002-03 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-8.09

Regular season record: 48-34

Playoffs: Lost in first Round to Celtics

Most used players: Jermaine O’Neal (6-11), Al Harrington (6-9), Metta World Peace (6-7), Brad Miller (7-0), Jamaal Tinsley (6-3)

30

1986-87 Dallas Mavericks

Weighted average height: 6-8.09

Regular season record: 55-27

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Sonics

Most used players: James Donaldson (7-2), Rolando Blackman (6-6), Sam Perkins (6-9), Mark Aguirre (6-6), Derek Harper (6-4)

31

2002-03 Cleveland Cavaliers

Weighted average height: 6-8.08

Regular season record: 17-65

Playoffs: No

Most used players: Ricky Davis (6-7), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (7-3), Jumaine Jones (6-8), Carlos Boozer (6-9), Darius Miles (6-9)

32

1989-90 Dallas Mavericks

Weighted average height: 6-8.06

Regular season record: 47-35

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Trail Blazers

Most used players: Derek Harper (6-4), Rolando Blackman (6-6), Sam Perkins (6-9), James Donaldson (7-2), Herb Williams (6-11)

33

2001-02 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-8.04

Regular season record: 42-40

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Nets

Most used players: Reggie Miller (6-7), Jermaine O’Neal (6-11), Jamaal Tinsley (6-3), Jalen Rose (6-8), Jeff Foster (6-11)

34

2005-06 Los Angeles Lakers

Weighted average height: 6-8.04

Regular season record: 45-37

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Suns

Most used players: Kobe Bryant (6-6), Lamar Odom (6-10), Smush Parker (6-4), Kwame Brown (6-11), Devean George (6-8)

35

1989-90 Los Angeles Lakers

Weighted average height: 6-8.02

Regular season record: 63-19

Playoffs: Lost in Conference Semifinals to Suns

Most used players: James Worthy (6-9), Magic Johnson (6-9), A.C. Green (6-9), Byron Scott (6-4), Mychal Thompson (6-10)

36

1999-00 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-8.01

Regular season record: 56-26

Playoffs: Lost in NBA Finals to Lakers

Most used players: Reggie Miller (6-7), Jalen Rose (6-8), Mark Jackson (6-3), Dale Davis (6-11), Austin Croshere (6-10)

37

1996-97 Washington Bullets

Weighted average height: 6-8.00

Regular season record: 44-38

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Bulls

Most used players: Juwan Howard (6-9), Rod Strickland (6-3), Chris Webber (6-10), Calbert Cheaney (6-7), Gheorghe Muresan (7-7)

38

2022-23 Orlando Magic

Weighted average height: 6-8.00

Regular season record: 34-48

Playoffs: No

Most used players: Franz Wagner (6-10), Paolo Banchero (6-10), Markelle Fultz (6-4), Wendell Carter Jr (6-10), Cole Anthony (6-2)

39

2007-08 Indiana Pacers

Weighted average height: 6-7.99

Regular season record: 36-46

Playoffs: No

Most used players: Mike Dunleavy (6-9), Danny Granger (6-9), Troy Murphy (6-11), Jeff Foster (6-11), Marquis Daniels (6-6)

40

1989-90 Boston Celtics

Weighted average height: 6-7.98

Regular season record: 52-30

Playoffs: Lost in first round to Knicks

Most used players: Larry Bird (6-9), Kevin McHale (6-10), Reggie Lewis (6-7), Robert Parish (7-1), Dennis Johnson (6-4)