How Many Points Did Muggsy Bogues Average

So, here’s a fun little trivia bomb to drop at your next dinner party: Muggsy Bogues averaged 7.7 points per game over his NBA career. I know, right? That number doesn’t exactly scream “legendary scorer.” But hold on—because this isn’t a story about points. This is a story about defying gravity, and it’s way more fun than any stat sheet.

Let’s set the scene. Muggsy stood just 5 feet 3 inches tall. Yes, you read that correctly—5’3” in a league full of giants who look like they could dunk on a step ladder. And yet, he played 14 seasons in the NBA. That’s insane. The average height of an NBA player? About 6’7”. Muggsy was basically a human pocket rocket in a forest of redwoods.

Why the 7.7 points matter more than you think

If you just glance at that 7.7 average, you might shrug. But here’s the twist: every single one of those points was a tiny victory. Muggsy didn’t just score; he earned each bucket with a mix of sneaky speed, a lightning-quick crossover, and sheer audacity. He’d zip past defenders who were literally two feet taller, laughing as they stumbled.

Check his best season: in 1989-90 with the Charlotte Hornets, he averaged 10.8 points and 10.1 assists. A double-double! That’s not just “cute for a short guy”—that’s elite. Picture a bulldog in a tutu winning a ballet competition, and you’re close to understanding Muggsy’s vibe.

What this teaches us about life (yes, really)

Here’s the part that makes me grin. Muggsy wasn’t trying to be Michael Jordan. He was trying to be the best Muggsy Bogues possible. That’s a lesson for all of us. You don’t have to score 30 points a night to be a difference-maker. You just need to show up, play your role, and refuse to let the world say “you can’t.”

Muggsy Bogues Career-High 24 Points 10 Ast @ 76ers, 1993-94. - YouTube

Think about it. How many times have you felt too short for something—literally or metaphorically? Too inexperienced for that promotion? Too quirky to fit in? Muggsy’s career laughs in the face of that doubt. He averaged 7.7 points, but he also averaged 7.6 assists per game for his career. That means he set up his teammates even more than he scored for himself. He was a force multiplier.

And let’s not forget defense. Despite being the shortest player in NBA history, he once held Michael Jordan—arguably the greatest scorer ever—to a tough shooting night in a playoff game. How? By being so low to the ground that Jordan couldn’t get clean looks. Muggsy didn’t block shots; he annoyed them into missing.

The secret sauce: hustle over height

So when someone asks, “How many points did Muggsy Bogues average?” you can answer with a smirk: “Enough to prove that numbers don’t define you.” His career average of 7.7 points is a trivia detail, but the real stat is 0 excuses. He made the Hall of Fame (Class of 2021) not for scoring, but for inspiring a generation of short, scrappy kids to lace up their sneakers.

Muggsy Bogues Mvp at Jackson Guilfoyle blog

I love that story because it’s a reminder that life isn’t a game of comparing your stats to others. It’s about maximizing the hand you’re dealt—and if your hand is 5’3”, you better have a wildcard. Muggsy’s wildcard was his heart, his quickness, and his refusal to be defined by a measuring tape.

Your move, reader

So here’s my invitation to you: Go be your own Muggsy Bogues today. Whatever feels like a “shortcoming” in your life, look at it sideways. Maybe it’s actually your superpower. Maybe your “low points” are just the setup for an incredible assist to someone else. And if anyone ever doubts you, just smile and remember: the shortest guy on the court averaged nearly 8 points a game for 14 years. In the NBA.

Now go learn his full story—watch his highlights, read his book, or just whisper “7.7 points” to yourself next time you feel small. Because that number? It’s not small at all. It’s gigantic.