COACH SHEA FRAZEE

How to Dominate as a Shorter Basketball Player

Coach Shea Frazee
Image Credit: NBAE 2009
Learn why it's not all negative when it comes to being the shortest player on your roster and 4 quick tips to unlock your hidden advantages

  • Shorter athletes need to build up specific skill opportunities to succeed
  • Playing to your strengths will reward you
  • Be prepared to prove yourself and embrace the challenge
Basketball and volleyball are rare sports in which height is heavily weighted in total volume of space covered on the field of play. As of 2023, the average NBA player is around 6’6’’ inches (1.98 meters) tall while the average American male stands at 5’9” inches (1.75 meters)  So, when it comes to the sport, let's make this clear: height matters.

But, it’s only one factor in a set of complex dynamics. Think about a create-a-player in a basketball video game. As your player's height decreases, all other attributes must be higher or the player will be unusable.

In real life teams, you’ll also notice that not everyone on the team is the same height: regardless of level. The expectations of each unique player position can actually create opportunities for smaller players.

The Immediate Essentials To Being A Successful, Shorter Athlete in Basketball

Being small means you’ll fit into smaller areas, if you can get there. Learning how to use your body, capitalize on speed, get under defenders, draw fouls, keep your dribble, and get anywhere on the court is necessary as a smaller basketball player.

What strategies are you using to strengthen each of these skills?

Become Everyone’s Favorite Teammate with Ease

If you can get to where you want with speed and ease because of your size, you should be able to draw 2 defenders and set up teammates for easy opportunities.

No matter where you play, if you're an athlete who creates opportunities for your teammate to shine: you will get the ball more.

Play To Your Strengths

If you have a strong play skills for your size, you should be attacking often because you have the advantage of getting where you want.

If the defense stays home off the ball and forces you to score instead of playmaker, how will you get those buckets? Make sure you're ready to showcase your strengths under pressure.

Be a strategic, self-aware athlete.

Your Mind Will Be Your Greatest Weapon

The smaller guards who make it at elite levels have been selected as some of the strongest mentalities in basketball.

They’ve played in spite of the constant “...but he/she is too small for basketball” narratives they may hear or read about themselves. Playing well in spite of public sentiment is no joke.

Be ready to prove yourself over and over again until proving yourself is second nature.
About the writer
NBA™ Skills Specialist since 2011, basketball consultant, father and born and raised Alaskan

Shea Frazee has been an independent basketball trainer and consultant to over 35 NBA™ athletes for over 12 years. His athlete alumni have gone on to play for over dozen NBA™ teams, numerous Division I programs and professionally abroad. Frazee has been trusted to break down the game and provide elite consulting to basketball-related companies and start-ups everywhere from Seattle to Silicon Valley.

He currently train athletes and serves as a private consultant in the US and internationally while being based out of Los Angeles, California.
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