Yes, but if your born 5'5" your also not going to get into the NBA either no matter how hard to train compared to the players. You would have to be able to hit half court shots most of the time to have it be even close to being worth it for somebody to put you on a team.
Not really. I know the point you're trying to make, but you don't have to be a good inside shooter or a point scorer in the paint to be in the NBA. Spud Webb, Muggsy Bogues, Earl Boykins, Nate Robinson...those guys are short, but they had the overall skill set to be an NBA player. In running, there is only one thing that you have to be good at - running. In other sports (for the most part), you have to have a good overall skill set which can't be fulfilled by natural talent and ability.
Some people are given the natural ability to throw a baseball 95MPH, but without learning a proper skill set, they'll never be a Major League pitcher. Some people are given the natural gift of having a huge frame for a body, 6' 5", 295 lbs, but without a proper skill set (blocking technique, studying film, etc), they'll never be a guard in the NFL. But, if you have the natural ability to run like the wind, you don't have to learn any other skills in order to compete at a high level. Yes, you train and work hard, but you don't have to know anything else except for how to stand up right and run.