How tall is Bill Walton

Bill Walton's Height

6ft 11 ¾ (212.7 cm)

Former American Basketball Player. He claimed to be around the 6ft 11 mark, and on his twitter in 2015 still saying "I am 6'11""...."I love it now...it took me a while to get used to standing out in the crowd, looking awkward, feeling uncomfortable. But I've grown into it."

How tall is Bill Walton
Photos by PR Photos

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Add a Comment150 comments

Average Guess (67 Votes)
6ft 11.82in (212.9cm)
Canson said on 5/Jun/23
I think 6’11.5 peak height is a fair listing. Not 6’11.75 tho.
Jafof said on 1/Jun/23
211.5cm
New-One said on 9/May/23
To me, 6'11" flat as peak height, and nowdays he's likely around 6'9.5" or even 6'9.25".
Robbe said on 25/Mar/23
211-212cm Lauri looking down at Bill Click Here

Question is how much difference there..
Canson said on 12/Oct/22
@Ice: he needs a reduction to 6’11.5”. That’s the max he was
IceCold2 said on 11/Oct/22
He has claimed and listed at 6'11. Why he is listed almost 7'0 here?
John Rose said on 18/Jun/22
He was easily at least 7'0" barefoot at his peak. He was taller than teammate Robert Parish who was listed at 7'1". It was widely known that Walton was well over 7'0" (especially in basketball shoes) but wanted to be listed as 6'11" because he thought that people 7'0" and over were considered to be "freaks".
Canson said on 28/May/22
@Editor Rob: Kareem was over 2” taller than Walton and Walton was listed 6’11” his entire career. If he were 6’11.75 he’d have been listed 7’0”. I don’t doubt he was over 6’11 by a bit but 6’11.5 is the most he was. He needs a reduction to 6’11.5
James E Welsh said on 27/May/22
I saw a 1986-1987 Boston Celtics official team photo and Walton definitely looks to be about an inch taller than Robert Parish, but I would chalk that up to perhaps him wearing special shoes that gave him extra height.
Shrinking Lewis said on 26/May/22
Watched some old basketball games from the 70s and he looked almost as tall as kareem now still looks around 6'10
IceCold said on 13/May/22
Maybe an inch below now
Vincent Caleb said on 13/May/22
He’s probably not much over 6’9” now
Leonis Smith said on 13/May/22
Bill likely lost an inch or so of height when he had the foot surgery to "lower his arches" in the early 1980s. His other surgeries probably didn't help, but THAT one would have been the big one.
He was definitely shorter than Kareem, but only a couple inches in that picture with Wooden and Kareem was LONG after the surgery.
Canson said on 21/Apr/22
@Ice: I’d give him 6’11.5 peak
IceCold said on 20/Apr/22
He could be a strong 6'11 at peak, but i doubt close to 7 ft
IceCold said on 13/Apr/22
Maybe 6'11 1/4 is a good guess for his peak? Bill with a bit slouching Magic Click Here

Magic with Kevin Garnett Click Here

I doubt NBA would someone's underlisted close to an inch
Duhon said on 7/Apr/22
Peak I can buy 6'11.5-6'11.75". Now, it's not just his age but he's had numerous surgeries as well I believe which have taken a toll.
Caleb ~179cm said on 6/Apr/22
@Arch Stanton nah I think he's about 6'9 now

