How tall are you?

I understand that, as of this writing, the tallest players in the NBA, Shawn Bradley and Yao Ming, are eight feet tall. That is very, very high! It is almost as high as an eight-foot ceiling. You’ve undoubtedly heard many times that to play in the NBA you have to be tall, right?

What about the shortest player? That would be Earl Boykins of the Milwaukee Bucks who is five foot five inches tall. He is the second shortest player in NBA history. So, I can honestly and sincerely say that I am actually taller than an NBA player. Seven inches taller indeed! But would I dare to play a little one-on-one with Earl Boykins? Is not difficult.

But have you ever thought about what it’s like for Earl when he plays against Shawn and Yao? They are a little over two feet taller than him! That’s not to say it would be easier when Earl plays against the NBA average height of 6’7 “! But what would it be like to play a very competitive game against someone two feet taller than you?

It could reasonably be assumed that if you were 5 feet 5 inches tall, many people would tell you that you could never play in the NBA. If by some wild circumstance you managed to get into the NBA, being so short and playing against players much bigger than you, it would be very difficult to do, right?

Earl doesn’t let that stop him. He is the shortest player in NBA history to score thirty points in one game! He has done it on several occasions! If you know anything about the NBA, then you know that if any player scores thirty points in a game, it was a great night. But for someone who is 5’5 “tall, scoring thirty points in a game over and over again is extraordinary!

I’m sure there were a lot of people who told him, “Earl, basketball is for great people, and the NBA, well, that’s for professional giants, certainly not for you.”

And of course, at five feet five inches tall, Earl has listened to all the derogatory comments from “short people” his entire life. But there he is, five feet five inches tall, successfully playing in the NBA. It’s not about how much talent and natural ability you have, but rather what you do with what you have. It is what you choose to do with your life.

You will never ever get “good” and everyone’s approval for the things you want to do in your life. In fact, those who haven’t been successful are the first to tell you that you can’t be successful either.

Have you noticed that the world lacks people who constantly encourage others? The sad reality is that people are quick to point out all your shortcomings and have a hard time praising your achievements.

But regardless of what others say, it is still up to you to decide what to do with your life. Do you think Earl had to work hard? I’d say maybe he had to work even harder than the taller players.

And yet, many times in life, those with a lot of talent don’t need to try as hard. Sometimes it makes you wonder where they would be if they did. However, many people with less natural skills and talents push and work harder and, as a result, realize their full potential.

Don’t let anyone convince you of your dreams, goals, and desires. Don’t talk about them either. Live life with enthusiasm and move towards your full potential.

By the way, Earl Boykins is not the shortest person to ever play in the NBA. That honor goes to Muggsy Bogues, who is five feet three inches tall. And Muggsy is also the shortest player in the NBA to nail basketball!

So how tall are you?