How high can a basketball player jump

Vertical Jump Test Scores

What is it?

The vertical jump test is a common fitness test of leg power. The test is usually performed against a wall or similar device to measure the height jumped, but can also be tested using a timing mat. These results are assumed to be using the counter-movement technique, in which the arms are used to help propel the body upwards, though in many cases it may not be the case. For more information, see vertical jump techniques.

Top Scores

The world record vertical jump has been reported as up to 61" (155 cm) by Kadour Ziani (other reports for top leaps for Kadour range from 56"/142cm upwards). He is the highest Vertical Leaper from Slamnation, and stands 5'10 tall. His other claim to fame is that he is the only person ever to do a double windmill slam dunk. His reported best vertical jump is more than twice the average NBA vertical leap of 28" (71 cm). For more information about the world record scores, see our list of the World's Best vertical jump scores.

Basketball

• The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2012 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 38 inches (96.5 cm) by Justin Anderson (see more 2015 NBA combine results).
• The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2012 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 36.5 inches (92.7 cm) by Markel Brown (see more 2014 NBA combine results).
• The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2012 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 35.5 inches (90.2 cm) by Cody Zeller (see more 2013 NBA combine results).
• The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2012 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 38 inches (96.5 cm) by Harrison Barnes (see more 2012 NBA combine results).
• The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2011 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 36.5 inches (92.7 cm) by Iman Shumpert (see more 2011 NBA combine results).
• The best vertical (no step) result from the 2010 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 32 inches (81.3 cm) by Wesley Johnson (see more 2010 NBA combine results).
• Scots College student Brock Dries has just been selected for the New South Wales team in the National Championships, and was tested two feet vertical jump test, where he recorded a 75cm (29.5 inches) vertical leap (retrieved from The Scots College website, Feb 2011).
• Darrell Griffith of the Utah Jazz in the 80’s had record standing vertical leap of 48 inch. I think that David Thompson of the Denver Nuggest in the 80’s had vertical leap between 44 – 48 inch.(ref: unconfirmed details from a visitor to this site)
• Darryl McDonald of the Melbourne Tigers NBL team has a 74 cm vertical jump off three steps. This is the best of Tiger guards (taken from the Age online, 12 Jan 08).
• An article about big jumpers includes David "Skywalker" Thompson. They say that various reports put his vertical jump at 44 to 48 inches (foxsports.com, Oct 2007).
• The top 5 vertical jump (no step) results from the 2006 NBA draft camp were 37.5 inches Dwayne Mitchell, 35.0 Ronnie Brewer, 35. 0 Curtis Withers, 35.0 Will Blalock, and 34.5 David Noel. (see more NBA draft results).
• The average NBA vertical leap is 28" (71 cm).
• Below is a list of some of the reported top scores by a variety of NBA players. These results have not been confirmed, and are probably a mix of running leaps and some from standing starts. Some of these scores were originally listed on Vertcoach.com.

NFL

• Josh Imatorbhebhe leapt 46. 5 inches at the 2021 college pro day combine. This would have been a NFL combine record if one was officially held (testing was done at college pro days due to the pandemic).
• The average vertical jump of 497 players who tested at 2021 College Pro testing days was 33.1 inches / 84 cm (range 21.0 - 46.5 inches)
• The best vertical jump score at the 2016 NFL combine was 41.5 inches (105.4 cm), achieved by both Daniel Lasco and Jalen Ramsey.
• Christine Michael, a running back from Texas A&M had the highest vertical jump at the 2013 NFL combine, jumping 43 inches (109 cm).
• V. Green from Nevada had the best result at the 2011 NFL Combine, with a 42.5 inch (108 cm) vertical jump.
• New York Jets rookie Darrelle Revis has a 38-inch vertical jump this year (NY Times, Oct 2007).
• Randy Moss has a vertical leap score of 51" (130 cm), while 265 lbs Jevon Kearse has a best jump of 40" (102 cm).
• The best vertical jump at the NFL Combine is 46" by Gerald Sensabaugh (FS), from North Carolina in 2005 (more NFL combine results).

