Throughout NBA history, there have been players whose large hands gave them an advantage. In this category, we can count Julius Erving. He became one of the greatest players in the league thanks largely to his enormous hands.
With his massive palms, Erving had a distinct advantage when shooting, dribbling, and dunking the basketball. Large hands provide an advantage for basketball stars like Erving.
The importance of large hands in basketball has grown over time. Now more than ever, coaches and scouts consider a player’s hand size when determining whether or not they have NBA promise. It’s not enough to just have good palming skills. The ability to stop shots, steal the ball, and grab rebounds is enhanced by having larger hands.
Below there is a list of the name of players and the sizes of their hands.
| Player Name | Hand Size (Length in Inches) |
| Rajon Rondo | 9.5 |
| Jahlil Okafor | 9.5 |
| Elgin Baylor | 9.75 |
| Wayne Embry | 9.25 |
| Royce White | 9.5 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 9.5 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 9.75 |
| Michael Jordan | 9.75 |
| Julius Erving | 9.5 |
| Noah Vonleh | 9.75 |
| Connie Hawkins | 10.5 |
| Gregory Smith | 9.8 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 9.85 |
| Shaquille O’Neal | 10.25 |
| Boban Marjanovic | 10.75 |
15 Players With the Biggest Hands in the NBA League History
15. Rajon Rondo
Rajon Rondo is an absolute beast in the NBA. His body is just unreal. He’s got a wingspan-to-height ratio of 7’4″, one of the biggest ever! And get this, even though he’s only 6’1″, his hands are huge! His hand length is 9.5 inches, and his hands are 10 inches wide! That’s even bigger than some of the taller players out there.
Rajon Rondo’s hand length is the same as Wilt Chamberlain, who was 7’1″ tall. But, the average hand length at Rondo’s height is around 8.3 inches. Nikola Vucevic, who is almost a foot taller than Rondo, has hands 2.2% shorter than his. Rondo’s hand span is the same as DeMarcus Cousins, who stands at 6’11”. It’s interesting to note that Rondo’s span is 17.6% wider than Anthony Davis’, despite being nine inches shorter than him.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.5”/10” |
| Height | 6’1” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 14% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 11% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’5” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 7’1″ |
14. Jahlil Okafor
Jahlil Okafor has big hands. The measurement of his hand is 10.75 inches in length and 11.25 inches in span. It is unusual for a basketball player. In addition to his ability to hold 13 tennis balls in one hand, he also amazed people by holding three apples in one hand during a draft photoshoot. This unique ability is a testament to his exceptional hand size and strength.
It is surprising that Nerlens Noel is the same height as Jahlil. But, his hand span is 12.5% narrower, which highlights just how exceptional Okafor’s hand span is. And, even more surprisingly, Okafor’s hand span is wider than 7’0″ Steven Adams, who you’d expect to have much larger hands.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.5”/11.25” |
| Height | 6’11” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 5% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 14% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’5” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’0″ |
13. Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor was known for his incredible ball-handling skills, likely aided by his large hands. There is no reliable data on his hand size. But it’s clear that they were pretty big just by watching him play. Comparing his handprint to Michael Jordan, it appears that Baylor had a similar hand length.
Elgin Baylor’s remarkable hand size is evident in how he handled the ball, but measuring it precisely is difficult. Comparing his handprint with Michael Jordan’s reveals that Baylor likely had a hand length of around 9.75 inches and a hand span of around 11 inches.
It’s remarkable to think that someone standing at 6’5″ could have such large hands. Jordan’s hand span is also slightly wider than Baylor’s because his thumb is more extended, adding some extra spread.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.75”/11” |
| Height | 6’5” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 13% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 16% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’9” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 7’10″ |
12. Wayne Embry
Wayne Embry is a notable figure in NBA history. He is 6’8″ tall. Do you know how people always talk about how this guy has huge hands? Yeah, well, there are not enough deets out there about how long those puppies are. A 12-inch hand span has been estimated for him, but his actual hand measurement remains unknown. Embry’s hand size became the subject of expert analysis when he placed his hand next to Noah Vonleh’s, whose hand size is known.
