The 2023-24 season is approaching the point where most teams have played at least 10 games. While we wait to see much more unfold on the court, we continue to reveal the NBA players who lead in some unconventional categories based on different physical attributes. Last week, we revealed the tallest NBA players heading into this season. Now, it is time to reveal which players are throwing around the most weight on the court.
While some of the same stars who graced the tallest players list will appear here today, other stars from around the NBA will be among the top players packing the most pounds. These 10 heaviest NBA players are among some of the top frontcourt players in today’s game with a former MVP, All-Star, and other accomplished players making an appearance.
These are the 10 heaviest NBA players for the 2023-24 season.
T10. Kenneth Lofton Jr. – 275 lbs.
Second-year Memphis Grizzlies forward Kenneth Lofton Jr. kicks things off coming in at 275 pounds. Lfton is in his second season with Memphis after playing just 24 games for the Grizzlies in 2022-23. In those 24 games, Lofton impressed with 5.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game on 52.7% shooting.
Lofton has gotten off to a slow start in 2023-24 as well, appearing in six of Memphis’ first 10 games for 9.0 minutes per game. Lofton is averaging 3.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game for the 2-8 Grizzlies who have struggled to start their 2023-24 campaign without star point guard Ja Morant. It is unclear what role Lofton will continue to have with Memphis this season but there is no denying that his size and his skill could be of use to the team with a bit more of an opportunity.
T10. Omer Yurtseven – 275 lbs.
After spending two seasons with the Miami Heat in 2022 and 2023, Omer Yurtseven entered his first season with the Utah Jazz in 2023-24. In two seasons in Miami, Yurtseven averaged 5.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 65 total appearances on 53.3% shooting from the field. After a promising rookie season, Yurtseven only made nine appearances for the Heat in 2022-23 and eight appearances for them on their run to the Finals last season.
This summer, his first test of free agency, Yurtseven agreed to a two-year, $5.8 million deal with the Utah Jazz. So far in 2023-24, Yurtseven has appeared in six games for the 3-7 Jazz for just over 5.0 minutes per game. Yurtseven has made the most of those five minutes with 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
For now, it appears that Yurtseven’s role with the Jazz will remain as it was in Miami, only seeing time in situations where the game is already out of hand.
8. Andre Drummond – 279 lbs.
Heading into his 12th NBA season in 2023-24, Andre Drummond comes in as the eight-heaviest player this year at 279 pounds. Drummond starts his 2023-24 season right where he finished the 2022-23 campaign, with the Chicago Bulls as one of their main rotational pieces off the bench.
In 2022-23, Drummond appeared in 67 games for the Bulls, playing 12.7 minutes per night. He averaged 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game serving as a decent two-way backup for Nikola Vucevic So far in 2023-24, Drummond has appeared in all 11 games for the 4-7 Chicago Bulls, seeing even more time off the bench than last year.
The 30-year-old center is averaging 6.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while also snatching 1.4 steals. As the Bulls continue to struggle to find their footing, Drummond’s role may increase, especially if the Bulls decide at any point to move on from center Nikola Vucevic. While that is unlikely right now, it is certainly something to keep an eye out for as the season progresses.
7. Joel Embiid – 280 lbs.
Reigning league MVP Joel Embiid is a mountain of a man as we have all witnessed on the court. He uses his size to his advantage on most nights on both ends of the floor for the 76ers. At 280 pounds, Embiid is seeking his third scoring title in a row in 2023-24 after averaging 33.1 points per game in 2022-23. Embiid also added 10.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game to claim MVP honors as well as All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team selections.
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings at 8-1 after rattling off eight wins in a row. Embiid is leading the early-season charge with 32.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game on 50.5% shooting from the field.
If Embiid continues to dominate at this level, we could be headed for the fourth consecutive season in which he and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic engage in a close race for the MVP award. So far, Jokic is leading the way with two awards to Embiid’s one but a sustained length of play at this level could see Embiid tie things up.
6. Robin Lopez – 281 lbs.
Coming in one pound ahead of Joel Embiid as the sixth-heaviest player in the NBA is Robin Lopez at 281 pounds. Lopez was also a member of the NBA’s tallest players for 2023-24, standing at 7’1’’ tall.
The 2023-24 season will be Lopez’s 16th in the NBA and the second season in which he has appeared for the Milwaukee Bucks with his brother, Brook. Robin Lopzhas been limited in his time on the court over the last two seasons entering 2023-24. In 2021-22, Lopez played just 36 games for the Orlando Magic, and in 2022-23, he appeared in 37 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With the immense amount of talent possessed by the Bucks, especially in their frontcourt, Lopez has played just one game for a total of two minutes for Milwaukee in 2022-23 through 10 games. Lopez has seen his best days pass him by in the NBA and the 2023-24 season may be the final time we watch him participate on an NBA court.
