Walking on Giants – Exploring the Biggest Shoe Size in NBA History

It is no secret that the National Basketball Association, or NBA, has featured some enormous athletes. Not only have some of these players had larger-than-life personalities and truly towering heights, but they have also had some eye-bulging shoe sizes!

Today, we take a deep dive into the largest shoe sizes in the NBA. We look at some of the NBA’s current giants and explore some of the biggest shoe sizes this storied league has ever seen. If you have ever wondered about the biggest shoe size in NBA history, you have come to the right place!

Who Has the Biggest Shoe Size in the NBA Currently?

Before we get into some of the league’s historical giants, it is worth looking at the biggest shoe sizes in the NBA right now. Currently, the league has one clear leader.

Boban Marjanović.

While Boban Marjanović may not be the historical leader when it comes to the NBA’s biggest shoe size, the giant Serbian is the league’s current leader. The 7’4” center currently plays for the Houston Rockets.

Given his immense height and frame, it is no surprise that Marjanović wears an eye-bulging size 20 basketball shoe. Not only does this give him the biggest shoe size in the NBA, but it also means he wears one of the biggest shoe sizes in the league’s history.

Marjanović’s size and skill has led him to stints at numerous NBA teams, including the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, and Dallas Mavericks. He has even made many appearances in major Hollywood films and television shows. Famously, he had a humorous appearance in Hustle, which was a co-creation of LeBron James and long-time basketball fan and funnyman Adam Sandler.

Which Shoes Does Boban Marjanović Wear?

The Serbian giant currently wears Nike’s Zoom Rize 2 Basketball Shoes. Due to his incredibly large size 20 feet, Nike has to make a custom version of the super lightweight and minimalistic Nike basketball shoes.

Many of the league’s tallest athletes wear the same shoe, as it has a unique combination of lightweight and highly durable and is ideal for larger and heavier players.

Which Players Have the Biggest Shoes in NBA History?

To give you a more informed understanding of the biggest shoes ever to hit the court in the NBA, we are going to countdown the top five biggest shoes in NBA history. While there are some ties, here are the NBA’s historical footwear giants:

1. Shaquille O’Neal and Tacko Fall – Size 22 Basketball Shoes

Shaquille O’Neal and Tacko Fall wore size 22, meaning they share the title for wearing the biggest shoes in the history of the NBA.

Shaquille O’Neal

It may come as no surprise to see O’Neal on a list counting down the biggest basketball shoes, especially given that he remains one of the league’s most legendary big men and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

When Shaq, as he was affectionately known, was first drafted into the NBA, he began by wearing a size 20 shoe. Due to his immense foot size, he eventually had to upgrade to a custom-made size 22 pair of shoes.

In 1992, Reebok partnered with Shaq and used his iconic size to popularize a signature basketball shoe called the Reebok Shaq Attaq.

Since then, the shoe has become one of the most recognizable basketball shoes ever made. Even though Shaq’s career in the NBA has long since wrapped up, Shaq Attaq continues to have a cult following amongst sneakerheads and NBA fans.

Tacko Fall

Matching Shaq for the title of the biggest shoes in NBA history is Senegalese giant Tacko Diop Fall. Given that Tacko Fall is 7’6”, it is no surprise that his feet are also on a truly enormous scale.

In fact, Tacko Fall is so big that he is not just considered one of the tallest players in NBA history; he is one of the current tallest living human beings!

While Tacko Fall is still playing professionally, he left the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022 to sign with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association, so he can no longer be considered to have the current largest shoes in the NBA.

2. Bob Lanier – Size 21 Basketball Shoes

While Bob Lanier might be a true NBA legend due to his storied career with the Detroit Pistons and his eight All-Star game appearances, he just misses out on the top spot for the biggest shoes in the history of the NBA.

With that said, he still wore an incredible size 21 basketball shoe. It is also worth noting that when Bob Lanier was playing as a center for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks in the 1970s, he had the title of the league’s largest shoe size.

