Gheorghe Mureșan
At 7'7", he was the tallest player in NBA history, using his immense size to dominate the paint for the Washington Bullets.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Romanian basketball player·Birthday: February 14·Generation X
Biography
Gheorghe Mureșan emerged from rural Romania as a gentle giant, a medical anomaly whose growth was spurred by a pituitary gland condition. Discovered by basketball scouts who could hardly believe their measuring tapes, he moved to the United States in 1993, a cultural and physical spectacle. Drafted by the Washington Bullets, Mureșan was more than a novelty; he was a shockingly effective force on the court. His height alone altered the geometry of the game—shots that sailed over others were swatted away or simply swallowed by his reach. In the 1995-96 season, he led the entire NBA in field goal percentage, a testament to his unstoppable close-range game. Injuries curtailed his career, but his presence expanded the league's imagination of what was physically possible, sharing the record for tallest player ever with another gentle giant, Manute Bol.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Gheorghe was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gheorghe Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Gheorghe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the NBA's Most Improved Player award in 1996, sharing the honor with Gheorghe Mureșan.
- Led the NBA in field goal percentage during the 1995-96 season.
- Played four seasons for the Washington Bullets/Wizards, appearing in over 300 games.
- His listed height of 7 feet 7 inches is tied for the tallest in NBA history.
Did You Know?
He starred alongside Billy Crystal in the 1996 film 'My Giant,' which was written for him.
He and his wife, Liliana, founded the Giant Foods chain in Romania, not affiliated with the American supermarket.
He underwent surgery in 1991 to correct his accelerated growth, which had caused severe health issues.
He was originally drafted by the Washington Bullets in the second round of the 1993 NBA Draft.
“My height was a gift, but the game is played with skill and heart.”