5. Brook Lopez – 282 lbs.
Despite being the same age and the same height, the Lopez brothers are separated by one pound as well with brother Brook coming in one pound heavier than Robin. Unlike his brother, there is still plenty of game left for Brook Lopez coming off an impressive showing in 2022-23 for the Bucks.
The 2023-24 season will be Brook’s sixth with the Bucks, having previously won an NBA championship with them in 2021. In 2022-23, Lopez finished as a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 2.5 blocks per game in 78 appearances. Lopez decided to return to Milwaukee this offseason after signing a deal worth $48 million over the next two seasons.
Things have not been as productive for Brook Lopez to start the 2023-24 season. He has started 10 games for the Bucks and is averaging just 9.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 40.7% shooting. The Bucks have gotten off to a mediocre 6-4 start after the huge expectations they faced heading into the year. If they are going to turn things around, Brook Lopez will be at the forefront of that turnaround.
T3. Zion Williamson – 284 lbs.
Over the last few seasons, much has been made about Zion Williamson’s weight issues with the New Orleans Pelicans contributing to injuries that have caused him to miss extensive periods of time. It probably doesn’t look good that despite being the shortest player on this list by a long shot at 6’6’’, he is the third-heaviest player at 284 pounds.
Since his 2021 All-Star season that saw him play 61 games and average 27.0 points per game, Williamson has played only 37 games in three seasons. He missed all of 2022 with a foot injury then played only 29 games last season for the same reason. Fluctuating weight has been a serious issue for Williamson during this time and caused many to question Williamson’s real commitment to being an NBA star.
So far in 20223-24, Williamson has gotten off to a decent start despite claiming he is “getting used to the system” and taking “a backseat”. Through eight games played, Zion is averaging 21.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game on 51.5% shooting. The good news is that Williamson has remained healthy for the majority of the early grind. The bad news is that it doesn’t seem like he will be happy for too long in a reduced role in New Orleans’ offense.
T3. Nikola Jokic – 284 lbs.
Sitting tied for the third-heaviest player in the NBA is someone whose weight does not affect him and that is reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic. Standing 6’11’’ tall, Jokic remains one of the heavier players in the NBA yet with one of the smoothest games of any player in the entire league.
In 2022-23, Jokic took over ownership of the title for the best player in the league after he led the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history. Many thought Jokic already was the best player in the world after back-to-back MVP awards in 2021 and 2022, but a championship only drove the point home for the rest of the doubters.
Jokic has seemingly picked right up where he left off at the end of last season. He has already moved his way past LeBron James on the NBA’s all-time triple-doubles list into fourth and led the Nuggets to an 8-2 record through 10 games. Jokic is currently averaging 29.8 points, leading the NBA with 13.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. Jokic is also shooting 60.6% from the field overall and 33.3% from three-point range. Right now, Denver remains the class of the NBA, and Jokic as their leader could be looking at MVP number three.
T1. Boban Marjanovic – 290 lbs.
Along with being tied for first as the tallest player in the NBA standing 7’4’’, Boban Marjanovic is also the heaviest player in the NBA at 290 pounds. Marjanovic is in his ninth NBA season in 2023-24 and second with the Houston Rockets. Marjanovic is known as one of the best locker-room guys in the NBA, and despite his little time on the court, a fan favorite across the league.
While the Rockets have gotten off to a hot start at 6-3, Boban has only seen 20 total minutes of action in three appearances for Houston off the bench. In that time, Marjanovic is averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in just 6.7 minutes of action. Clearly, Marjanovic’s days of playing extended periods of time on the court are over yet fans will cheer his name and hope coach Ime Udoka calls his number when he can throughout the season.
T1. Jusuf Nurkic – 290 lbs.
Tied with Boban as the heaviest player in the NBA at 290 pounds is none other than Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic was close to the top of last year’s list as well but in 2023-24, he shares the top spot while missing out on our tallest players list at 6’11’’. Nurkic is heading into his first season with the Phoenix Suns after seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Once Portland was willing to deal away their franchise star in Damian Lillard, the writing was on the wall for Nurkic. He was sent to the Trail Blazers as a part of the Lillard deal that sent Deandre Ayton back to Portland. In seven years with the Trail Blazers, Nurkic averaged 14.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while helping them make the playoffs four times.
It has been 10 games into his Phoenix Suns career and Nrukci is already making a nice impression. Although they are off to a slow 4-6 record, Nurkic is helping the Suns with 10.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. Nurkic’s active hands on defense and aggression on offense are something they were missing with Ayton. While it is almost certain that the Suns will right their course for the 2023-24 season, Nurkic has to focus on playing his physical brand of basketball and remaining healthy. After all, we all know he has the size advantage.
