The Tallest Basketball Player Ever – And How He Actually Played

Whether it be Shaq, Yao Ming, or even Kareem, most people would come to mind when they think of tall basketball players. It is, of course, a greatly simplified form of a much more comprehensive answer. The fact is that they are not the tallest players in the history of the sport. This record falls to an 8’0.5” (245 cm) tall Libyan called Suleiman Ali Nashnush. To put it in perspective, the height of most ceilings in an ordinary home would not go that high. 

Who Was Suleiman Nashnush?

Nashnush Suleiman was born in 1943 in Tripoli, Libya. He was a normal child, like most of his classmates, until he entered his teenage years. It is at this time that he was diagnosed with a medical condition called Gigantism. He was the most extreme because he went to the head of the record books — a name so remarkable that even discussions around NBA betting odds sometimes reference his towering legacy.

Although there was additional active Abstazhahn condensation. nd evn mothr suprzingly tpassable nd agile fur sumone his siz. Suleiman didn’t have to go out. He even acted in a movie once. You have seen him, in case you have watched Federico Fellini’s movie Satyricon.

So… Did He Really Play Basketball?

Yes, and not only the bushing. In 1962, he played in the national team of Libya. Just visualize a 6 5 player. He was 2x taller. Jumped not, but hovered down his arm. The world of his playing life was not long, but still, it was there. He had likely hundreds of records in the Guinness World Records — some of which are still discussed today on platforms like the MelBet Indonesia site.

How Did He Actually Move on the Court?

Let’s be honest—he wasn’t sprinting coast to coast or breaking ankles with crossovers. Being over 8 feet tall has its challenges. Quick turns and fast breaks were probably not part of his game.

But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t effective. Here’s what worked for him:

• Rebounds: If the ball went up, chances were high he’d be the one grabbing it.
• Blocking shots: Guards and forwards didn’t stand a chance driving to the basket.
• Close-range scoring: If he caught the ball near the rim, it was almost automatic.

He likely played close to the hoop most of the time, focusing on defense, put-backs, and standing under the basket like a human skyscraper.

Other Giants of the Game

Suleiman holds the top spot, but there have been others who weren’t too far behind. Here’s a quick look:

Player	Height	Country
Suleiman Nashnush	8’0.5″ (245 cm)	Libya
Gheorghe Mureșan	7’7″ (231 cm)	Romania
Manute Bol	7’7″ (231 cm)	Sudan / USA
Yao Ming	7’6″ (229 cm)	China
Shawn Bradley	7’6″ (229 cm)	USA / Germany

While a few came close, none ever topped Suleiman.

Why Don’t More 8-Footers Make It to the Pros?

Imagine the situation, and you will see: it is the time of a game, and you are sure of your skills as a player, when you suddenly look up, and up, and up some more, only to see your opponent of the night. I can only imagine that that must have been frightening.

Even today, it is difficult to find uniforms that would suit players of the height of Suleiman. Why, even now, there are shoes made to fit Suleiman, which compel him, I cannot conceive whether he wills it or not, to watch more closely than he willingly and is willing to watch the training.

What Was It Like Facing Him?

Imagine the situation, and you will see: it is the time to play a game, and you are quite sure about your skills as a player, but then you suddenly raise your eyes, and higher, and higher again, just to find your opponent that night. I cannot imagine how terrifying that was.

Even to this day, uniforms made for players with Suleiman’s height are not easy to come by. Why, even to this day, Suleiman’s shoes are custom-made to fit him, forcing, I can only imagine, him to pay more attention than he ever wished to the training.

What Happened After Basketball?

His time with the national team was the last public appearance Suleiman made before he retired ‘quietly’ from basketball. Suffering from the excruciating medical condition of ‘giantism’, Suleiman had to undergo medical treatment to cease the growth of his already large frame.  

Living the last years of his life free of hassle, he died in 1991 at the age of 48. After staying out of the public eye for some years, he remained memorable, more so for the bigger impression he had left while he was in public.  

Why His Story Still Matters

Despite not being in the NBA, Suleiman Nashnush holds the record for the most free throws. He has set a record that I’m sure will not be broken during our lifetime. This alone proves that not everything in life is about money or wealth, and sometimes, one just needs to show up and do the impossible, like Suleiman did.