LeBron James is 6’8″ tall, but Embry’s hand span is about 2 inches bigger. If Embry covered his face with his hands from his chin to his forehead, a tennis ball could still fit in between.
| Hand size (Length/Span): Estimated to be | 9.25”/11.75” |
| Height | 6’8” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 4% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 21% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’1” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’4″ |
11. Royce White
Royce O’Neale has hands that are quite remarkable for his height. While the average hand length for a player his size is around 8.9 inches, and the average span is around 9.7 inches, O’Neale’s hands measure up quite differently.
In fact, his hands are the same size in span and length as those of 7’1″ Wilt Chamberlain. His hand span of 11.5 inches was also the widest at the 2012 Draft Combine, showing just how impressive his hand size truly is.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.5”/11.5” |
| Height | 6’8” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 7% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 19% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’5” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’2″ |
10. Wilt Chamberlain
Did you know that Wilt Chamberlain, the basketball legend, had some massive mitts? His hands were freakishly huge, measuring 9.5 inches long and 11.5 inches across. That’s like two regular-sized hands combined into one!
No wonder he was such a beast on the court. And get this – even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was taller than Wilt, had smaller hands than him. Imagine being able to palm a basketball like it was a stress ball. Man, that would be wild! I can barely grip a ball with both hands, let alone one hand!
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.5/11.5 inches |
| Height | 7’1” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 3.3% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 15% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’5” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’2” |
9. Kawhi Leonard
Basketball fans have been obsessing about Kawhi Leonard’s insane hands over them for years! Rumor has it that when he was born, his mom said, “whoa, these hands are huge!” Apparently, they were way bigger than the rest of his body, even as a baby. Talk about being born to play basketball! I bet he could palm a bowling ball and still sink a three-pointer. That’s just how huge they are! It’s no wonder he’s one of the best players in the game – those hands are a total game-changer.
There are versions of the Kawhi Leonard hand story claiming his mom joked that nobody could switch babies on her because his hands were so huge – talk about a one-of-a-kind trait! Whether that’s true or not, one thing’s certain: those hands are a game-changer on the basketball court. It’s like he was born to dunk! Even if he tried to hide behind other players, those giant mitts would give him away instantly. But when you’ve got a talent like that, why hide it? Keep ballin’, Kawhi!
Kawhi Leonard’s large hands were noticeable to his mother and his high school football team. As a freshman at Canyon Springs High, Leonard played wide receiver and encountered an issue when the school’s equipment room did not have gloves that fit his hands. They had to send him to a local sporting goods store, but even the largest size available was not big enough for his hands. Eventually, they had to special order gloves to accommodate “The Claw’s” massive hands.
He is 6’7″ tall “and has hands that are 9.75 inches long and 11.25 inches wide. For comparison, the average size and distance between the fingers of a 6’7 “The average height of NBA player is between 8.8 inches and 9.5 inches. This means that Leonard has much bigger hands than most other players his height.
Even though Terrence Ross, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are also 6’7″, they don’t have hands as big as Kawhi Leonard’s. This proves how unique his hands are compared to other NBA players.
Leonard is also one inch shorter than Tacko Fall, whose height is 7’7″. Yet Leonard’s hand span is 7.1% wider than Fall’s. This illustrates how exceptional Leonard’s hand size is in the NBA.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.75”/11.25” |
| Height | 6’7” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 11% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 18% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’9” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’0″ |
8. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan’s physical attributes are exceptional and seem to have been genetically designed for basketball. He has short parents, but he stands tall at 6’6″.
Surprisingly, for a man of his height, his shoe size is only 13, which may have contributed to his incredible footwork and ability to create with his feet. It’s worth noting that his left foot is slightly larger than his right, measuring 13.5.
He had tiny feet, but his quick footwork made him one of the best basketball players ever. As a child, Jordan had big hands and small feet, but he liked both of them. During his time in the NBA, his hands measured 9.75 inches long and his fingers 11.375 inches long–this allowed him to handle the ball and make some of the most famous shots in the history of the NBA.
It’s amazing that despite being only 6’6″, Michael Jordan’s hand length and span are longer than some much taller NBA players. For instance, his hands are significantly longer than Bol Bol’s, who is 7’2″.
