Introduction
Height is a particularly important characteristic when it comes to playing sports like basketball, and if you’re a keen enthusiast, you might be wondering about some of the players. For example, how tall is LeBron James? Is he unusually tall, even for a basketball player, or is he about average?
LeBron James is around 6 foot 8.5 inches, which is 201.9 centimeters. According to official NBA records, he’s 6 foot 9 (which is the height he began claiming in 2020). Measurement estimates have changed to some extent, partly because the NBA brought in new rules to standardize measurements in 2019.
The height of various basketball players has become a bit of an urban legend among fans, but with the new guidelines, it’s easier to understand how tall your favorite player is – so let’s find out more about this!
How Tall Is LeBron James?
For most of his athletic career, LeBron James was listed as 6 foot 8. He’s not actually a particularly tall player for basketball, and plays the small forward position. He’s quite tall for the position, however, which gives him an advantage over many of his opponents on the court, lending him better elevation.
This may be one of the reasons he has become such a famous basketball player; he’s able to get his shot over the heads of defenders, and can easily penetrate to the rim, too. He’s strong, fast, and tall enough to use his height to his advantage in the game.
He’s also good when it comes to defense, for the same reason – his height. This makes him a very strong player, because he’s versatile and quick. There’s no doubt that his stature has been valuable throughout his career, and sets him apart from the other players.
How Old is LeBron James? Age of LeBron James
LeBron James was born in 1984, making him 38 years old in 2023.
Is LeBron James Tall For A Basketball Player?
LeBron James is certainly a tall individual, and he’s taller than the average for NBA players. In 2021/2022, the average player was 6 foot 6 (198.6 cm), meaning LeBron James had approximately 2 inches on others playing the game. That might not seem significant, but it can make the difference!
However, he’s not particularly tall when compared with some of the tallest basketball players. For example, Boban Marjanovic is 7 foot 4 (2.2 meters) and he is currently the tallest player in the NBA. He’s closely followed by Kristaps Porzingis, who is 7 foot 3 (2.21 meters).
The third tallest is Luke Kornet, who stands at 7 foot 2 (2.18 meters), and then there’s Bol Bol, who is also 7 foot 2 (2.18 meters). Bol Bol’s father, Manute Bol, was the joint-tallest in the NBA’s history, at 7 foot 7 (2.31 meters).
As you can see, LeBron James is impressively tall, but he doesn’t come close to the tallest players, all of whom are over 7 feet. At 6 foot 8.5, LeBron James is over two inches shorter than any of them.
Bear in mind, though, that his position at the court means he does still generally have a height advantage, and he’s not to be underestimated in the world of basketball.
Why Did LeBron James’s Height Estimate change?
LeBron James’s height estimate changed when the NBA changed the way that they measured players. In 2019, the organization took over measuring players, rather than allowing them to self-report their height. They measured athletes with no shoes on to ensure everybody got a fair assessment.
A lot of players saw their height estimates go down at this point, but LeBron James’s actually went up – from a self-reported 6 foot 8 to 6 foot 8.5. He is officially listed as 6 foot 9 on player records, which are rounded to the nearest inch.
Most players in the NBA saw changes to their official height records when the rules were changed in 2019, so don’t be surprised if you’re a little confused by LeBron James’s records.
Why Is It Hard To Tell How Tall LeBron James Is?
You might be puzzled by the fact that sometimes, players look different heights than their official online records suggest. Seeing LeBron James playing next to somebody who is taller than him might be confusing – and the same goes for seeing him playing next to somebody who is shorter than him.
It can be very hard to judge player height while they’re in the middle of a game, but there are other aspects to this, too. For starters, the different players will wear different shoe styles, and this can make a surprising amount of difference to their heights – which is why the NBA took height records without shoes on.
Other factors can also affect how tall a person appears. For example, an athlete’s posture, who they are standing next to, and the perspective of the observer can all play tricks on the eye.
It’s really difficult to judge somebody’s height just by looking at them, and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to tell how tall a player is at a glance, even if you see them in person.
How Tall Is LeBron James’s Son?
LeBron James’s son, known as Bronny James, is also a basketball player, but he’s somewhat shorter than his father. He measures 6 foot 3 inches according to the official NBA records, meaning that his father is 6 inches taller than him. That’s quite a significant difference, particularly when it comes to playing on the court.
It also puts Bronny James at slightly smaller than the average for an NBA player, but that doesn’t mean he has no hope of getting into the NBA. He’s a great player, with a versatile skill set that makes him a valuable asset on the court. It’s likely that he’s going to make a name for himself in the future.
Conclusion
LeBron James is officially listed at 6 foot 9 inches, although he only stands at 6 foot 8.5 (since the NBA rounds decimals). This is taller than the height he claimed throughout most of his career, which was 6 foot 8. James is far from the tallest player in basketball, but he’s above average for an NBA player.