@Canson yes maybe 6'11.5 peak
Canson said on 3/Apr/22
@Caleb: needs both. Peak should be 6’11.5”
Arch Stanton said on 3/Apr/22
He did look 7 ft in the 70s, but needs to be downgraded to 6'11 current.
Caleb ~179cm said on 3/Apr/22
Needs a current height
IceCold said on 2/Apr/22
He is overlisted. Listed officially at 6'11 and certainly not over it. He doesn't seems a 7'0 guy
Arch Stanton said on 9/Mar/22
Maybe it's time to give him a peak height and current Rob, here he is with good posture with Thor: Click Here He is nearly 70 now.
recapa said on 13/Sep/21
211.5 for bill walton sounds good he never looked as shaq who i believe was his 214 listing or around it.
Canson said on 29/Aug/21
@Editor Rob: 6’11.5 would probably be more adequate
Duhon said on 26/Aug/21
I can believe Walton legitimately measured at least 7' in the morning and would have probably been listed at that height if he wanted it.
Ian C. said on 25/Aug/21
I remember Walton once implied that he was seven foot tall, but claimed six foot eleven, because seven foot was "where the freaks start."
Canson said on 4/Aug/21
He may not have been as low as 6’11 flat but I doubt he was almost 7’0”. 6’11.5 is the highest I could see for him even as Rob alluded to below. Kareem was over 2” taller than him
ChaosControl 6'2.50 said on 4/Jul/21
Arch Stanton said on 24/Jun/21
I weight 97 kg currently, heavier than a peak 7 ft guy, funny! He was built like a lampost though! I suspect he would have reached 7 ft 1 out of bed.

Wait till you find out about John Rogan mate, he was 8’9 and lighter than either of us
Arch Stanton said on 24/Jun/21
I weight 97 kg currently, heavier than a peak 7 ft guy, funny! He was built like a lampost though! I suspect he would have reached 7 ft 1 out of bed.
Canson said on 31/May/21
@Viper: he wasn’t under listed. Rambis played a lot of power forward and 6’8” at the time was on the low end for it. He may have been 6’8 but he wasn’t more than 6’8”

Click Here
viper said on 26/May/21
Was he really underlisted?
Canson said on 23/May/21
@Height: I doubt Rambis was underlisted
Height said on 22/May/21
One of the few under listed players from late 70's, 80's and 90's much like Kurt Rambis, Kevin Gamble, etc.
Canson said on 13/Apr/21
@Mickie and Robbe: yea not quite 3” but over 2”. Probably 6’11 and change. I think 6’11.5 would’ve been the better listing. Maybe even been 6’11.25-.5 range

@Junior: I doubt Giannis is that at a low. 6’10 perhaps. Max listing should be 6’10.25”. 3” on Lebron
recapa said on 3/Mar/21
6ft11-6ft11.25 peak, his son luke is around 4 inches shorter at 6ft7.25-6ft7.5 range.
Mickie said on 26/Feb/21
In his peak was definitely over 6'11" flat next to Kareem: Click Here

He's lost some height, though.
Robbe said on 26/Dec/20
Bill with 6'9.5 Kevin Durant, and 6'9 Dwight Howard.

Click Here

Bill howers around 6'10 nowadays. Could be slightly under, as seen in the pic posted earlier, where Bill was edged out by 209cm Möttölä.
Chris Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 14/Dec/20
@Wa66

