Shaquille O'Neal is the heaviest NBA player ever since the NBA legend admitted he weighed 415 pounds (188.2 kg) during the 2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers championship run.
The NBA has always been home to some of the most physically imposing athletes in the world. While speed, agility, and skill are crucial to success on the court, sheer size has also played a major role in shaping the game.
Over the years, several players have stood out not just for their talent but also for their massive frames, using their weight to dominate the paint, control the boards, and impose their will on opponents.
However, compiling accurate weight data for NBA players can be challenging due to variations across sources and fluctuations throughout their careers.
Based on newest available information, here is a list of some of the heaviest NBA players, along with their reported peak weights and the seasons during which these weights were noted.
Let's take a look at who is the heaviest NBA player ever.
Interestingly, now one of the current heaviest NBA players makes the Top 10 all-time list.
Heaviest NBA players ever
| No. | Player | Weight | Season | Games played |
| 1. | Shaquille O'Neal | 415 lbs (188.2 kg) | 2001-02 | 1207 |
| 2. | Oliver Miller | 375-380 lbs (170-172 kg) | 2003-04 | 493 |
| 3. | Sim Bhullar | 360 lbs (163 kg) | 2014-15 | 3 |
| 4. | Eddy Curry | 350 lbs (159 kg) | 2008-09 | 527 |
| 5. | Mike Sweetney | 348 lbs (158 kg) | 2006-07 | 233 |
| 6. | Thomas Hamilton | 330 lbs (150 kg) | 1995-96 | 33 |
| 7. | Priest Lauderdale | 325 lbs (147 kg) | 1996-97 | 74 |
| 8. | Robert Traylor | 319 lbs (145 kg) | 2004-05 | 438 |
| 9. | Kevin Duckworth | 315 lbs (143 kg) | 1993-94 | 684 |
| 10. | Tacko Fall | 311 lbs (141 kg) | 2019-20 | 37 |
Who is the heaviest NBA player of all time?
You might think that Shaquille O'Neal being the heaviest NBA player of all time could be controversial. However, Shaq himself revealed that at one point, he weighed 415 pounds (188.2 kg)!
"In our first championship, I was 345 [pounds] and then had a great summer, came back [at] 385 for the second one. Last championship, I was 415 [pounds]," O'Neal said in 2023 while talking to Tom Brady on SiriusXM Sports.
Officially, Shaq was listed at 325 pounds (147.4 kg) during the Lakers 3-peat from 2000 to 2002.
O'Neal is widely considered one of the best centers in NBA history. In 19 years in the league, he won 4 NBA championships, 3 NBA finals MVPs, and a league MVP.
The 15-time NBA all-star was also a two-time scoring champion, which also makes him the most successful player on this list.
The 350+ Pound Club: Bhullar, Curry & others
The second heaviest player in NBA history is Oliver Miller, who weighed between 375 and 380 pounds (170-172 kg). He managed to play in the NBA for 9 years.
During his years in the NBA, Miller averaged 7.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. The big man had his best season with the Toronto Raptors in the 1995-96 season, averaging 12.9 points.
His large stature earned him the nickname "The Big O".
Not everybody in the Top 10 list managed to stay in the NBA for as long as Miller did. For example, Sim Bhullar, who weighed 360 pounds (163 kg) and is also one of the tallest players in NBA history, only played 3 NBA games in his career.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls selected Eddy Curry in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft. After a great college career, Curry was a promising prospect. However, his career wasn't long because of his heart condition.
The 6-foot-9 forward weighed up to 350 pounds (159 kg) and played 11 seasons for four different teams, averaging 12.9 points and 5.2 rebounds and shooting 54.5% from the field.
Mike Sweetney, who was just 2 pounds away from Curry, weighed 348 lbs (158 kg). He is considered one of the biggest busts in the NBA.
After an excellent college career, he was selected ninth in the first round of the 2003 draft by the New York Knicks.
He struggled with his weight, limiting him to only playing 4 seasons in the NBA. The center averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
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