Volleyball

• The father of Tuioti-Mariner of the Hawaii Warriors (NFL) competed in volleyball at the South Pacific Games, and had a 45-inch vertical jump (from the Honolulu Advertiser, March 2008).
• Leonel Marshall reportedly has a 50" (127 cm) vertical leap from standing. He is the star of Men's Cuban National Volleyball team. Search for him on YouTube and you will see some sensational jumping action of him.

Ice Hockey

• In 2015, the NHL Combine started using a force plate to measure vertical jumping ability. The score were lower than in previous years. The best score was 28.74 inches (73 cm) by Austin Wagner.
• The best score at the 2012 NHL scouting combine for the vertical jump test was 32.5 inches (82.6 cm) by Chris Calnan of Nobles (HIGH-MA). The average score from the combine was 24.7 inches (62.7 cm) (see the top 2012 NHL combine results)
• The best score at the 2011 NHL scouting combine for standing vertical jump (no pause) was 30. 5 inches (77.5 cm) by Maximilien Le Sieur of the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) (see 2011 NHL combine results)
• The average vertical jump recorded at the NHL entry draft scouting combine over the last few years has been 26.1 inches / 66.3 cm (2009), and 24.7 inches / 62.7 cm (2011). (see NHL combine results summary)

Rugby

• USA Rugby Sevens Coach Al Caravelli defined his ideal Rugby 7s player - among other physical attributes, he should be able to vertical jump 35 inches / 89 cm (retrieved from boxscorenews.com, Feb 2011).
• Average of Newcastle Knights squad (n=66) was 68 cm (range 47 - 79 cm) (personal communication, Lee Clark). There are more fitness test results from the Newcastle Knights).
• The Springboks in 2007 expected scores for the vertical jump ranged from at least 68 cm for the outside backs down to 55 cm for the props (more on Springboks norms).

Aussie Rules Football

• A new combine record for the standing vertical jump was set at the 2016 AFL Draft Combine, then matched in 2017. Jordan Gallucci (2016) and Aiden Bonar (2017) leapt 89cm (35 inches). The previous best was by US athlete Marvin Baynham in 2014. See more AFL combine results.
• US athlete Marvin Baynham set a new combine record for the standing vertical jump at the 2014 AFL Draft Combine. The 22-year-old from Florida jumped 88cm (34.5 inches) to break the previous best set by Sydney Swans' player Dean Towers (85cm) in 2012. See more 2014 results.
• The best result in the vertical jump test at the 2013 AFL Combine was 79 cm by Kade Kolodjashnij. See more 2013 results.
• A new record was set for the vertical jump test at the 2012 AFL Draft Combine of 85 cm (33.5 inches) by Dean Towers, beating the long-standing high mark of 83 cm set by former Hawk Trent Croad in 1997. See more 2012 results.
• The best result in the vertical jump test at the 2011 Draft Combine was 78 cm by Elliot Yeo. See more 2011 results.
• The AFL held a testing combine in Tonga in December 2010, testing 55 local youngsters which some impressive results. In the Vertical Jump component, Fijian Wilson Kacivi top scored with 75 cm. (from AFL.com, Dec 2010)
• An article in the Perth Sunday Times listed the fitness requirements for a range of sports. It stated that West Coast Eagles players need to jump more than 60 cm in the vertical jump (from The Sunday Times, Jan 10, 2010).
• Brett Deledio, AFL footballer from Richmond, scored 76 cm on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).
• The vertical jump test is performed at the Draft Camp each year. Some of the best results are: Trent Croad 83 cm in 1997 and David Gourdis 81 cm in 2007, See more draft camp results.

