Top 10 Longest Wingspan NBA Players: Kevin McHale, Rudy Gobert and More

NBA players need to check out several metrics of physicality to determine their exact fit on the floor. One such aspect is their wingspan, which has become an important factor for teams to value for their players. Wingspan is the length measured between the end of one arm and the other when both arms are fully stretched.

Usually, the big men, such as the centers and the forwards, have the longest wingspan, considering their long arms and tall height. In the new era of the NBA, players are now taller, and wingspan is more of a factor for consideration than in the previous eras when it was just a secondary aspect. This article talks about players with the longest wingspans in the league.

10 Players with the Largest Wingspan in the NBA

In the new age of basketball, wingspans become the decider for the skills bag of a center or a forward in the NBA. Though wingspans were an important factor for all ages of basketball, they especially come in handy when assigned a rim protection job or to grab boards and slash inside the paint. Here are some of the giants of the league whose wingspans have been a matter of intrigue in the NBA.

#1 Victor Wembanyama – 8’0″

Victor Wembanyama became the most hyped rookie since LeBron James, ahead of his draft in 2023. The French prodigy has not been disappointed, winning the Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, and All-Defensive First Team honors in 2024. In his sophomore season in the league, Wemby was named an All-Star for the first time, a trajectory similar to LeBron James after his rookie season.

With his 7’4″ height and 8’0″ wingspan, Wembanyama currently has the best wingspan in the league. However, these aspects raised questions about his durability, Wembanyama couples for it by playing on the perimeter and combining exceptional mobility and skills for his size. Wemby is a lethal three-point shooter, and his jump shots are difficult to block. However, his thin frame can also disadvantage him, given he struggles to box out while rebounding or defending post-ups.

Stats Category	Stats
Rebounds	10.6
Assists	3.9
Blocks	3.6

#2 Kevin McHale – 8’0″

Kevin McHale was one of the most important pieces for the Celtics’ dominance in the 1980s decade. He has played alongside Larry Bird and is considered to be one of the legends of the Boston Celtics and in the league. He won three championships during his time in Boston and was selected seven times as an All-Star. McHale stands 6’10” tall with a rather impressive wingspan of 8’0″.

Stats Category	Stats
Rebounds	7.3
Assists	1.7
Blocks	1.7

#3 Mo Bamba – 7’10”

If you have heard the song by Sheck Wes of the same name, this is the player we are talking about. Mo Bamba was drafted in 2018 as the 6th overall pick by the Orlando Magic. However, he has not quite shown up to his potential as of yet, currently playing for the Los Angeles Clippers’ affiliate team, San Diego Clippers, in the NBA G-League.

Mo has a wingspan of 7’10”, which made him one of the most sought-after prospects from the 2018 draft class. He could play on both sides of the court, which we briefly witnessed during his time at Orlando. However, once Mo finds his footing back in the game, we might even witness this young big man’s resurgence in the league again.

Stats Category	Stats
Rebounds	5.4
Assists	0.8
Blocks	1.3

#4 Rudy Gobert – 7’9″

Rudy Gobert is a three-time DPOY and stands 7’1″ tall with a wingspan of 7’9″. He is considered a defensive anchor for the Minnesota Timberwolves and has been filling in the role for the big as a starter since Karl-Anthony Towns’ departure. Alongside Anthony Edwards, Gobert led the Timberwolves to challenge for a championship last season. However, Minnesota was sent back home after facing an upset against the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.

Stats Category	Stats
Rebounds	8.0
Assists	1.0
Blocks	0.3

#5 Boban Marjanovic – 7’10”

Boban Marjanovic is one of the premier international players to have played in the NBA. He has played for seven different NBA teams, including the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets. Boban stands 7’4″ tall and has a wingspan of 7’10”. He currently plays for the Zheijiang Lions in China’s CBA.