KD is about a full inch lower than 6'10 1/2 Giannis. Walton is probably 6'10 1/2 now which i recall 6'9 1/2 KD look at most 1" shorter.
Wa66 said on 14/Dec/20
For what it’s worth there’s an interview of KD saying he ways measured at 6’10 and 3/4 inches without shoes so with shoes he hits 7ft now in that back to back Walton is taller
Chris Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 7/Dec/20
@J2Frenzy His peak weight is believable around 95kg. He probably gain more than 12lbs now.
Vincent Caleb said on 12/Nov/20
@Robbe:
Well said.
J2Frenzy said on 12/Nov/20
It always surprises me how light basketball players are. Bill is 95kg according to Google. That’s about my weight and I’m only 6’2.5 (granted I do have a massive upper body)
Canson said on 12/Nov/20
@Robbe: today that is the case but at his peak he was a good 6’11” if not a hair over. I’m not buying 6’11.75 though.
Robbe said on 12/Nov/20
Bill also stated once "Im barely 6'11". He looks nowadays only hair taller than Kevin Durant, so he is most likely at the most 6'10 as we speak.
BR said on 11/Nov/20
I'm sorry. But I think he does look closer to 6'11" than 7'0". I think he seems pretty honest.
JD1996 said on 9/Nov/20
@6’3 Julian right if I was 6’11 3/4” I wouldn’t be rounding down to 6’11” I would straight up say I am 7 foot tall!
recapa said on 8/Nov/20
211cm peak .1 shorter than peak shaq and 3 inches shorter than kareem abdu el jabbar.
Vincent Caleb said on 2/Nov/20
I thought Bill was 6-11 flat at peak, so this listing surprises me. Maybe I was lowballing him.
6'3 Julian said on 28/Sep/20
6’11 and 3 quarters must suck for him. People probably ask him if he’s 7 foot tall and he has to correct them. I’m gonna give him a 7’0 guess out of pity
Arch Stanton said on 23/Aug/20
Canson, there's other comparisons though of him looking over 7 ft peak, like 7'0.5 at times. Rob's 6'11.75 is very reasonable. From what I saw a while back overall I concluded he was actually a bit over the 7' mark. For me a legit 210 cm is where it starts to get very high, certainly the 7ft 213 cm mark and above mark is into unfathomly tall territory. A guy like Kareem looked into that range in his prime, Walton borderline but could seem taller because he was so skinny.
Robbe said on 8/Aug/20
Here is the back to back photo. Bill is about 1cm taller than Kevin, but 2cm shorter than 209cm Hanno Möttölä Click Here

- Kevin around 206cm
- Bill around 207cm
- I happen to know Hanno, he is 209cm barefoot.

So why is Bill still listed as peak, Rob? He is nowhere near 212,7cm today.
Chris Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 22/May/20
Someone once posted the back to back height comparison of Kevin Durant and Bill, i recall they look at most 1" difference. Maybe Bill was never over 6'11 1/2 peak and has already lost 1"?
Canson said on 14/Mar/20
@Rob: but then he said Right after that every time he thinks he’s taller he stands next to Kareem. If Kareem was 7’1 7/8, Walton was not 6’11.75. I don’t see many pics whether in their primes or today where it’s only a solid 2” difference between the two. Usually it’s close to 3”. I argued 6’11.5 as a possibility previously. I could see 2.5” between them but not 2” flat. I could see 6’11.25. Out of bed he’s 7’0+ imho

Click Here

Click Here
Editor Rob
6ft 11.5 may well be what he can measure
Canson said on 13/Mar/20
He claimed 6’11” throughout his career and said here that he was 3” shorter than Kareem when next to him

Click Here
Editor Rob
The last time he was measured was 19...
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 12/Mar/20
What an awesome variety of heights celebrity Bills come in! This one, Bill Walton, is very nearly 7ft, and then, on the other end of the scale, there's comedian and bird watcher Bill Oddie, who's a mere 5ft3, equivalent to a 4ft10 woman.

Bill gets 6ft11.75. It would seem that there are quite a few voters who take him for the full 7ft!

📏📏📏📏📏📏📏
Robbe said on 26/Feb/20
Bill can't be 6'10.5 cause he is obviously shorter than 6'10 listed Möttölä. There can't be better picture i just posted. Both men standing tall, side by side, on even ground, with similar shoes on. Bill is definitely not taller there, he looks bang on an inch shorter. I don't know what his peak was, but nowadays he is 6'9 range.
RP said on 12/Feb/20
Peak 6’11.5”
Current 6’10.5”
Nik Ashton said on 9/Feb/20
His 6’11” claim is interesting!
Canson said on 7/Feb/20
He wasn’t just 2” shorter than Kareem. He was a legit 6’11 or a hair over which is why he was thought to be taller all the time
Robbe said on 6/Feb/20
Möttölä here with 6'8 Mikael Jantunen. Bill doesn't look much taller than Jantunen, so 6'8.5 is possible for Bill Click Here
Robbe said on 28/Jan/20
Bill has shrunk quite a lot. He needs a downgrade. Here with 6'10 Hanno Möttölä.