It is quite interesting to know that Jordan’s six-foot-six in height; however, is the fact that his hands are only two and a half percent shorter than Wilt Chamberlain’s, who was seven inches taller. Jordan’s hands are 3.4 percent wider than 7’0″ Steven Adams regarding a hand span.
On the other hand, Rudy Gobert, who stands at 7’1″, has a hand span that is 13.8% narrower than Jordan’s. It’s fascinating to see how to hand size can vary so significantly, even among players who are similar in height.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.75”/11.375” |
| Height | 6’6” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 12% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 21% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’9” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’1″ |
7. Julius Erving
Julius Erving, who was nicknamed “Dr. J,” has always been known for having big hands for his size. In his junior high school days, Kawhi Leonard possessed a remarkable talent: he could palm a basketball while dribbling it.
His large wrists gave him excellent control of the ball. This meant he could do almost any kind of dunk he could think of. He moved his arms around like a windmill but still palmed the ball. It was incredible to see.
The exact size of Julius Erving’s hands has been debated. His hand length has been debated; some put it at 9 inches, while others put it at 12 inches. His hand spread is also estimated to be between 11 and 13 inches.
However, Erving once provided a useful comparison when he posed for a photo with Noah Vonleh, whose hand size was recorded at 10.5 inches long. By comparing their hands in the photo, we can see that Erving’s hands are indeed quite large (almost an inch longer).
It’s worth noting that hand measurements can vary depending on how they are taken and by whom. Therefore, the estimates of Erving’s hand size may not be exact. However, it’s clear that Erving had exceptionally large hands for his height, which undoubtedly contributed to his incredible ball control and dunking abilities.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.5”/11.75” |
| Height | 6’7” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height: | 8% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 24% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’5” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’4″ |
6. Noah Vonleh
This forward is tall, at 6’9″. His hands are exciting because they are much bigger than the average person his height. Most people who are 6’9 “have hands that are about nine inches long and nine and a half inches wide. But this player’s hands are bigger than most, which makes him stand out on the court.
Noah Vonleh’s hand size is extraordinary. His hands measure an impressive 9.75 inches in length and 11.75 inches in span. These dimensions far exceed the average hand size, making Vonleh’s hands a unique asset on the basketball court. In fact, he holds the record for the longest hand length and widest hand span in the 2014 Draft Combine. Comparatively, Paul George has significantly smaller hands–his hand length is 14.7% shorter than Vonleh’s, and his hand span is 30.5% narrower.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.75”/11.75” |
| Height | 6’9” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 8% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 21% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’9” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’4″ |
5. Connie Hawkins
Connie Hawkins’s hands were a blessing and a curse. They allowed him to palm the ball and make any finish at the rim that he desired, but they also made him a target of rival players who were jealous of his ability.
Connie Hawkins has a significantly smaller hand size than LeBron James. James’ hands measure nine inches in length and a quarter inch in span. In comparison, Hawkins had one of the longest hand lengths in NBA history, possibly even the longest.
Hawkins’ hand length was the same as Tacko Fall’s, who stands at a towering 7’7″. With such massive hands, Hawkins had no trouble palming the ball and finishing at the rim in various ways.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 10.5”/11” |
| Height | 6’8” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 18% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 13% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 8’2” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 7’10″ |
4. Gregory Smith
Greg Smith has one of the biggest hands ever measured. His hand length is 9.8 inches. His hand span is just as wide as Sultan Kosen’s, who is 8’3″ tall and a giant. Greg Smith’s hand size is nothing short of remarkable. His hands measured to have a length of 9.8 inches, with a distance between his fingers of 12 inches.
This makes his hands some of the largest ever recorded in the NBA. What’s even more impressive is that Smith’s hand span is just as wide as Sultan Kosen’s, who stands at an incredible height of 8’3″ and is considered a giant.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.8”/12” |
| Height | 6’10” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 9% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 21% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’9” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’7″ |
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
This 6’11” forward, who plays like a point guard, has hands that measure 12 inches across – the same span as the tallest living person in the world. At 8’3″, Sultan Kosen holds this record.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s hand length of 9.85 inches is longer than 7’1″ tall Rudy Gobert. The Greek Freak has a hand span that is 26.3% wider than Bol Bol. Surprisingly, Tacko Fall’s hands are 14.3% narrower than Antetokounmpo’s despite his eight-inch height advantage.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 9.85”/12” |
| Height | 6’11” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 9% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 20% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 7’10” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’7″ |
2. Shaquille O’Neal
Some thought that Shaq’s large hands contributed to his free throw struggles. Unfortunately, no reliable information is available on the exact measurements of Shaquille’s hands.
