Shaq Height – How Tall Is Shaquille O’Neal Really?
Instant answer: 7’1” (2.16 m). That’s the height listed by the NBA on Shaquille O’Neal’s official player page and stats portal, and it has remained the standard reference throughout and after his 19-year career.
Shaq’s Official Height in Feet and CM (As of Today)
Most credible figure: 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters) — the NBA’s own listing for O’Neal. This is the governing body’s record and the best single source to anchor his “real height.”
Age (today): 53 (born March 6, 1972).
Why you sometimes see other numbers
You’ll often see fans claim Shaq is “just 7’0” barefoot” or even “6’11”.” Those are myths. The best-compiled pre-draft measurements (widely aggregated by DraftExpress and reposted by measurement forums that tracked 1990s camps) have Shaq at ~7’1” barefoot. While the original 1992 measurement sheets aren’t hosted publicly by the NBA, these figures are consistently cited by measurement databases and long-running scouting communities. In other words: the NBA list (7’1”) and the best historical measurement compilations align.
Other Physical Stats: Wingspan, Shoe Size, Standing Reach
Wingspan: ~7’7” (2.31 m) — widely reported in pre-draft measurement compilations (DraftExpress-era archives frequently cited by scouting communities).
Standing reach: ~9’5” (2.87 m) — reported alongside the wingspan in those same pre-draft compilations.
Playing/Listed weight: 325 lb (147 kg) on the NBA record; feature reporting from the early 2000s often noted him closer to ~340 lb during peak Lakers years.
Shoe size: Most mainstream outlets cite US men’s 22. In a Footwear News interview (reported by WWD/Footwear News), Shaq said he’s “technically a 20” but wears a 22 for room — which explains occasional “22–23” chatter. People Magazine also refers to Shaq as a size 22 while covering his donations to teens with size-23 feet. Bottom line: Size 22 is the correct public figure; “technically 20, wears 22” is Shaq’s own nuance.
Note on sources: The NBA doesn’t publish combine data from 1992 online, so wingspan/reach numbers rely on expert compilations (DraftExpress-era databases) mirrored in long-standing measurement forums. Where the NBA itself maintains a data point (height/weight), we privilege that.
How Shaq’s Height Compares to Other NBA Legends
Yao Ming: 7’6” (2.29 m) — five inches taller than Shaq.
Manute Bol: 7’6” (2.29 m) — also five inches taller; tied for second-tallest in NBA history.
Gheorghe Mureșan: 7’7” (2.31 m) — the NBA’s tallest ever, six inches above Shaq.
Wilt Chamberlain: 7’1” (2.16 m) — the same listed height as Shaq.
(Height alone isn’t everything, of course — mass, wingspan, and strength made Shaq a different beast than most 7-footers.)
Shaq’s Height vs the Average Person
The average adult U.S. male stands about 5’8.9” (69 in / 175.5 cm). That makes Shaq ~16 inches (41 cm) taller than the average American man — almost a standard desk’s height taller.
How His Size Fueled His Career Dominance
1) Low-post physics. At 7’1”, ~325–340 lb with a ~7’7” wingspan, O’Neal created deep seals and catch angles most defenders simply couldn’t dislodge without fouling. His combination of length, shoulder width, and mass meant that once he caught the ball within 8 feet, you were in “Hack-a-Shaq” territory or surrendering a dunk.
2) Vertical reach & finishing window. A ~9’5” standing reach let Shaq play above crowds without needing a high vertical. Even on modest lifts, his elbows and forearms lived at rim level — which is why he demolished backboards and stanchions early in his career.
3) Defensive radius. The ~7’7” span shrank passing lanes and made him a late-clock eraser around the restricted area. Timing + mass = a lot of altered shots even when he didn’t block them.
Height Myths and Misconceptions
“Shaq’s only 6’11”.
No. The NBA lists him at 7’1”, and the best available pre-draft compilations peg him ~7’1” barefoot — which aligns with the official listing.“He wears size 23.”
Headlines sometimes say “22–23” because Shaq frequently donates size-23 shoes to teens who need them and because he has said he wears a size 22 for extra room despite being “technically a 20.” The reliable way to write it: Shaq’s shoe size is 22 (he prefers them roomy).“He’s lighter than listed.”
The NBA’s listing is 325 lb; feature reporting during the Lakers era often noted ~340 lb. Weight fluctuated by season and conditioning, but his functional playing mass was well north of 300 lb.
Quick Facts Table
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Height | 7’1” (2.16 m) — NBA official listing |
| Weight (listed) | 325 lb (147 kg) |
| Age | 53 (born March 6, 1972) |
| Wingspan | ~7’7” (2.31 m) (best compiled pre-draft figure) |
| Standing Reach | ~9’5” (2.87 m) (best compiled pre-draft figure) |
| Shoe Size | US 22 (Shaq says he’s “technically 20,” wears 22 for room) |
| Draft | No. 1 overall, 1992 |
| Career | 19 NBA seasons, 4× champion, 3× Finals MVP |
Sources: NBA player record; DraftExpress-era measurement compiles; Footwear News/WWD; People Magazine.
How Shaq’s Height Compares (at a glance)
The chart below shows how O’Neal stacks up against a few towering contemporaries and the average U.S. male.
(Chart included above; values: Avg U.S. Male 69 in; Wilt 85 in; Shaq 85 in; Yao 90 in; Manute 90 in; Mureșan 91 in.)
FAQ – What People Also Ask About Shaq’s Height
Is Shaq taller than 7’1”?
In shoes, he’d clear 7’1”, and some older camp notes suggest around 7’2” in shoes. Officially, the NBA lists him at 7’1” and that’s the figure used by teams and media.
What is Shaq’s wingspan?
~7’7” is the commonly cited pre-draft measurement from DraftExpress-era databases and long-standing measurement compendiums. The original 1992 sheets aren’t public, but this number is consistent across expert sources.
Does Shaq really wear size 22 shoes?
Yes — size 22 is the standard figure used by reputable outlets, and Shaq has said he’s “technically a 20” but chooses 22 for comfort. That’s why you’ll sometimes see “22–23” in headlines tied to his donations for teens with size-23 feet.
How tall is Shaq compared to Yao Ming?
Yao is 7’6”, about 5 inches taller than Shaq.
Final Thoughts – The Giant Legacy of Shaq
When people ask for Shaq’s “real height,” they’re really asking how a person could be so dominant that offense, defense, and even arena infrastructure had to adapt to him. The most reliable number is the simple one: 7’1” (2.16 m), backed by the NBA. Pair that with a ~7’7” wingspan, ~9’5” standing reach, and size-22 footwear, and you get a physics problem most 7-footers couldn’t solve. That’s why, three decades on, Shaq still defines what it looks like when sheer size meets skill — and why the NBA still treats 7’1” as the definitive answer to “How tall is Shaq, really?”