Click Here

Click Here

I can see a full inch there. Bill is max 6'9 today.
Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 13/Jun/19
Moses Brown Combine Measurements this year measure at 7'1.25" w/o shoes. Click Here The youtube clip was from dec 2018 maybe Moses was already hit 7'1 at 18 last year. So Bill srill close to 6'11 since he had a big 3" lower than Moses. One thing strange from the comparison with KD only look 3/4 inch between them standing back to back.
viper said on 17/May/19
I think Moses grew an inch during the season
viper said on 16/May/19
Moses Brown measured his listed height which is shocking
Canson said on 9/Apr/19
@Sotiris: people used to exaggerate UCLA’s players like KAJ and Walton’s heights claiming they were taller than listed. It’s more that they were just listed at their barefoot heights. Walton was a legit 6’11” barefoot and today maybe 6’10” not sure about 6’9” though
Bradley said on 8/Apr/19
Had me by 5" easy courtside decades ago. 6-11 peak.
Sotiris Gravas said on 8/Apr/19
@viper 6'1" gentleman and 6'9" height-loss Walton (2013)... Click Here

Same guy w/ Big Show and Strowman... Click Here


Just for fun, same guy and height-loss Arnie... Click Here
Guy and 6'1" (not 6'2") Aaron Rodgers for height confirmation... Click Here
viper said on 8/Mar/19
Hmm, Moses Brown was listed at 6-11 just last year and looks shorter than 7-0 on the court.
viper said on 7/Mar/19
He has shrunk 2 inches at least.
viper said on 7/Mar/19
No way 6-10.

He was struggling with 6-9 interviewing 6-10 Nick Rakocevic.

Looks 6-9 with 7-0 Moses
burnitdownhomies said on 27/Feb/19
7'1 peak, 6'11.75 now.
Canson said on 26/Feb/19
@Viper: Walton might still be 6’10” today or still close to it. While I don’t agree with his 6’11.75” listing, I am confident he was a solid 6’11” peak minimum. he also said on Dan Patrick’s show that he is reminded of how tall he is every time he stands next to kareem who was 3” taller than him. I think 6’11” and 7’1 7/8 for both guys and today he’s orobably less
viper said on 26/Feb/19
The chances of Moses being 7-1 are pretty much zero.

Hardly anyone is their listed height in college basketball. He's 7-0
viper said on 24/Feb/19
He's not struggling with 6-10.

He's a flat 6-9
Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 24/Feb/19
@viper If Moses is 7'0 then Bill Walton would be 6'9, Kevin Durant will be at most 6'8 1/2 with no bargain.
Canson said on 23/Feb/19
@Editor Rob: never more than an honest 6’11” maybe strong at best. His son also said he was 6’11” and this is when Luke played still. JTM is right today 6’10 range tops. Kareem admitted in keeping up with the Kardashians that he has lost height and they’re still 3” apart

Click Here
Jtm said on 23/Feb/19
i agree with canson. he was never more than a honest 6'11 and struggling with 6'10 now.
viper said on 21/Feb/19
I thought Moses was 6-11, but that video convinced me he's 7-0.
viper said on 21/Feb/19
Just saw Walton look shorter interviewing 6-10 Nick Rakocevic.

Walton is 6-9 today.
viper said on 21/Feb/19
Moses Brown is 7-0
Sotiris Gravas said on 21/Feb/19
Moses Brown is closer to 7'0" than he is 7'1". He's shorter than now maybe 7'0.5" Kareem, even w/ a slight footwear advantage (2019)... Click Here

Kareem and Joel Emiid (2018)... Click Here

Kareem and NBA-listed 7'0.25" w/o shoes Jakob Poeltl (2016)... Click Here

Kareem and Shaq (2019)... Click Here

Walton and Kareem (2015)... Click Here

Walton and Shaq (2015)... Click Here
Canson said on 20/Feb/19
Everyone thinks he’s taller than he is. It’s because he insisted on using his barefoot listing instead of shoes. So really he’s an honest 6’11” in a liar’s world where another player would get 6’11 and be barefoot 6’9” perhaps
Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 20/Feb/19
7'1 Moses Brown look to have 3" on Bill.Click Here Bill could be as low as 6'10 now and was once 6'11 1/4 but not as tall as Rob listed him.

