Well, I reckon y’all are wonderin’ about them big ol’ basketball players, huh? I mean, we all know them fellas runnin’ up and down that court, slammin’ hoops, but did you ever stop and think about how heavy some of ’em are? Yep, there’s a bunch of ’em that got more weight than a few cows put together! Let me tell ya, some of these NBA players, they ain’t just tall, they are heavy as all get out. Let’s talk about the heaviest NBA players to ever step on that hardwood.
Shaquille O’Neal – The Biggest of ‘Em All
Now, the first name that pops in my head when talkin’ about big fellas is none other than Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq was a mountain of a man. You can’t forget him playin’ for the Los Angeles Lakers, where he was just a force of nature. They say he weighed around 325 pounds, but I tell ya, he himself said he tipped the scales at 415 pounds when he was in his prime! That’s more than a small herd of pigs right there! His size made him almost impossible to move in the paint, and you could see how his weight worked to his advantage on the court. But let’s be honest, that much weight ain’t easy on the ol’ knees!
Oliver Miller – The Big O
Then, there’s Oliver Miller. Y’all might not remember him as much, but this man was big—real big. They called him “The Big O” for a reason. Standing at 6’9″ and weighin’ over 300 pounds, Oliver Miller was a real sight to see. He played in the 90s and early 2000s, and boy, he sure made a name for himself just by how big he was. Now, I ain’t sayin’ he was as tall as Shaq, but he sure had the weight to match up! He wasn’t as nimble as other players, but when he got in that paint, it was like tryin’ to move a brick wall.
Tacko Fall – The Tallest and Heaviest
Now, y’all gotta meet Tacko Fall. This fella’s from over the water in Africa, but he sure made a splash in the NBA. At 7’6″, he’s one of the tallest players ever, and let me tell ya, he ain’t no lightweight either. Weighin’ in at 311 pounds, Tacko Fall’s presence on the court was somethin’ to behold. He didn’t play a whole lot, but when he did, his size alone could intimidate the other team. And for a man that tall, movin’ around that much weight takes a whole lotta skill—ya can’t just be runnin’ around like a chicken with your head cut off!
Boban Marjanović – The Gentle Giant
Now, Boban Marjanović, he’s a big ol’ fella too. Boban’s from Serbia, and he stands at 7’4″, with a weight of 290 pounds. He might not be quite as heavy as some of the others on this list, but trust me, this man is one big unit. When he’s out there on the court, it’s like a wall of muscle movin’ around. But despite his size, Boban’s got a sweet, gentle nature, and you’d never guess how tall and heavy he was just by lookin’ at his friendly face. But let me tell ya, once he starts movin’ toward the basket, you ain’t stoppin’ him!
Yao Ming – The Tower of China
And who could forget Yao Ming? This man was a giant. At 7’6″, he made the NBA look like a game of giants. Yao wasn’t as heavy as Shaq or some of the other big guys, but he still tipped the scales at around 310 pounds. His height and weight combined made him a real problem for other teams, and you could see how his sheer presence was enough to scare a few players. Sadly, his career got cut short due to injuries, but when he was on the court, he was a sight to behold.

Other Big Guys Worth Mentioning
- DeSagana Diop – Weighing in at around 300 pounds, Diop was another one of those big men who could hold his own in the paint.
- Gheorghe Mureșan – Standing at 7’7″, Gheorghe Mureșan wasn’t just tall, he was a big guy too, weighin’ about 303 pounds. Not as heavy as some, but still a force.
- Kristaps Porzingis – Porzingis may not be as heavy as the others, but his height (7’3″) and muscle mass make him a big man in the NBA, though he’s a bit leaner than most.
How Their Weight Affected Their Careers
Now, you might be wonderin’, “How does all that weight affect these players’ careers?” Well, let me tell ya, weight plays a big part in how these big fellas move on the court. On one hand, it can be an advantage—more weight means more power and strength, especially when you’re tryin’ to box out or get to the basket. But on the other hand, all that extra weight can take a toll on the body. Knees, ankles, and backs—those are the parts of the body that often give out when you carry so much weight over the years. Even Shaq, as strong as he was, had to retire early because of the wear and tear on his body.
So, there ya have it, folks. The heaviest NBA players ever. Big men, big muscles, and a lotta power, but also a lotta pain and pressure on those bones. Ain’t easy bein’ that big, but these fellas sure made it work and made history with their size!
Tags:[heaviest NBA players, Shaquille O’Neal, Oliver Miller, Tacko Fall, Boban Marjanović, Yao Ming, basketball players weight, NBA giants, tall NBA players]