The 2024/25 NBA season is about to start, and we couldn’t be more excited! Although we had a great time watching Team USA fight for and claim the Olympic gold medal, we still can’t wait for the tip-off of the premier basketball league in the world.
Before the season starts, we should get familiar with some of its most entertaining players. For example, we have more than a few “unicorns” in the league now, and we should pay attention. Tall players have always been dominant in basketball, but in the past few years, we see more and more of these guys competing at the highest level. Let’s see who the tallest players in the league are and explore their chances of making it big.
1. Victor Wembanyama (7-foot-4, San Antonio Spurs)
The tallest player in the NBA is likely its biggest rising star as well. Victor Wembanyama was the Rookie of the Year in the season behind us and has already proven that he has potential for the biggest accomplishments. Last season, he showed that he can play on both ends of the court and that his defensive presence is a game changer. Wemby’s size is crucial in defending the rim whenever he’s on the court, but also allows him to cover smaller players on the perimeter. Despite their advantage in speed, we rarely see the guards going beside the Frenchman and scoring. On the offensive end, Wemby will have Chris Paul this year. So, getting passes won’t be an issue. In the very first game of the preseason, this duo showed us that we’re in for a whole lot of alley-oops this year.
2. Zach Edey (7-foot-4, Memphis Grizzlies)
Zach Edey impressed the scouts in his final year of college and eventually ended as the 9th pick in this year’s NBA draft. However, many people are still questioning his abilities to adapt to the pro rhythm, and it’s uncertain if Edey will manage to be as dominant. During his years at Purdue, Edey had size and strength on his side, which likely won’t help much against NBA centres. Still, Edey has plenty of time ahead of him, and if he fully adapts to the NBA style of play, we’ll see more of him in the future.
3. Kristaps Porzingis (7-foot-3, Boston Celtics)
Kristaps Porzingis is the original unicorn of the NBA. When drafted, he was the guy described in that manner, eventually naming an entire group of tall players who can move and shoot as guards. In the past season, Porzingis became a champion with the Celtics, and it’s certain that Boston fans don’t expect anything less this year. We’ll see if KP can help them achieve that goal. If you’re a fan of making predictions, here you can find articles that might help you make the right choices.
The list of tall players continues with individuals who likely won’t have such a significant impact on their teams. Moses Brown and Bol Bol are at the next two spots, standing at 7-foot-2, and both of them need to have a breakout season.