When people search for 6’10 NBA players, they usually want one thing: a clear, accurate list of the stars who stand exactly 6 feet 10 inches tall. So that is exactly what you will get here. In the NBA, 6’10” is a prized height. It is tall enough to protect the rim, grab rebounds, and finish over almost anyone, yet still mobile enough to move and shoot like a smaller player. That blend of size and skill is gold in today’s game. One quick heads-up before we dive in: listed heights can vary between sources and eras, since the league only started measuring players barefoot in recent years. So a name you expect might land an inch off. Let’s get the facts straight.
List of 6’10 NBA Players
Here is a clean, verified list of notable 6’10” players, both current stars and all-time greats. Every name below is officially listed at 6 feet 10 inches.
| Player | Position | Team / Status | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Davis | Center / Power forward | Washington Wizards | USA |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | Power forward / Center | Utah Jazz | USA |
| Paolo Banchero | Power forward | Orlando Magic | USA / Italy |
| Franz Wagner | Small forward / Forward | Orlando Magic | Germany |
| Michael Porter Jr. | Small forward | Brooklyn Nets | USA |
| Jalen Duren | Center | Detroit Pistons | USA |
| Kevin McHale | Power forward | Retired (Celtics legend) | USA |
| Amar’e Stoudemire | Power forward / Center | Retired | USA / Israel |
Notice the range here. Some of these players are back-to-the-basket bigs. Others shoot threes and run the wing. Same height, wildly different games. That variety is the whole point of 6’10”, and we will unpack it below.
A quick, honest note: a few players you might expect on this list are actually a different height. Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid are listed at 7 feet. Kevin Garnett and Kevin Durant come in at 6’11”. Bam Adebayo is 6’9″. Close, but not exactly 6’10”, which is why they are not on the list above.
Best 6’10 NBA Players of All Time
Anthony Davis
If you want the modern face of 6’10”, it is Anthony Davis. A former No. 1 overall pick, Davis is one of the most complete big men of his era. He can block shots, switch onto guards, rebound, and score from the post or the perimeter. He won an NBA championship in 2020 and has racked up multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive honors. When healthy, few players on Earth are more impactful. His long arms make him play even taller than his listed height.
Kevin McHale
Now for a legend. Kevin McHale was a cornerstone of the great 1980s Boston Celtics, winning three NBA titles and earning a spot in the Hall of Fame. At 6’10”, McHale is widely regarded as one of the greatest low-post scorers the game has ever seen. His footwork was so smooth and so tricky that defenders simply could not guess his next move. He was a seven-time All-Star and an elite defender too. Skill over size, every single time.
Amar’e Stoudemire
Amar’e “STAT” Stoudemire brought raw power to the position. One of the most explosive dunkers of the 2000s, he combined freakish athleticism with a reliable mid-range jumper to average over 20 points a game in his prime. A six-time All-Star and the 2003 Rookie of the Year, Stoudemire starred for the Suns and Knicks and earned his own place in the Hall of Fame. When he attacked the rim, you got out of the way.
Other Notable 6’10 Players
Plenty of today’s stars carry the torch. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Paolo Banchero are among the best young 6’10” players in the league, which brings us to the current crop.
Current 6’10 NBA Players
The NBA is loaded with 6’10” talent right now, and they do not all play the same way. That is what makes this height so fun to watch.
Anthony Davis remains the gold standard, a two-way anchor now suiting up for the Washington Wizards. Jaren Jackson Jr., now with the Utah Jazz, is a defensive monster who won Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 while also stretching the floor with his three-point shooting. He is the modern “unicorn” big in a nutshell.
Then there are the young scorers. Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic is a powerful forward who can create his own shot and run an offense, and he was Rookie of the Year in 2023. His teammate Franz Wagner is a silky German forward who handles the ball like a guard despite his size. Michael Porter Jr., an elite shooter who won a title with Denver in 2023 before moving to the Brooklyn Nets, shows how a 6’10” player can space the floor. And Jalen Duren gives the Detroit Pistons a bouncy, rim-running center who feasts on lobs and rebounds. Different roles, same towering height.
What Positions Do 6’10 NBA Players Usually Play?
6’10 Power Forwards
The power forward spot is the classic home for 6’10”. Here, size meets skill. Modern 6’10” fours like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Paolo Banchero can stretch the floor with jump shots, roll to the rim in the pick-and-roll, and clean up the glass. They are matchup nightmares who force slower defenders to step out to the three-point line.
6’10 Centers
Plenty of 6’10” players anchor the middle as centers. Think of Anthony Davis or Jalen Duren protecting the rim, scoring in the post, and defending the paint. At this height, a center is a little more mobile than a true seven-footer, which helps on switches, while still being big enough to challenge shots at the basket.
Can a 6’10 Player Play Small Forward?
Here is where it gets interesting. Yes, a 6’10” player can absolutely play small forward, as long as he has the ball-handling and athleticism to keep up. Franz Wagner and Michael Porter Jr. are both listed as forwards or wings despite standing 6’10”. They prove that with skill, this height is not locked into the paint at all. It can roam the perimeter too.
