Hands are essential for NBA players. Bigger hands mean more rebounds, better ball handling, and even better shooting. Let us see the top 15 players with the biggest hands in NBA history! Who are these players? How did their size give them an edge? We’ll find out!
What Determines Hand Size?
Hand size is determined by genes, ethnicity, and gender. It can be significant for sports. Here’s the top 15 NBA players with the largest hands:
- Shaquille O’Neal – 14.5 inches
- Boban Marjanovic – 14 inches
- Kawhi Leonard – 11.3 inches
- Wilt Chamberlain – 11.25 inches
- Michael Jordan – 11.5 inches
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – 11.3 inches
- Yao Ming – 10.8 inches
- Dikembe Mutombo – 10.5 inches
- LeBron James – 9.75 inches
- Kobe Bryant – 9.75 inches
- Kevin Durant – 9.5 inches
- Magic Johnson – 9.5 inches
- Shaquille O’Neal (second entry) – 9.5 inches
- Hakeem Olajuwon – 9.5 inches
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 9.5 inches
Pro tip: Hand size is not everything. You need good training, hard work, and practice too!
Why Are Large Hands So Important to NBA Players?
Huge hands give NBA players an edge on the court. They help them catch the ball, pass, and shoot better. Numerous NBA stars have made the most of their large hands to dominate the game. Here are 15 players with the biggest hands in NBA history:
- Shaq
- Kawhi Leonard
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Michael Jordan
- Karl Malone
- Bob Lanier
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Dr. J
- Yao Ming
- Magic Johnson
- DeAndre Jordan
- Shawn Bradley
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Bill Russell
Hand size is not the only thing that makes a great basketball player, but it can give some players a boost. Bigger hands can block opponents and get rebounds easier. However, the effect of hand size on performance varies from player to player. Many small-handed players have also done well on the court.
How Hand Size Affects Shooting, Passing, and Dribbling Abilities
Hand size can influence a basketball player’s shooting, passing, and dribbling abilities. While it won’t guarantee success, it can provide an advantage.
Here’s how hand size affects performance:
- Shooting: Larger hands give players better control and release of the ball.
- Passing: Wider grip on the ball for better passes and control.
- Dribbling: Easier, more controlled dribbling with a firmer grip.
The NBA’s biggest-handed players are Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan. Hand size likely contributed to their success on the court.
NBA Players With The Biggest Hands
Many amazing NBA players, from Wilt Chamberlain to Shaquille O’Neal, possess enormous hands. It can be a major benefit in basketball, as it grants them better control and accuracy when shooting, passing, catching, and dribbling. Let’s look at the 15 greatest players with the hugest hands in NBA history!
Shaquille O’Neal – 14.5 inches
Shaq’s hands are legendary! They measure 14.5 inches from thumb to pinky – making him one of the biggest-handed players in NBA history. Here’s the top 5:
- Shaquille O’Neal – 14.5 inches
- Boban Marjanovic – 14 inches
- Kawhi Leonard – 11.5 inches
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – 11.3 inches
- Wilt Chamberlain – 11 inches
Large hands can be helpful for catching and handling the ball, but ball control and coordination are just as important. Plus, Shaq has put his hand size to good use in business and acting – promoting everything from pizza to car loans!
Boban Marjanović – 14.25 inches
Boban Marjanović is a towering Serbian basketball player. His hands measure a massive 14.25 inches, making him one of the biggest-handed players in NBA history.
Let’s take a look at the 15 NBA legends with the biggest hands:
- Shaquille O’Neal – 10.25 inches
- Boban Marjanović – 14.25 inches
- Wilt Chamberlain – 9.5 inches
- Kawhi Leonard – 11.25 inches
- Hakeem Olajuwon – 10.75 inches
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 9.75 inches
- Michael Jordan – 9.75 inches
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – 14 inches
- Yao Ming – 10.5 inches
- Dr. J (Julius Erving) – 9.5 inches
- LeBron James – 9.5 inches
- Magic Johnson – 9.5 inches
- Karl Malone – 9.5 inches
- Shaquille Harrison – 10.5 inches
- DeAndre Jordan – 11.75 inches
The impressive hand size of these NBA stars has often been key to their success on the court.
Kawhi Leonard – 11.25 inches
Kawhi Leonard, the two-time NBA Finals MVP, is renowned for his huge hands that measure 11.25 inches in length. He tops the list of players with the largest hands in NBA history.
Here are the top fifteen players with the biggest hands:
- Kawhi Leonard – 11.25 inches
- Wilt Chamberlain – 11 inches
- Shaquille O’Neal – 10.25 inches
- Michael Jordan – 9.75 inches
- Karl Malone – 10 inches
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – 12 inches
- Hakeem Olajuwon – 9.5 inches
- Connie Hawkins – 11.5 inches
- Bob Lanier – 10.5 inches
- Magic Johnson – 9.5 inches
- LeBron James – 9.5 inches
- Julius Erving – 9.5 inches
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 9.5 inches
- DeAndre Jordan – 11 inches
- Shawn Bradley – 10.5 inches
Having massive hands can give you an edge in basketball. Players can grip the ball easier, improving their dribbling and shooting control.
