How Tall Is Boban Marjanović? The Basketball Giant's Height Revealed
I remember the first time I saw Boban Marjanović on television during a Mavericks game last season. My coffee mug actually paused halfway to my lips as I tried to process what I was seeing. There he was, towering over players who themselves were giants by normal human standards, making even seven-footers look like they were playing in a junior league. That's when the question hit me with the force of one of Boban's gentle but definitive dunks: just how tall is Boban Marjanović anyway?
The answer, as I discovered after some digging that interrupted my basketball viewing for a good twenty minutes, is 7-foot-4. Let me put that in perspective for you - if Boban walked into my living room right now, he'd have to duck to avoid the ceiling fan, and we have standard nine-foot ceilings here. His wingspan stretches to nearly eight feet, which means he could probably high-five someone while simultaneously picking up something from the floor without bending over. I've always been fascinated by extreme heights in basketball, but Boban takes it to another level entirely. What's remarkable isn't just his height but how he moves with this unexpected grace, like watching a skyscraper perform ballet.
This fascination with basketball measurements got me thinking about how height impacts team dynamics in ways we don't always appreciate. Just last week, I was watching the NCAA Philippines games and came across an interesting situation that illustrates this point perfectly. Benilde improved to 4-2 in the Group B standings with a chokehold on the second seed just below San Beda (4-1) and above Letran (4-3), much thanks to the returning Allen Liwag. Now, Liwag isn't Boban-sized by any means, but his return to the lineup created this fascinating shift in the team's defensive posture that reminded me of how Boban's presence alone forces opponents to completely rethink their offensive strategies. When you have that kind of physical advantage, it changes everything - passing lanes that were once open suddenly disappear, shots that were comfortable become contested, and the entire geometry of the court shifts.
I've always believed that basketball is as much about physics as it is about athleticism. When you're dealing with players at the extreme ends of the height spectrum, simple things like dribbling become complicated. Boban's dribble covers more ground with each bounce, his steps eat up the court faster, and his shooting arc comes from such a height that defenders might as well be trying to block satellites. I remember playing pickup basketball back in college with this guy who was 6'8" - not even close to Boban territory - and feeling like I was defending a mountain. Can you imagine what it must feel like to face someone nearly a full foot taller than that?
What's interesting is that extreme height comes with its own set of challenges too. I read somewhere that Boban has to custom-order everything from shoes to cars, and airplane travel must be absolute torture for the man. I complain about legroom on flights, but Boban probably has to fold himself into a pretzel just to fit through the cabin aisle. Still, watching him play makes you forget about those practical inconveniences and just appreciate the spectacle of human potential. There's something almost mythical about seeing someone that size move with coordination and skill - it's like watching Paul Bunyan decided to take up professional sports instead of lumberjacking.
The beauty of basketball is how it accommodates these physical outliers while still requiring fundamental skills. Boban isn't just tall - he's genuinely skilled with soft hands, good footwork, and surprisingly decent shooting touch for a man his size. Similarly, going back to that Benilde situation, it wasn't just Liwag's height that made the difference but how the team leveraged his particular skills. Basketball at its best is this beautiful synthesis of unique physical attributes and refined technique, where coaches figure out how to fit these unusual pieces into their strategic puzzles.
I'll admit I have a soft spot for these gentle giants of the game. There's something endearing about seeing Boban's cheerful demeanor contrasted with his overwhelming physical presence. He'll set a screen that looks like it could stop a truck, then flash a smile that could disarm a bomb squad. In a league where trash talk is common, I've never heard anyone claim they wanted to pick a fight with Boban - and not just because he's huge, but because he seems like someone you'd want to have a beer with, even if he'd need about three normal-sized ones to feel anything.
As I finish writing this, I'm looking at a photo of Boban standing next to 5'9" Isaiah Thomas - the difference is almost comical, like something out of a fairy tale. It's these physical extremes that make basketball continuously fascinating to me. Whether it's Boban making regular NBA centers look small or a returning player like Allen Liwag shifting the balance in collegiate standings, height remains one of those fundamental variables that can change everything. And to think it all started with me wondering just how tall that smiling giant on my television screen really was.