Click Here Kareem does have 3" on peak Bill.
Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 20/Feb/19
7'1 Moses Brown look to have 3" on Bill.Click Here Bill could be as low as 6'10 now and was once 6'11 1/4 but not as tall as Rob listed him.
Canson said on 14/Dec/18
Click Here

@Rob he was never as tall as he’s listed here. His 6’11” claim is believable next to other contemporaries such as Kareem Abdul Jabbar Artis Gilmore or Mark Eaton. He wasn’t 6’11.75.
Canson said on 14/Dec/18
Looks his 6’11 claim with Bill Walton

Click Here
Canson said on 14/Dec/18
He says here that He’s 6’11 here after Dan Patrick asks him. Dan thinks he’s 7’2. Then he said he was measured at 6’11 at 19. He said every time he thinks he’s taller than 6’11” he stands next to Kareem and he’s 3” shorter. Odd though because he said Jamal Wilkes was 6’7”. Wilkes was listed 6’6” when he played

Click Here
FLEX said on 4/Dec/18
Bill Walton & 7'1'' Moses Brown
Click Here
184guy2 said on 24/Nov/18
@Canson
I can see more like 2.5 between Bird and Bill
Must be pretty crazy being 6'9 and feeling short lol
Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 10/Nov/18
6'10 3/4 now with Kevin Durant. Durant is not over 6'9 1/2.
Canson said on 5/Nov/18
He looks closer to 2” taller than Bird when he introduced him into the HOF in 98.