Wilt Chamberlain – 9.5 inches
Wilt Chamberlain had the largest hands ever seen in the NBA – 9.5 inches from thumb to pinky! Other players known for their big hands include:
- Shaquille O’Neal – 10.25 inches long, 9.5 inches wide.
- Michael Jordan – 9.75 inches long, 11.375 inches wide.
- Kawhi Leonard – 9.75 inch span.
- Boban Marjanovic – 12.5 inches from thumb to pinky.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – 12 inches from thumb to pinky.
Having large hands can be useful for ball handling, but it can also be challenging to find gloves that fit!
Michael Jordan – 9.75 inches
Michael Jordan, a legendary NBA player, had enormous hands measuring 9.75 inches. Here are the 15 players with the biggest hands in NBA history:
- Shaquille O’Neal – 10.25 inches
- Wilt Chamberlain – 9.5 inches
- Michael Jordan – 9.75 inches
- Kawhi Leonard – 9.75 inches
- Bob Lanier – 9.5 inches
- Hakeem Olajuwon – 9.5 inches
- LeBron James – 9.5 inches
- Karl Malone – 9.5 inches
- Julius Erving – 9.5 inches
- Vince Carter – 9.5 inches
- Russell Westbrook – 9.25 inches
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – 9.25 inches
- Joakim Noah – 9.25 inches
- Yao Ming – 9.2 inches
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 9.2 inches
Fun Fact: Hands the size of Michael’s, Shaq’s, and Kawhi’s are a huge asset in basketball! They allow you to palm the ball, pass quickly, and block shots with ease.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – 10.5 inches
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, an ex-NBA player for the Charlotte Hornets, had one of the largest hands in NBA history – 10.5 inches. This size can seriously affect an NBA player’s performance, like ball handling, shooting, and defending. Here are the top 5 NBA players with the hugest hands:
- Shaquille O’Neal – 14.5 inches
- Boban Marjanovic – 12.75 inches
- Kawhi Leonard – 11.25 inches
- Wilt Chamberlain – 11 inches
- Anthony Davis – 10.75 inches
The size of their hands gives them a great advantage on the court. For example, they can control the ball better and shoot with greater accuracy.
Giannis Antetokounmpo – 12 inches
Giannis Antetokounmpo has a huge hand length of 12 inches, which has caused fascination in the NBA.
Until the 2010-2011 season, NBA players’ hand measurements weren’t officially recorded. But, reports suggest some past players had huge hands. Here are some of the biggest-handed players in NBA history:
- Shaquille O’Neal – 9.5 inches
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 9.5 inches
- Wilt Chamberlain – 9 inches
- Michael Jordan – 9.75 inches
- Kawhi Leonard – 9.75 inches
- Bob Lanier – 10 inches
- Hakeem Olajuwon – 10.5 inches
- Andrew Bynum – 11 inches
- Russell Westbrook – 11.25 inches
- Julius Erving – 11.5 inches
- Jon Koncak – 11.5 inches
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – 12 inches
- Gheorghe Muresan – 12.25 inches
- Manute Bol – 10.5 inches
- Shawn Bradley – 10.5 inches
Players with large hands often play positions like point guard, shooting guard, or small forward. This is because they can easily steal the ball, get a better grip on the ball while dribbling/passing, and palm the basketball more effectively.
Karl-Anthony Towns – 9.75 inches
Karl-Anthony Towns’ hand span of 9.75 inches makes him one of the most remarkable NBA players ever. Hand span is a major element in basketball, affecting everything from ball control to blocking shots.
The top 15 NBA players with the biggest hands in NBA history are listed below:
- Shaquille O’Neal – 10.25 inches
- Wilt Chamberlain – 9.5 inches
- Rajon Rondo – 10 inches
- Michael Jordan – 9.75 inches
- Larry Bird – 9.75 inches
- Kawhi Leonard – 9.75 inches
- Karl-Anthony Towns – 9.75 inches
- Anthony Davis – 9.5 inches
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – 9.5 inches
- Magic Johnson – 9.5 inches
- Shawn Bradley – 9.5 inches
- Hakeem Olajuwon – 9.5 inches
- Kobe Bryant – 9.25 inches
- Chris Paul – 9.25 inches
- Dr. J (Julius Erving) – 9.25 inches
Having large hands gives these players the ability to handle the ball with ease. This makes their shooting, dribbling and defensive capabilities even more impressive.
DeAndre Jordan – 11.75 inches
DeAndre Jordan, former NBA player for teams such as Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers, is famously known for having one of the biggest hands in NBA history. His hand size measures 11.75 inches.
Here are the top 15 players with the largest hands in NBA history:
- Shaquille O’Neal – 14.00 inches
- Boban Marjanovic – 12.25 inches
- Kawhi Leonard – 11.31 inches
- Wilt Chamberlain – 11.00 inches
- Karl Malone – 10.75 inches
- Michael Jordan – 10.63 inches
- Julius Erving – 10.50 inches
- Al Horford – 10.50 inches
- Yao Ming – 10.50 inches
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – 10.25 inches
- DeAndre Jordan – 11.75 inches
- Hakeem Olajuwon – 10.12 inches
- Shawn Bradley – 10.12 inches
- Anthony Davis – 9.80 inches
- Lonzo Ball – 9.50 inches
Bigger hands in basketball players give them an edge in ball handling and grip. Amazingly cool!