In fact, Lanier’s record stood until Shaq entered the league during the 1992 NBA Draft, which means he was known for wearing the largest shoes for nearly two decades.

Sadly, Lanier died in 2022, but he is remembered for his powerful on-court presence and his friendly, approachable off-court demeanor.

3. Kevin Duckworth – Size 20 Basketball Shoes

While you may have expected to see Yao Ming in the third spot, Kevin Duckworth actually just edges out the win. The league legend enjoyed a lengthy career in the NBA that stretched from 1986 to 1997.

Not only did Kevin Duckworth wear a massive size 20 pair of basketball shoes, he remains one of the heaviest players ever to vie his trade in the NBA.

His immense height and weight were the key to his effectiveness as a powerful center. While he passed away at an early age in 2008, Kevin “Duck” Duckworth remains known for his ability to grab rebounds and assert himself under the net.

What Is the Average Shoe Size in the NBA?

Now that you know about some of the biggest shoes that have ever stepped onto an NBA court, it is worth putting their shoe sizes into perspective.

As you probably know, the size of players varies quite substantially within the NBA. While some players are known for their eye-catching height, others are smaller and rely on their dribbling ability and speed to play at the highest level.

Some talented players are just above average height, like Stephen Curry, 6’2″, and Chris Paul at 6 feet even.

The range of foot sizes can be relatively broad. Currently, the average shoe size in the NBA is between size 13 and size 15.

Why Are Shoe Sizes So Big in the NBA?

We all know that being tall is an advantage in a sport where proximity to the net makes it easier to score baskets and collect rebounds. This advantage is why so many of the league’s top players have been much taller than the average height of the general public.

With the sport and league rewarding height, it is not surprising that we also see some truly enormous shoe sizes. There is a direct link between height and shoe size. The taller a person is, the larger their feet tend to be.

Not only do taller people usually have larger feet, but large shoe sizes also help provide players with an advantage.

Larger feet help with stability, balance, and injury prevention, all attributes highly valued in basketball. An NBA player (or any basketball player) with large feet has a far more solid foundation to spring from when jumping to take shots, retrieve rebounds, or even receive a high-level pass.

Even changing direction quickly is easier when someone has a larger pair of feet to spring from. Again, the fact that having larger feet can be seen as a significant advantage in the sport explains why so many of those that have played in the world’s most prestigious and competitive league have had large feet.

Who Has the Biggest Shoe Size in the World?

While you may assume that the biggest shoe sizes in the NBA would be amongst the biggest on the planet, some boat-like feet out there have never stepped on an NBA court.

Currently, the man with the largest shoe size is Jeison Orlando Rodríguez Hernandez. While Jeison Hernandez is 7’2”, which makes him slightly shorter than the NBA’s tallest players, he has to wear a mind-blowing size 26 pair of shoes! His shoe size is four sizes bigger than those worn by Shaquille O’Neal!

Jeison Hernandez currently holds the Guinness World Record for having the biggest feet. He also has to wear custom-made shoes, as ordering a pair from any of the typical brands is impossible. Unsurprisingly, he is an avid basketball player, even if he does not play professionally.

Final Words

Some truly giant players have graced the NBA’s famous courts throughout the league’s history. From the league’s current giants, like Boban Marjanović, to legendary players of the past, like Shaquille O’Neal and Bob Lanier, some literally and figuratively huge shoes have stepped onto the hardwood.

With the league discovering new talents from all over the world every draft season, who knows how big the shoes will get? One thing is for sure; the top basketball shoe brands will continue to innovate to accommodate some of the world’s biggest feet!

To learn more about the relationship between size and basketball skill, consider reading How Tall Do You Have to Be to Dunk?

If you want to pick up a new pair of basketball shoes for yourself, even if you don’t have the foot size of some of the NBA’s giants, you can also check out our Basketball Shoe Section. We have numerous buyer’s guides to help you find a pair of basketball shoes that will take your game to the next level!