Click Here
Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 27/Jun/18
212.5cm peak
210cm now
even said on 15/Jun/18
he was never over 7 feet
Height said on 8/May/18
6'11.75" in his prime.
VicLions said on 6/May/18
I think at his peak he was a solid 6ft11.5
Canson said on 19/Feb/18
@Rob: I think that’s too high was closer to 6’11” peak than 7’0”. His son Luke even commented before calling him 6’11
Johnson said on 18/Feb/18
Nowadays he looks shorter even shorter than Kevin Durant
StephenB said on 12/Dec/17
This listing is accurate. Bill was about 2.5 inches shorter than Kareem in their playing days.
Canson said on 3/Dec/17
This guy had to have been 6’11” and change peak. Maybe not 7’0” as his son even compared himself to him and said “he’s a 6’11 Center im more of a 6’8” forward”. But i concur with Robert Broome that he looks very tall and probably is a bit over 6’11 peak maybe 6’11.5ish
Jo said on 10/Nov/17
pretty much 7 feet
Canson said on 25/Oct/17
@Junior: agreed
Junior said on 24/Oct/17
I don't think Bill Walton is over 211.5cm now.
Canson said on 13/Aug/17
Maybe he's 6'11 and change but doubt over 7'0"
Robert Broome said on 25/Jul/17
I met Bill at the Hall of Fame a few years back. He actually got annoyed at me because I insisted to him that he was over 7'. He insisted that he was 6'11". He is absolutely enormous. I'm 6'5" and he dwarfed me.
Canson said on 21/Jun/17
@Rising Force: I think Bill was genuine 6'11" peak maybe a hair over but Hakeem was (according to Mario Elie) closer to 6'9 in reality barefoot. Looking at him by an Otis Thorpe or a Patrick Ewing it's really all he looks too. Starks at 6'2" came up to Ewings mustache almost in some pics
S.J.H said on 9/Jun/17
That 6'11 claim make me suspect that Kareem Abdul Jabbar was measure 7'1-7/8 with sneakers in the 70s. We can see from 1950s-80s NBA players were all in flat sneakers, converse sneakers (1.5-2cm) on b-ball court.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 20/May/17
Standing with reasonably good posture in that photo...very rare for a guy that tall
RisingForce said on 13/May/17
It always was said he was 7 feet or taller and didn't like it, but the same was said of Kevin Garnett, so maybe it's often meant in shoes. He did look taller than Parish, iirc in the '86 Celtic is team photo and a reporter once noted to him he looked taller than Parish, which he said was due to the floor being warped. Walton by age 45 could look inches shorter than Shaq, but maybe his serious inuries played a role in that. As for Olajuwon, the direct claims I've seen from him have been 6'11" such as his autobiography, but I think slightly under. I read he was measured by the Rockers at 6'10.75" around '89 or '90 and I believe it. He could look not that short with Sampson so I always thought the 6'10" flat was a bit low. As for Sabonis, I always figured 7'2" range barefoot, NEVER believe anything from a Soviet newspaper! I'll guess 7'0" peak for Walton anyway.
Ian C said on 11/May/17
I can't reference the quote but I had heard from a friend that Walton just flat out admitted that he was rounding down because "7 feet is where the freaks start."
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 26/Apr/17
Probably didn't want to admit to being 7ft
Canson said on 24/Apr/17
6'11.25. he wasn't 7'0 tall. His own son called him a 6'11" center and himself a 6'8" forward Luke is more like 6'7.5 or so
John said on 9/Apr/17
Peak: 7'0.25
Now: 6'11.5
Walter said on 29/Mar/17
210 cm or 211 cm now. Maybe he was claiming your current height
S.J.H said on 5/Sep/16
6'11.75 peak and 6'11.25 nowadays. I just don't see walton could be over 211cm now
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 4/Jul/16
Rob, do you think he's rounding down because he doesn't want to admit that he's almost 7ft?
Editor Rob
it's a strange one...I do think he could look near 7ft, but maybe he really did measure under it and simply rounded off to 6ft 11 rather than up to the 7ft
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 5/Jun/16
Awesome Height.
O.J. said on 1/Mar/16
There was a time when Bill was at least 7', but today, he's the height he's always called himself, 6'11. I don't know where this extra 3/4 inch is coming from.
Guyster said on 15/Feb/16
Bill Walton is way Over 6"11 he should be proud of being a strong 7 footer, it's rare.
Chris said on 8/Dec/15
If you want genuine evidence of the fact Bill Walton has shrunk in old age, look at pictures of him standing next to Kareem Abdul Jabar

Kareem towers over Bill these days. Look at pictures. But when they were both playing, they were quite similar in height. I'd say Kareem was 1 inch taller when they played. Now he's about 3 inches taller.

And Kareem is crazy big. No way that guy was ever 7'2. He towers over guys like Roy Hibbert even now!

I think there's a decent argument to say Walton was 7'1 in his playing days. And 6'11 now

And Kareem was 7'3-7'4 in his playing days and is about 7'1 now

Look at them now

Click Here

Compared to when they were much younger
Chris said on 8/Dec/15
Walton is taller than you think. The old-school players measurements were flat-footed. Not in shoes. If he's listed as 6'11 then that is what he will be - minimum.

I'd seen recent pictures of him with Shaq and he's about an inch (maybe 1.5) shorter. So that's a decent argument that he's 6'11 right now.