Advantages of Being 6’10 in the NBA
So why is 6’10” such a coveted height? The perks stack up fast. Around the rim, a 6’10” player finishes easily over smaller defenders and gobbles up rebounds on both ends. On defense, that size translates into shot blocking and rim protection, plus the reach to bother passing lanes.
But the real magic is versatility. A 6’10” player is often big enough to guard centers yet quick enough to switch onto forwards, giving coaches flexible defensive options. On offense, the height lets them shoot and pass right over the top of shorter opponents, seeing the floor like a lighthouse over the waves. Add a jump shot, and suddenly you have a player who creates mismatches all over the court. Size that moves is the dream, and 6’10” delivers it.
How Rare Are 6’10 NBA Players?
Let’s put it in perspective. The average NBA player stands around 6’6″. So at 6’10”, these players tower four inches above the typical pro, which is a big gap on a basketball court. That makes 6’10” clearly tall.
That said, it is not exceptionally rare among NBA big men. The league is full of talented players at this height, because 6’10” hits a sweet spot that teams love. What separates the stars from the rest is not the inches. It is the skill, the athleticism, and the basketball IQ that come with them. In today’s NBA, a 6’10” player who can shoot and move is worth far more than a taller one who cannot. Height opens the door, but talent walks through it.
6’10 NBA Players vs. Other Heights
To really understand where 6’10” fits, here is a simple map of NBA heights and their usual roles.
| Height | Typical NBA Roles |
|---|---|
| 6’6″ | Guard / Wing |
| 6’8″ | Wing / Forward |
| 6’10” | Forward / Center |
| 7’0″ | Center |
| 7’2″+ | Rim-protecting Center |
6’8 vs. 6’10 NBA Players
The two-inch gap matters more than you might think. A 6’8″ player is usually a nimble wing or forward, quicker on the perimeter but a bit smaller in the paint. A 6’10” player trades a touch of that speed for real size, gaining rebounding and rim protection while still being flexible enough to play multiple spots. In short, 6’8″ leans wing, 6’10” leans big.
6’10 vs. 7-Foot NBA Players
Step up to seven feet, and the trade-off flips. True seven-footers like Karl-Anthony Towns or Joel Embiid bring even more size, reach, and rim protection. But 6’10” players often have the edge in speed and mobility, which helps them defend on the perimeter and run the floor. It is the classic balance: a bit less height, a bit more quickness.
Famous 6’10 NBA Players and Their Careers
For a quick snapshot, here are some of the most accomplished 6’10” players and a signature achievement for each. According to stat databases like Basketball Reference, these are among the most decorated names at the height.
| Player | Position | Career Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Davis | C / PF | NBA champion (2020), multiple All-NBA selections |
| Kevin McHale | PF | 3× NBA champion, Hall of Famer |
| Amar’e Stoudemire | PF / C | 6× All-Star, 2003 Rookie of the Year |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | PF / C | 2023 Defensive Player of the Year |
These are verified accomplishments, not opinions. Every player here changed games with a blend of size and skill.
Frequently Asked Questions About 6’10 NBA Players
Who is the best 6’10 NBA player?
It depends on how you judge it. For all-time greatness, Kevin McHale’s three titles and Hall of Fame career stand tall. For peak modern impact, Anthony Davis is the pick. For pure defense, Jaren Jackson Jr. is elite. There is no single right answer.
How many NBA players are 6’10?
The exact number changes every season as rosters turn over, and it also depends on which height database you use. It is one of the more common heights for NBA big men, so there are usually many players listed at 6’10” at any given time.
Is 6’10 tall for an NBA player?
Yes. With the average NBA player around 6’6″, a 6’10” player is clearly above average. It is very tall in everyday terms, though fairly common among the league’s big men.
Can a 6’10 player play center?
Absolutely. Many 6’10” players, like Anthony Davis and Jalen Duren, play center. At this height they anchor the paint while staying more mobile than most true seven-footers.
Can a 6’10 player play power forward?
Yes, and it is one of the most natural fits. Modern NBA offenses love versatile 6’10” forwards like Paolo Banchero and Jaren Jackson Jr. who can shoot, rebound, and defend multiple positions.
Who is the tallest 6’10 NBA player?
By definition, every player listed at 6’10” shares the exact same listed height, so none is taller than another on paper. What separates them is wingspan and skill. A player like Anthony Davis, with his enormous reach, plays much bigger than his listed 6’10”.
Conclusion
So there you have your rundown of 6’10 NBA players. From legends like Kevin McHale and Amar’e Stoudemire to today’s stars like Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., Paolo Banchero, and Franz Wagner, this height has produced some of the most versatile talents in basketball. That is the real lesson here: 6’10” offers a rare mix of size and mobility that fits perfectly in the modern game. But remember, the inches only open the door. It is skill, athleticism, and playing style that turn a tall player into a great one. For more player breakdowns and NBA history, check out this look at the lowest-scoring NBA game ever, and follow official listings on NBA.com to keep this list up to date.