Athletics

• US Decathlete Bryan Clay reached 43.5 inches for a no-step vertical jump during a SPARQ testing exercise. He also achieved 42.3 for the one-step vertical jump and 11 feet 1 inch for the max VJ test (testing conducted at Azusa Pacific University, March 25th 2005, published in SPARQ Magazine, Summer 2008).
• Sean Wroe, Australian Olympic 400m sprinter, scored 85 cm (33. 5 inches) on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Football (Soccer)

• The highest leap at the 2017 MLS Combine was 36.5 inches (92.7cm) by defender Chris Odoi-Atsem from Maryland.

Cricket

• Pakistani cricketer Misbahul Haq holds the team record for vertical jump of 70 cm (from the Match Point blog on the Express Tribune online, March 2011)

Jockey / Horse Racing

• Michael Rodd, Melbourne Cup winning jockey, scored 55 cm on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Triathlon

• Erin Densham, Olympic Triathlete, scored 35 cm on her vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Weight lifting

• Some impressive vertical jump results are presented for a couple of quite heavy champion weight lifters. Nicu Vlad of Romania (bodyweight 100 kg / 220 lbs), World Record holder and two-time Olympic Weight lifting medalist in 1990, recorded a 42" vertical jump. American Wesley Barnett, 3-time Olympian and Silver Medalist at the 1997 World Championships (he is 6'1" tall and weighs 105 kg / 231 lbs), has recorded vertical jumps of over 39". (data from an article "Pulling To Jump Higher" by Chad Ikei).

Rowing

• Drew Ginn, Australian Olympic rower, scored 53 cm on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Cycling

• Peta Mullens, Australian cyclist, scored 47 cm on her vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Other Results

Some of these scores were sourced from Vertcoach.com. There are numerous and varying reports of high leaps for Kadour Ziani online.

Related Pages

• Procedure for Vertical Jump Testing and using the Timing Mat method
• Vertical jump devices in the fitness testing store
• About vertical jump techniques
• converting results to power units and converting results from cm to inches
• Top vertical jump scores
• Vertical Jump Norms
• More Scores? I scan the internet for the latest athlete results. If you know of something I have missed, I would love to hear from you.

Old Comments

Commenting is closed on this page, though you can read some previous comments below which may answer some of your questions.