But remember, he's probably shrunk a bit. The guy's in his 70s
Sal said on 12/Oct/15
Rob, in the team photo, do you think Walton was standing on his toes as a joke perhaps? Larry bird looks a solid 6'9" in pics with everyone under the sun, Kevin Mchale looks a tad over 6'9" to 6'10" in his peak and It was said Robert Parish is a barefoot 7'.5" which looks right next to McHale and Bird. I think Closer to 7'1" was more accurate for Walton at his peak.
Editor Rob
it maybe is Bill a little closer and gaining more height, there's other shots they look closer in team photos, or just general photos.
Tarinator said on 29/Aug/15
@Rampage(-_-_-)Clover That is indeed true. But I think the 6'11.75" is absolutely strange. He's always presented himself as edging off 211 cm by 1" or so. Kareem said he was 7'1.875". It would be understandable to list him as such. But there have been no claims of 6'11.75" elsewhere (at least from what I've heard of). So 7'0" is a safe claim. IMHO, if people are to claim 1/4" off or above the mark, they must measure the person for them-self (if they're willing).
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 21/Aug/15
@Tarinator: a lot of 7fters don't like being that tall. So they will claim as low as possible.
Tarinator said on 19/Aug/15
6'11.75? Can't you just say 7'0"? I mean, its understandable if thats what the person said. But I think its safe to say he's a solid 7'0".
O.J. said on 10/Aug/15
6'11 is accurate today. Bill was a little over 7'in his prime. 7'and a half inch to 7'1.
Dan said on 9/May/15
At his peak, a minimum of 7'1". Anyone who believes his 6'11" claim is a sucker. Now, I'd say he's a shade under 7"0'.
S.J.H said on 8/Mar/15
211cm never 7foot. Hes good posture and hair fool rob
Arch Stanton said on 21/Dec/14
The bizarre thing in that top pic is that the guy who looks the shrimp is supposed to be 6'6.5"!!!
Arch Stanton said on 21/Dec/14
Yeah I think he'd have hit 7', I don't think he looked over 7'0.5" as has been claimed though. I've heard 7'0.5" for Chamberlain as well as 7'1" so maybe this spot on. With the 6'10 player though I don't think they'd have said much if he was only an inch taller. The difference had to have been noticeable. A rare case of rounding down. He probably threatened to not play or something unless they listed him as desired!! Out of bed he'd have easily cleared 7 ft I think. Today he looks about 6'11" but looks to have lost a bit in early 60s.
Arch Stanton said on 20/Dec/14
The New York Times says here "didn't like the stigma of being a 7 fter Click Here but says he was at least 7'2". Hakeem Olajuwon was listed at 7 ft but claimed 6 ft 10 but the NYT article claims Bill looked a lot taller at peak than him. Now I think it is clear with Kareem he wasn't "over 7'2" or really over 7'1" for that matter but I certainly think peak 7' range, maybe something like 7'0.5" and 6'11 today would be more reasonable. He's 62 now I think and at that height a 1.5 loss is probably normal.
Editor Rob
maybe one of the few cases of someone being around that 7ft mark and just saying 6ft 11.
Arch Stanton said on 20/Dec/14
Ralph Sampson basketball player might be worth adding. I can see 7'2 in some of those pics of him as an older man, perhaps the 7'4" listing was in basketball sneakers measurement when younger and rounded up slightly. He looks a bit taller than Kareen who was supposedly 7'1.6 or something (although could look taller).
Arch Stanton said on 20/Dec/14
Rob you might want to look into this one, Click Here has some good comparisons with Kareem and Wilt. Some of the posters below are right I believe that he was sensitive about his height and would never claim more than 6'11. I think he does look around this today if his son is 6'8 but peak I think he might have measured nearer 7'0.5", perhaps a smidge over 7'0 flat. I know people get carried away with him but in my opinion you'd be more accurate changing to 7'-7'0.5 range peak and 6'11 now.
Larry said on 5/May/14
Ron, Bill Walton really needs a MAJOR upgrade. He claims to be 6'11", but that's because he always said that 6'11" was just a really tall guy but 7'0" was a freak of nature.
Here is Bill Walton TOWERING over 7'1" listed Robert Parish.
Click Here
Click Here
Ian C. said on 16/Feb/14
Walton used to say that six foot eleven, and then he's add that "seven feet is where the freaks start." So he may have been joking about being six foot eleven.
Bard said on 23/Nov/13
Looks BARELY shorter than Kareem. Probably at least 7' in his heyday.