Julius Erving – 9.5 inches
Julius Erving, a basketball legend, had a hand length of 9.5 inches – one of the largest in NBA history.
Other top players include:
- Boban Marjanovic (12.75 inches)
- Shaquille O’Neal (10.25 inches)
- Kawhi Leonard (9.75 inches)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (9.8 inches)
- Wilt Chamberlain (9.5 inches)
- Vince Carter (9 inches)
- Michael Jordan (9.75 inches)
- Yao Ming (10 inches)
- Bill Russell (10.8 inches)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9.8 inches)
Hand size is an advantage for basketball players. It offers better ball control, stronger grips, and increased reach. But remember, it’s not the only factor that determines success. Hard work, dedication, and skill development are also essential.
Hakeem Olajuwon – 10.25 inches
Hakeem Olajuwon is seen as one of the greatest NBA players ever. His hand measurements? 10.25 inches. He’s definitely on the list of players with the biggest hands. Here are some more:
- Boban Marjanovic – 10.75 inches
- Shaquille O’Neal – 10.25 inches
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – 10 inches
- Wilt Chamberlain – 9.5 inches
- Kawhi Leonard – 9.75 inches
Pro Tip: Hand size matters in basketball. It helps a player grip the ball better and have more control over it. That’s why coaches and scouts take this into consideration.
Anthony Davis – 10.5 inches
Anthony Davis is well-known for having one of the biggest hands in the NBA. His hand spans 10.5 inches from the base of his palm to the tip of his middle finger.
Other NBA stars with large hands include Kawhi Leonard (9.75 inches), Shaquille O’Neal (10.25 inches), and Wilt Chamberlain (9.5 inches).
Having large hands gives these players an edge on the court. They can palm the ball easily, making impressive plays that wouldn’t be possible for those with smaller hands. But, hand size is not the only element of success in the NBA. Technique, skill, and teamwork are also important factors for winning games and championships.
Yao Ming – 10.25 inches
Yao Ming had one of the biggest hands in NBA history – 10.25 inches long. But he’s not the only one! Here are 3 more players with the largest hands:
- Kawhi Leonard – 11.2 inches from thumb to pinky. He plays for the LA Clippers.
- Wilt Chamberlain – 9.5 inches long and 11.5 inches wide. A legendary center.
- Shaquille O’Neal – 10.2 inches long and 9.2 inches wide. He’s retired.
Big hands can help a basketball player control the ball better. To improve your skills, focus on strengthening your hands and grip, no matter the size.
Shaquille Harrison – 10.5 inches
Shaquille Harrison has hands measuring 10.5 inches – one of the biggest in NBA history! Other players with giant hands include:
- Kawhi Leonard (9.8″)
- Boban Marjanović (10.75″)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (12″)
- Wilt Chamberlain (9.5″)
- Michael Jordan (9.75″)
Having big hands can help in ball handling, shooting and rebounding. Fun fact: Shaquille O’Neal’s hand size was 10.25 inches, even though he was shorter than Boban Marjanović. Maybe his height wasn’t the only factor that made him a great basketball player? Go discover the largest hand size!
Patrick Ewing – 10 inches
Patrick Ewing’s hands were 10 inches long, putting him in the top 15 biggest-handed players ever in the NBA. Here are some famous names:
- Wilt Chamberlain: 11.5 inches, the longest ever.
- Shaq: 10.25 inches.
- Michael Jordan: 9.75 inches, which helped him execute his moves.
- Kawhi Leonard: 9.75 inches long, 11.25 inches wide – “The Klaw”.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 12 inches, the reigning MVP’s hand span helps him dominate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is the player with the biggest hands in NBA history?
A: According to official measurements, Gheorghe Mureșan holds the record for largest hands in NBA history. His hand measure 12.5 inches in length and 8.5 inches in width.
Q: Who are some other players with big hands in the NBA?
A: Some other players with notable hand size include Boban Marjanović, Kawhi Leonard, and Wilt Chamberlain.
Q: How do NBA players’ hand size affect their performance on the court?
A: Hand size can affect a player’s ball handling, passing, shooting, and rebounding abilities. Larger hands may provide an advantage for grabbing and controlling the ball, while smaller hands may allow for more precise dribbling and shooting.
Q: Can hand size be trained or improved for basketball players?
A: While hand size is largely determined by genetics and cannot be changed, players can work on improving their grip strength and dexterity through exercises and drills.
Q: Are there any disadvantages to having extremely large hands in basketball?
A: Players with very large hands may struggle with touch and finesse, as it can be difficult to control the ball with such a large surface area. They may also have difficulty finding comfortable gloves or footwear that accommodates their hand size.
Q: How is hand size measured in the NBA?
A: NBA officials use a standardized method of measuring hand size, which involves recording the length of the hand from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger and the width of the hand at its widest point, excluding the thumb.