Meet Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues, the shortest NBA player in history

• Measuring 5-foot-3, Tyrone Bogues is the shortest NBA player in history. 
• Muggsy was a popular figure in the NBA due to his height and amazing performance. 
• For six consecutive seasons (1985-1999), Tyrone finished among the top seven players with the most assists in the NBA.

Measuring 5-foot-3, who else could beat Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues for the title of the shortest NBA player in history?

The 57-year-old was a popular figure in the NBA during his career days. He even made a cameo in the 1996 basketball classic, appearing alongside the legendary Michael Jordan and other big names in the NBA.

Tyrone Bogues proved to the world that even short players could still do wonders in a sport that favours those blessed with height.

Tyrone Muggsy. Photo/ The North State Journal.

For six consecutive seasons (1985-1999), Tyrone finished among the top seven players with the most assists in the NBA.

The 5 ft 3 in player spent the majority of his playing days with the Charlotte Hornets. However, he also played for the Toronto Raptors, Washington Bullets, Rhode Island Gulls and Golden State Warriors.

Tyrone Bogues, the shortest player in NBA, boasts 6,858 points, 6,726 assists and 1,369 assists. The legend had 146 career NBA double-doubles.

Early Life 

Tyrone Bogues was born in Baltimore, Mayland, on January 9, 1965, to a 4 ft 11 in mother and a 5 ft 5 in father.

He grew up in the Lafayette Court housing projects alongside his three older siblings. Young Tyrone was a good player in basketball, baseball and wrestling.

Due to his height, Tyrone’s friends nicknamed him “Muggsy”, a name from a diminutive character from fictional New York characters, the Bowery Boys.

Tyrone witnessed a man beaten to death by a baseball bat when he was still young. And the sight haunted him even after becoming an adult.

Tyrone’s father was sentenced to 20 years in prison for armed robbery before the future NBA star turned 13.

He attended Southern High School but later moved to Dunbar High School because he wanted to be a dentist. At Dunbar, Tyrone was in the same graduating class as future NBA stars Reggie Lewis and Reggie Williams.

Tyrone Bogues joined Wake Forest University, where he played college basketball for four years. By the time he left Forest University, he was the ACC career leader in assists and steals.

Due to his outstanding performance, the university retired his number 14 shirt and inducted him into their sports hall of fame.

NBA Career 

Tyrone Bogues, the shortest NBA player, had a successful and notable career that went on for 13 years. Finding his niche and filling it well is what made Tyrone Bogues a star in a league that is for the big fellows.

Bogues was a fan favourite while playing for the Rhode Island Gulls.

He was part of the Washington Bullets’ draft class that had other names like Reggie Miler, Kevin Johnson and David Robinson.

In his rookie year, Tyrone was teammates with Manute Bol, the tallest player in the history of the NBA. Bol stood at 7 ft 7 in (2.31 cm) at that time.

Tyrone Bogues joined the Charlotte Hornets in 1988 after struggling for playing time the previous season with the Washington Bullets.

During Bogues’ first seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, the team rose from average to serious title contenders.

Muggsy Bogues in action for the Charlotte Hornets. Photo/ NPR.

Tyrone spent ten years with the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the Golden State Warriors. At that time, he was the shortest NBA player and the league’s leader in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Tyrone was the Golden State Warriors’ leading assist provider in his debut season despite starting in less than half of the games.

He struggled with injuries the following season and was signed by the Toronto Raptors before the start of the 1999-2000 season.

Tyrone joined the Dallas Mavericks in August 2021. However, the Mavericks waived him two months later after he requested time to take care of his sick mother. He never played again after becoming a free agent.

Post-playing Career 

Tyrone Bogues ventured into real estate business after leaving the NBA. In August 2005, he was appointed the head coach of Charlotte Sting, which competed in the Women’s National Basketball Association.

At that time, Tyrone had no coaching experience. He coached the team until it folded in early 2007.

Bogues took a new coaching role at United Faith Christian Academy in 2011 and left three years later to pursue other ventures.