• Nbaer (2013)
  the nba vertical jumps are off by a lot very inaccurate
• Guest (2014)
  David Thompson was about 6-4.....and he could TOUCH the top of the backboard....that is 13' high......do the math.....that makes his vertical leap in excess of 48".......
• Lockie Guest (2014)
  You need to think about his arm reach as well
• Pparicle Lockie (2015)
  Absolutely you must include them
• AfroCuba Guest (2014)
  You can count your outstretched arm as an indicator of how HIGH you can jump, genius. That's how high you can REACH when you jump. His 6'4" Frame probable have arms that are at least 3 feet long. You don't include that In the height he JUMPS; that's the height he REACHES WHEN JUMPING
• Tim Cordier AfroCuba(2018)
  standing reach is an extreme factor when calculating a max vertical. If he had short arms he couldn't reach that high. That simple...
• Will Guest (2014)
  Depends on his wingspan...
• Merkin Muffly (2013)
  lol, MJ did not have a 48 inch vertical, that is ridiculous
• Sammy Andrew T (2015)
  yea a running 48 yes but not standing
• Skwirrl Andrew T (2014)
  His no step was only 35 inches.
• Merkin Muffly Andrew T (2016)
  No, because if he ever had a 48 vertical leap, his head would have been above the basket, MJ's head, never, ever went above the basket in any video highlight.
• Sage (2013)
  MJ's is 48" but wilt chamberlains 55" olympic recorded
• Mentallect (2014)
  Kobe Bryant was 17 when his vertical was measured, and very skinny. I place an * there.
• GEE (2013)
  im 14 and a high jumper. i managed to get a 78cm (30.7inches) vertical leap which was the best at my school, beating the record by 2cm. i high jump almost 2m.
• Random Dude GEE (2014)
  You don't know how to measure. 1 meter is 100 centimeters long. So your jump wasn't even 1 meter. Michael Jordan's wasn't even 1.5 meters long.
• Will Random Dude (2014)
  High jump isn't the same as a vertical jump..
• Bangbro (2014)
  Where is lebron on this list
  Prolly #1 cause he can jump higher than mj
• Gabriel Peraza (2020)
  yall aint know wilt had a 50 inch vert though
• Dlb Andy (2020)
  Mj didn't have 48, he had 46 and y'all forgetting about wilt chamberlain who had 48
• Basketball king (2016)
  so inaccurate! Everything here is wrong ESPECIALLY that someone has jumped 61 inches! I'm pretty sure no one has ever gotten over 50 inches. bad article
• Fullmoon (2015)
  David Thompson was called "Sky Walker" long before there was a star wars. Never seen anyone close.
• Ryan daniel (2015)
  MJ is a very nice man and athlete
• Jumper (2015)
  I'm about 6"3 and train for basketball regularly but dunk for fun my highest jump was a out 39 inches my head is just under the rim, need like 2 inches to get hit the rim I've done very little training for my jump probably why I got a standing vert of 3
  29 inches I ca t even dunk standing think I could get to 50 inches like jus fly
• Barry (2015)
  Wilt Chamberlain claimed that his vertical leap was 51"
• Cam (2015)
  I am 5'10" and 18 year old white kid and have a 37 inch stationary vert and a 41 inch running vert. I can throw down a mean one handed dunk from distance. I am untrained, relying on nothing but genetics for my leaping abilities. But now I am looking for some advice on what program or routine I should look into to bring my vert to the next level. My goal is to have a 50 inch vert. I know this sounds too good to be true, but I think if I put myself through the right training and stick to it I have the potential. Any suggestings?
• Tom Cam (2015)
  I hope this is a troll or its another Waffle vertical jump post. I'm not denying you might have some great skills but no one on this planet has a 30 inch+ vertical inch jump with out some form of training on this planet. Let alone standing 37 and running 41. I hope others read this so they stop over estimating their jumps. Just put in to context those stats would put you in the top 20 nfl draft every year and those guys are juicing, squatting 2-3x bodyweight and practice a lot of jumping.
• So you telling me that an 18 untrained white boy ( doesnt help ) is hitting those stats would make you the worlds best jumper so are you going to be breaking world records with a few years training . ... Didn't think so.
• But some advice to improve your current vertical leap what ever it is.
• Squat: get your.strength up to at least 2x BW
• Dynamic weights: power cleans, hang cleans
• Plyometrics: all forms of jumping and sprinting.
• Then after you have eeked out some gains look for a vert program. No need waste your money when you will gain a lot from this if you aint doing it already
• Dallin Radke Tom (2017)
  so true i have am 13 and have worked really hard and only have a 24'' vertical. he might have a 41'' vertical but he would have to do strength and plyometrics training everyday
• Sammy Tom (2015)
  4 reel 18 guy if u have a 37 standing vert withg no training u should be going pro some where getting 6 figures buddy
• Mentallect (2014)
  MJ's vertical was not 48 inches. That means that MJ at 6'5" tall could consistently place his head 4 inches (6'5" plus 48" (4 feet) = 10'5") above the rim. The only valid vertical tests are the picture tests which measure the distance from the bottom of your feet off the ground with your legs straight. Most verticals listed at 43 inches or higher are soon revised to about 33 inches or less.
• Afrocuba (2014)
  I watched some videos on vertical jumping. This seems skewed on most sites.
• Are you counting the bending of the legs when jumping ? For instance, I play volleyball; went we jump, our legs are usually straight. Some BB dunk videos I have seen w HIGH jumpers all have there legs bent.
• My couch is about 3 feet high. To have your feet clear the height of a couch from a non-running start is pretty near impossible for most. Now, if you bend your knees when jumping, you can clear the 3 foot couch, but you haven't really jumped 3 feet... You just contracted your body so the lowest part is a bit higher... You haven't actually JUMPED higher.
• Blob Afrocuba (2014)
  Thats not how vertical jump is measured, its by where your hand touches not you feet
• Blob Afrocuba (2014)
  Vertical jump isnt measured like that, first you reach up whilst standing and then and mark how high you can touch and split the difference bending your legs makes no difference