Shaq’s hands seemed bigger than Kawhi’s during a live TV comparison. His hand length is estimated to be around 10-10.25 inches, half an inch longer than Kawhi’s. Shaq’s hand span is estimated to be 11.75-12.00 inches, differing from Kawhi’s by less than three-quarters of an inch. Some think Shaq’s large hands may have affected his free throw shooting, but it’s not just about hand size.
Wilt Chamberlain was shorter than Shaquille O’Neal. But, Their hand length and span were both measured at 9.5 inches. Kawhi Leonard’s hand size is also remarkable, given that he stands 6 inches shorter than Shaq.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 10.25/12 inches |
| Height | 7’1” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 11% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 19% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 8’0” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’7” |
1. Boban Marjanovic
People think that Boban Marjanovic has some of the biggest hands in the NBA. But he hasn’t been measured officially. Other sources say that his hand span is about 14 inches, but this is hard to believe and hasn’t been checked.
It is difficult to accurately determine the size of Boban’s hands without any official measurements. Based on the available photo of Boban shaking hands with Okafor, it appears that he’s, in fact, not significantly larger than Okafor.
The size of Boban Marjanovic’s hands is hard to estimate because he usually uses them to measure his opponents. However, in one instance, he compared his hands with Ray McCallum’s–who was measured officially by the NBA. This comparison can help us estimate the size of Boban’s hands accurately.
Ray has a height of 6’3″, but relatively small hands with a hand length of eight inches and a span of 8.75 inches. Compared to a photo of him shaking hands with McCallum, it’s apparent that Boban’s hand length is at most three inches longer than Ray’s, and their hand spans also differ by no more than 3.5 inches.
Comparable to the hand size of Ray McCallum, whose measurements have been made official, Boban Marjanovic’s hand length is estimated to fall within the range of 10.75 to 11 inches. His hand span is likely in the range of 12-12.25 inches—not far off from that of the tallest living person, who is over a foot taller than Boban.
| Hand size (Length/Span) | 10.75”/12” |
| Height | 7’3” |
| Percent longer than the average player his height | 14% |
| Percent wider than the average player his height | 17% |
| Predicted height with this hand length | 8’4” |
| Predicted height with this hand span | 8’7″ |
What Are the Benefits of Having Big Hands in Basketball?
Basketball is a game where having large hands can give you an advantage on offense and defense. Players with the biggest hands in NBA history have easily manipulated the ball, making it easier to score points and make plays. It’s incredible to watch how these players can palm the ball with one hand and shoot or dunk it without any problem.
Hand size is a valuable asset on both offense and defense. Players with big hands can use them to their advantage by grabbing rebounds, stealing the ball, and making precise passes to their teammates while making it harder for their opponents to score.
How Hand Size is Measured
In the NBA, hand size is typically assessed using two measures: hand length and hand span. The average size of a human’s hand is 7.4 inches. But all isn’t always the same. The NBA point guards have an average hand length of 8.4 inches—a full inch longer than what’s typical for men in general.
On the other hand, centers are large—in fact, they have even larger hands with an average hand length of 9.2 inches since the 2010 draft combine (1 inch longer than point guards).
Conclusion
Large hands are a trademark of NBA athletes. Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Boban Marjanovic are just a few of the most famous athletes with large hands. These players’ large hands give them an edge in various game situations, including ball handling, rebounding, shot-blocking, and stealing.
Jordan’s 9.75-inch hand length helped him make acrobatic layups, while Olajuwon’s 10.25-inch hand length enabled him to execute his signature “Dream Shake” move. Marjanovic’s 12.5-inch hands have made him a fan favorite and helped him easily finish around the rim and block shots.
However, while hand size is important, how players utilize their hands on the court is equally critical. Finally, it’s not just about the size of the hands but also the skill and technique players bring to the game.
- Related: Average Height of NBA Players