Click Here
Mathew said on 6/Aug/13
KOI says on 29/May/13
Sabonis was 224 cm at his prime. Information is from Alexander Gomelsky' interview to soviet newspaper.

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224 cm in shoes (a good 7'4") would sound about right, most basketball players go by in shoes height (and round up) so by basketball standards he was a solid 7'4". Barefoot he was more 220 - 221 cm (7'2.6" - 7'3") range (he was usually listed at 221, but Zalgiris listed him at 220.) I think he was every bit of his Zalgiris listing at least.

As for Walton, I don't buy that KG is .75" taller. I think Bill is likely the guy who downgrades his height more.
Dutch said on 19/Jul/13
He was embarrassed about his height - don't you remember the "floor's bent" comment, or whatever it was. Certainly 7-foot.
KOI said on 29/May/13
Sabonis was 224 cm at his prime. Information is from Alexander Gomelsky' interview to soviet newspaper.
Dan said on 28/May/13
Walton was at LEAST 7'1", probably 7'2" at his peak. Just look at the 1987 Boston Celtics team photo on an image search. He is a good 3 inches taller than Kevin McHale--who is known to be 6'10"--and he is at least an inch taller than Robert Parrish, who is listed at 7',1/2". Walton said he was 6'11" to play down his serious height advantage among most players.
Ricky said on 8/May/13
6'11 today, 7' peak.
thinker said on 5/Apr/13
A. Sibonis in his prime was 217-218 cm definetely.. european basketball measure is barefoot, unlike nba where they measure players in they shoes and they give them always 1 inch or more...
JDJ said on 19/Mar/13
I think Bill's a 7 footer. But like other people have said here, i guess he doesn't wanna be known as a 7 footer. I would never wanna be that tall, it's just not handy, think of buying clothes, a bed, etc... that's gotta be tough. And a lot of guys that are that tall have problems with their feet,knees,joints cause their that tall. I'm just fine with being 6'1.
jP said on 17/Jan/13
Bill Walton is 6' 11" plus a hair; just shy of 7'
Arch Stanton said on 15/Jan/13
@MichaelT

Are you suggesting that Walton is 7 ft 5? That;s crazy. Kareem looked much taller than Walton next to Mamun. If anybody looked 7'5" in the photos it was Kareem. Walton I believe might have been 7'0. range at peak but anything over 7'1" I think is silly.
Arch Stanton said on 15/Jan/13
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Compared to more, eh, more normal height men...
Arch Stanton said on 15/Jan/13
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The guy on the right is Arvydas Sabonis, former Lithuanian and Soviet basketball player listed at 7 ft 3. I mean that's an incredible height to believe but he does look near it don't you think Rob? He's leaning in both pics, maybe 7'2" and change is what he is.
Editor Rob
there's got to be a good 3 inches anyway
Tall Joey said on 30/Nov/12
My father met this guy a long time ago at some basketball event and he told me that bill walton was about the same height as him. I think Bill Walton is a 7 foot tall guy downgrading his height to 6 ft 11.
Bakura said on 8/Oct/12
@MichaelT: Um, wrong page?
MichaelT said on 3/Aug/12
Bill Walton ALWAYS listed his height at 6' 11". I laugh... loll

I remember sitting in the Clippers stadium in San Diego 5 rows up, 10ft out from the visitor's basket, at exactly the right level to see how tall the guys were next to each other. When Bill was playing against Kareem, Bill was easily 2 inches taller than Kareem, who still had a little fro going at that point. Kareem was listed at 7' 3" as I recall.

Bill has a thing about being UNDER 7' and will never admit to anything taller than 6' 11". Bill is a smart, articulate guy, but ask him about his height and see what happens, he's very sensitive about it. Other guys in the league would have done anything to be taller, go figure.

Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films.

Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media.

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