How Tall Is Michael Jordan?

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Michael Jordan's Real Height Explained

Michael Jordan stands at 6'4.75" (195 cm) barefoot, according to CelebHeights{rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"}. This is notably shorter than the 6'6" (198 cm) figure the NBA listed throughout his legendary career. The true height is likely somewhere in the 6'4.5" to 6'5" range without shoes.

Even at 6'4.75", Jordan is significantly taller than the average American man (5'9") — nearly eight inches above the national norm. He's tall by any conventional standard. But the gap between his real barefoot height and his NBA listing highlights a fascinating era of measurement inflation in professional basketball.

Jordan's physical attributes extended well beyond his height. His wingspan was reportedly 6'11", giving him an arm span far exceeding his height — a crucial factor in his ability to steal the ball, block shots, and finish at the rim over taller defenders. Combined with a 48-inch vertical leap during his prime, his 216-pound frame, and his extraordinary hand size, Jordan's body was engineered for basketball dominance regardless of whether he was 6'4.75" or 6'6".

The Height Debate: What Does Michael Jordan Really Measure?

The discrepancy between Jordan's NBA listing (6'6") and his likely barefoot height (6'4.75") isn't really a controversy about Jordan himself — it's a reflection of how the NBA measured players during his era.

Before the league mandated official barefoot measurements in 2019, NBA teams typically listed players at their height in basketball shoes, and many teams added an extra inch or two for good measure. It was common practice, and Jordan's listing followed this convention. His 6'6" NBA height almost certainly reflected a measurement in shoes (adding roughly 1-1.25 inches) plus perhaps a small round-up.

Compared to today's NBA stars who were measured barefoot in 2019, Jordan's real height puts him in interesting company. He would be roughly the same height barefoot as Usain Bolt (6'4.75"), making them near-exact height twins. He's shorter than current stars like LeBron James (6'7.75") and Kevin Durant (6'9.5"), both of whom physically tower over where MJ would have stood.

What makes Jordan's height remarkable is how much he accomplished at his size. As a shooting guard, 6'4.75" was solid but not exceptional. Yet he played the position as if he were 6'8" — his combination of leaping ability, wingspan, and sheer competitive fury made him seem much larger on the court than he actually was.

Michael Jordan's Height Compared to Other Celebrities

Table: Michael Jordan vs Basketball Greats

→ See Michael Jordan vs LeBron James side by side → See Michael Jordan vs Shaquille O'Neal side by side

Notable Height Differences

The Jordan-LeBron James height comparison is particularly relevant because the two are endlessly debated as the greatest basketball player of all time. LeBron holds a three-inch height advantage at 6'7.75" and is considerably heavier at 250 lbs versus Jordan's 216. However, Jordan's superior vertical leap and proportionally longer wingspan helped neutralize LeBron's size advantage on the court.

Jordan's height is almost identical to Erling Haaland (6'4"), the soccer sensation, making them approximate height twins from very different sports. Compared to fellow sports legends, Jordan stands taller than Cristiano Ronaldo (6'0.5") by four inches and towers over Lionel Messi (5'6.5") by a full ten inches.

In the entertainment world, Jordan's 6'4.75" puts him slightly taller than Will Smith (6'1.5") and significantly above Tom Cruise (5'7.75"), with whom Jordan has been photographed at various events over the years.

How Tall Is Michael Jordan Compared to You?

At 6'4.75", Michael Jordan is taller than approximately 97-98% of American men. If you're of average height (5'9"), MJ would stand nearly eight inches above you — enough that you'd notice the difference immediately but not so much that it would feel absurd. He's tall, but not overwhelmingly so, which is part of what makes his basketball dominance so remarkable.

Our free height comparison tool lets you enter your own height and see exactly how you'd measure up against the GOAT. Share your result on social media — how close are you to "Air Jordan height"?

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Michael Jordan: Height in Context

Perhaps the most famous height-related story in all of sports is that Michael Jordan was cut from his high school varsity basketball team as a sophomore at Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. At the time, Jordan was approximately 5'10" to 5'11" — still growing — and the coaches favored taller players. The rejection fueled a competitive fire that, by all accounts, never extinguished.

By the time Jordan arrived at the University of North Carolina, he had grown to approximately 6'3" to 6'4". He hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship as a freshman and never looked back. The Chicago Bulls selected him third overall in the 1984 NBA Draft, and he went on to win six NBA championships, five MVP awards, and earn the consensus title of greatest basketball player of all time.

Jordan's height was perfectly suited for the shooting guard position. At 6'4.75", he was tall enough to see over most defenders, long enough to contest shots, and still quick enough to blow past bigger wing players. His height was a Goldilocks measurement — not so tall that he lost agility, not so short that he was physically overmatched.

The Air Jordan brand, which Jordan launched with Nike in 1984, has grown into a business empire generating over $5 billion in annual revenue — making Jordan a billionaire many times over. He's also the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets (now the Charlotte franchise) and has various other business interests. According to his Wikipedia profile{rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"}, Jordan's influence on basketball culture and global sports marketing is virtually unmatched.

His height story — from being cut at 5'10" to dominating the NBA at 6'4.75" — remains one of the most inspiring narratives in sports, a reminder that growth comes in many forms, and that the greatest athletes find ways to maximize every inch they're given.

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Quick Facts About Michael Jordan

Frequently Asked Questions

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Related Celebrity Heights

• LeBron James Height: 6'7.75"
• Kevin Durant Height: 6'9.5"
• Stephen Curry Height: 6'2"
• Shaquille O'Neal Height: 7'0.5"
• Yao Ming Height: 7'5"
• Usain Bolt Height: 6'4.75"