NBA: The National Basketball Association, home to some of the world’s tallest athletes, is also a showcase for some of the largest shoe sizes in professional sports. It’s a lesser-known fact that these basketball giants often sport sneakers far exceeding the average man’s size 9 to 12.
The record holder, Shaquille O’Neal, famously wore size 22 shoes during his legendary tenure with the LA Lakers. This article, drawing information from Interbasket, highlights five active NBA players who come close to Shaq’s record with their impressive shoe sizes.
Big Shoes to Fill: NBA Players Towering with Large Footwear
Andre Drummond and Kevin Love: Size 19 Warriors
Tied for the fourth spot are Andre Drummond of the Chicago Bulls and Kevin Love of the Miami Heat, both boasting a shoe size of 19. Andre Drummond, known for his elite rebounding skills and standing tall at 6-foot-10, is currently averaging 7.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
On the other hand, 35-year-old Kevin Love, a veteran stretch forward, is not far behind with his averages of 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
The Twin Titans: Karl-Anthony Towns, Robin Lopez, and Brook Lopez at Size 20
At the top of our list are Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Lopez twins, Robin and Brook, both from the Milwaukee Bucks, each with a shoe size of 20. Towns, a star center standing at 6-foot-11, is known for his formidable presence on the court, averaging 21.6 points and 8.8 rebounds this season.
Robin Lopez, a seven-footer known for his quality production across various teams, is currently contributing to the Bucks with limited playtime. Meanwhile, his brother, Brook Lopez, the 2021 NBA champion, has been a reliable scoring big man and a defensive stalwart, averaging 12.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
🖐 Proximity of Defender
This is a pretty simple concept – the closer the defender, the lower the %A large amount of shots in the NBA are open by at least 5 feet. These are the ones players should be shooting the most, obviously. The biggest root issue here, especially for HS… pic.twitter.com/DMLrxxgJVS
— Justin Lovvorn (@justinlovvorn) October 7, 2023
Conclusion: More than Just Big Shoes
These players, with their extraordinary shoe sizes, are a testament to the unique physical attributes that make NBA players stand out. Beyond their shoe size, their contributions to the game, ranging from scoring to rebounding and defense, highlight the diverse talents in the league.
As the NBA continues to evolve, these players remind us that success in basketball isn’t just about physical size but how you use it to dominate the court.