Stats Category	Stats
Rebounds	3.6
Assists	0.5
Blocks	0.3

#6 Wilt Chamberlain – 7’8″

Back in the hay days of the NBA, a player’s wingspan was a secondary aspect of consideration. But Wilt Chamberlain knew how to utilize this aspect to the best of his advantage. Chamberlain is considered to be one of the greatest players in the league’s history, winning two NBA championships and four regular season MVP titles. Furthermore, Chamberlain is the only NBA player to have scored 100 points in a single game. Wilt Chamberlain had an intense rivalry with Bill Russell, who had won 11 rings playing for the Boston Celtics. Chamberlain stood 7’1″ in height, with a wingspan of 7’8″.

Stats Category	Stats
Rebounds	22.9
Assists	4.4
Blocks	Blocks were not counted until 1973

#7 Dwight Howard – 7’8″

Dwight Howard is considered one of the greatest centers in the NBA. His dominance was so prevalent that many even thought Howard could dethrone Shaquille O’Neal’s position as the most dominant center to have ever graced the league. Howard stands 6’10” tall with a wingspan of 7’8″. He has won a chip with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

Dwight Howard is most prominently known for his stint with the Orlando Magic and his beef with Shaquille O’Neal. He even took up the moniker ‘Superman’ for himself, which was earlier used to describe Shaq during his hay days in Orlando.

Stats Category	Stats
Rebounds	11.8
Assists	1.3
Blocks	1.8

Also Read: Ranking 10 Best Point Guards in NBA History

#8 Dereck Lively II – 7’7″

Dereck Lively II immediately impacted the NBA after getting drafted by the Dallas Mavericks. In his rookie season itself, the Mavs made it to the NBA Finals, with Lively being one of the biggest contributors to the Mavs’ historic title contention campaign.

Standing 7’1″ tall and with a wingspan of 7’7″, Lively potential was best witnessed playing alongside Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic last season. He has all that it takes to become a future star center for the Mavericks.

Stats Category	Stats
Rebounds	6.9
Assists	1.1
Blocks	1.4

#9 Bol Bol – 7’7″

Bol Bol is the son of former basketball player Manute Bol, who was one of the tallest players to have played in the NBA. Bol stands 7’3″ tall, ranking amongst one of the tallest players in the league. The Denver Nuggets drafted him as a second-round pick in 2019, and he hasn’t yet found his footing in the league. He has a wingspan of 7’7″ and has been part of the Phoenix Suns’ roster since 2023. Bol Bol still finds some minutes in the league under the Phoenix Suns and receives mentorship from legendary veterans such as Kevin Durant.

Stats Category	Stats
Rebounds	3.6
Assists	0.3
Blocks	0.8

#10 Andre Drummond – 7’6″

Andre Drummond is considered one of the greatest rebounders of all time. With a 7’6″ wingspan and standing 6’11” tall, Drummond is a two-time All-Star and currently plays as a reserve center for the Philadelphia 76ers. Drummond is a 4x NBA rebounding leader and made it to the All-NBA Third Team in 2016.

At one time, Andre Drummond was considered one of the most premier defenders in the league. However, it seems like his form has faltered over the years, and he appears to be just a shell of his prime self. At his peak, Drummond was comparable to the likes of Dwight Howard in his prime days.

Stats Category	Stats
Rebounds	12.4
Assists	1.4
Blocks	1.3

Notable NBA Players With the Longest Wingspans

While we have ranked the top 10 the longest wingspans in NBA history above, the table below highlights notable NBA players with long wingspans who also were great in scoring, defense, and all-around play.

Rank	Player	Wing Span	Rebounds	Assists	Blocks
11	Tacko Fall	8’2″	2.4	0.2	0.8
12	Shaquille O’Neal	7’7″	10.9	2.5	2.3
13	Hassan Whiteside	7’7″	10.8	0.6	2.2
14	Udoka Azubuike	7’7″	2.8	0.2	0.4
15	LeBron James	7’0″	7.5	7.4	0.7
16	Kevin Durant	7’5″	7.0	4.4	1.1
17	Yao Ming	7’5″	9.2	1.6	1.9
18	Bill Russell	7’5″	22.5	4.3	–
19	Luka Doncic	6’11”	8.7	8.3	0
20	Michael Jordan	6’11”	6.2	5.3	2.7

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