True NBA Player Heights

[Widowmaker2k]

After posting in the Jason Thompson prank thread over on the main Kings forum, I got curious about true NBA player heights and did a little research. Here is a decent article on some famous players heights, from the exaggerated Charles Barkley (reported 6'6", truly a little over 6'4"), to the underreported KG (reported at 6'11, probably somewhat over 7', maybe as high as 7'2").

Draft Express has a decent database of pre-draft measurements, but many big-name players are absent. From this list I looked several current and former Kings (height is without shoes):
Chris Webber: 6'9"
Peja: 6'8" (Donte is slightly taller)
Brad Miller: 6'11"
Vlade: 7'1" (unofficial, Draft Express says likely inflated)
Bibby: 6'1"
Donte Greene: 6'8.25"
Bobby Brown: 5'11.75"
John Salmons: 6'5.5" (6'7" in shoes, it seems he's actually taller than Kings.com listing)
Hawes: 6'10.5"
Garcia: 6'5.75"
Bobby Jackson: 5'11"
Kenny Thomas: 6'6.5"
Keon Clark: 6'10.5"
Jimmy Jackson: 6'5.25" (he seemed taller to me)

Anyways, there's no list for Kevin Martin, but I'd assume he's about the same as Salmons/Garcia (which means in shoes, he's probably a legit 6'7").

Anyways, is this as interesting as I think it is? Or am I just a stats geek?

 

[PurpleHaze]

No, I don't think I'd call you a stats geek for this - and we've discussed it before here. The bottom line is, "official" heights listed by teams at collegiate and NBA level are with shoes on which sort of makes sense since basketball rim is exactly 10 feet off the floor. Of more interest to me is so-called height along with arm length (wingspan). Generally, you can deduct about 2 inches off whatever is listed to get "true height" of any player.

Example I can attest too: Reggie Theus has long been listed at 6'7". I stood next to him numerous times and well, he's not a "true 6'7," since I'm 6'4.75" w/o shoes. I'd put Reg at max. 6'5.25." Everyone who ever saw us standing together thought we were same height or maybe he was at best half inch taller. I also stood next to Charles Barkley once and he was same height as me or more likely about a quarter inch shorter. Lastly, at Kings games I attended a couple years ago I was always amazed how tiny Eric Musselman looked standing on the sidelines. I don't know how tall (short!) he was but even Mike Bibby towered over him.