Michael Jordan Owns The NBA Vertical Jump: Where's Carter and Kobe?
Turn the audio off on the mix above. The footage is worth watching
The LA Times released an article about the highest verts in NBA history. I have to stress NBA because I have a feeling that a lot of the YouTube sensations you are used to seeing on this site like TDub, Reemix, Kenny Dobbs, Young Hollywood, Golden Child, Los, Air Up There and other past TFB members & Sprite Showdown Winners have higher vets than most of these legends but this isn't about them.
So here's just a list of the names and verts. You might be surprised to see how low some guys (Kobe, Wade, Vince) are and how high others (Bernard King, Carmelo Anthony) are. Enjoy.
From LA Times
Michael Jordan "stomps the yard" when it comes to the highest vertical leap in NBA history. No wonder he was able to put basketball fans on the edge of their seats, holding their collective breadths, as he flew through the air. Just how high was Air Jordan's vertical leap? Where do other great NBA stars rank in this category while compared to His Airness?
The vertical leap is the measurement of a player’s jump from a standing position. A high vertical leap usually transcends into a higher running leap. The higher the player can jump, the more ferocious and spectacular is his dunk.
What made or makes talented jumpers like Jordan, Dr. J, and Vince Carter exciting to watch is the use of slow-motion replay. No other league is better suited for this amazing technology than the NBA. The original jump happens too quickly to truly appreciate, but in slow-motion replay, the player appears to be gracefully soaring through the air as if taking off on a trans-atlantic flight. It is an allusion that drives fans crazy! Its electrifying!
This slideshow is a tribute to Michael Jordan, and ten other NBA stars who were also phenomenal leapers in their own right. It also includes an "honorable mention" section that, low and behold, includes some NBA players (while not stars) could actually out jump some of the ranked NBA stars! Be warned however, because you will experience high turbulence caused by a rollercoaster surprise ending.
Honorable Mentions
Iverson - 41 inches
Carmelo Anthony - 41 inches
Ricky Davis - 41 inches
Jason Richardson - 46 inches
James White - 46 inches
Steve Francis - 43 inches
Dee Brown - 44 inches
Harold Minor - 44 inches
Larry Nance - 40 inches
Shawn Kemp - 40 inches
About Kobe/Wade
Wow... this one is a big surprise! Both Kobe Bryant's and Dwayne Wade's vertical leaps are less than 40 inches. No 40 inch vertical leap club for you!
Kobe Bryant: Vertical Leap of 38 inches
Kobe's Bottom Line: Jordan's vertical leap is an incredible 10 inches (approx. 1 foot) higher than the Black Mamba's! Kobe's vertical leap puts the top of his head a full 2 inches BELOW the rim and a full 10 inches lower than His Airness.
Dwayne Wade: Vertical Leap of 36 inches
Wade's Bottom Line: Jordan's vertical leap is an incredible 12 inches (exactly 1 foot) higher than Wade's!
Dwight Howard: Vertical Leap of 39.5 inches
Howard's Bottom Line: Jordan's vertical leap is an incredible 8.5 inches higher than Superman's who misses the NBA 40 inch club by just 0.5 of an inch! A vertical as high as this for such a big man like Howard is incredible (11.5 inches higher than the NBA average)! He gets more airtime than so many smaller guys including the two superstars mentioned above. Furthermore, he is one of the few humans on the planet who can dunk on a 12 ft. rim! Howard's vertical leap puts the top of his head a full 2.5 inches above the rim and 3.5 inches lower than His Airness.
Where do you think this Non NBA Dunker (Reemix) belongs
The Lakers have a problem, and his name is Andrew Bynum. As sad as it is to say, basketball’s most legendary player and iconic franchise are having their season marred by a petulant, entitled, and immature man-child.They’re stuck in a Lord of the Flies style power struggle, with Bynum (delusionally) thinking he’s the Lakers’ best player, an aging Kobe desperately clawing for two more rings, and an overwhelmed Mike Brown hopelessly trying to mix the two into a championship.This ongoing playoff…See More
The Lakers have a problem, and his name is Andrew Bynum. As sad as it is to say, basketball’s most legendary player and iconic franchise are having their season marred by a petulant, entitled, and immature man-child.They’re stuck in a Lord of the Flies style power struggle, with Bynum (delusionally) thinking he’s the Lakers’ best player, an aging Kobe desperately clawing for two more rings, and an overwhelmed Mike Brown hopelessly trying to mix the two into a championship.This ongoing playoff…See More
Welcome to the retro-diary of last nights Lakers-Heat game! This lockout-shortened season has given us many horrible basketball games. It’s been painful to watch these teams grind out 80 points every night while the folks at ESPN pretend that nothing’s wrong and move us from one pitiful game to the next. This is the first game I’ve been excited for all season. Let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint. 8:00: TNT opens the telecast with a Rise Against song. Bad start.8:05: Shaq talks about his problems…See More
You need to be a member of Team Flight Club to add comments!
Join Team Flight Club