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Which Player Has The Highest Vertical Jump In NBA History? – EPOK

When we think of athletes that can jump high the sport of basketball instantly comes to mind. They do dunk after all, which is possibly the most exciting action in all of sports. NBA players are unique to say the least, with their combination of size and athleticism it makes for many memorable moments; moments where the athletes are seemingly floating in air.

This got me thinking, who has the highest vertical jump in NBA history?

The highest NBA vertical jump belongs to Michael Jordan with a height of 48 inches. In 1984, Jordan reportedly tested his vertical jump while playing for the U.S. Olympic team. Those in attendance support that Jordan successfully achieved a 48 inch vertical.

No surprise there really, he is known for the jump man logo after all, but there is little proof of many of these all time highest NBA vertical jump performances. Which is why in this article I am going to breakdown and sort through all of the claims floating out there for players past and present.

The ability to jump high has become increasingly more important throughout the history of the NBA. This is related to the emergence of the dunk. In the early days of the NBA dunking was considered insulting to the opposing team and was therefore rarely utilized. One can guess then that a player’s vertical jump ability was of little importance. By the early 1960s big men in the league like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain began to incorporate the dunk. Now we start moving the needle a little bit in terms of the vertical jump, but still not much because it was a move largely reserved for the tallest of athletes.

Finally in the 1970s we start to see the creative high flying dunks we all love. Players like Darryl Dawkins and Julius Erving ushered in the modern era of dunking and with it the importance of having a high vertical jump.

Now before we get into listing some of the highest vertical jumps in NBA history I think it is important to set the foundation. The average NBA vertical jump is 28 inches. This is no small feat by any means, 28 inches is a very good height and would put the average person to shame. However, it is important to know what the majority of players are capable of so that we can truly appreciate the greatness of these verticals.

I mean they are all nearly a full foot and a half higher than the 28 inch NBA average.

Here it is! The highest NBA vertical jump list.

I have searched the internet to find and attempt to corroborate the vertical jump accolades of NBA players past and present and this list includes the best of the best. The jumps combined with the height of most of these athletes makes these performance simply freakish.

The King. LeBron James is one of the best leapers and overall athletes to ever play the game. His abilities are something that we have never seen, a nearly perfect combination of size, strength, speed, and skill that has resulted in one of the all time best careers.

I put him lowest on this list because I couldn’t completely confirm the 44 inch vertical jump. Is he over 40 inches? Yes without a doubt, but 44 seems like a lot for a guy his size. Especially when the only websites that claim he achieved that vertical all spell hoops with a “z”. In either case he is a supreme athlete and one of the best dunkers in league history so I am fine including him as one of the highest vertical jumpers in NBA history.

Man poor Andrew just can’t get away from being mentioned close to LeBron.

All jokes aside, Andrew Wiggins is a phenomenal athlete with unbelievable jumping ability. He was selected #1 overall in the 2014 NBA draft, with a lot of the pre-draft hype revolving around his athleticism. His frame is suited for the league and is a major reason why he was so heavily recruited in high school despite playing in Canada.

Andrew Wiggins stands around 6’8″ with a reported 44 inch vertical jump. That is a ridiculous amount of hops and means that at his peak jump height Andrew’s head reaches a full 4 inches above the rim. The 44 inch vertical took place during a private workout in 2014 with ESPN in attendance.

Shannon Brown won 2 NBA titles with the LA Lakers while playing alongside Kobe Bryant. He was a mainstay on the Lakers during this time period and served mainly as a direct reserve to Kobe. Brown was made popular by his leaping ability and has a large amount of highlights on the internet for a player that spent the majority of his career on the bench. He was drafted 25th overall in the 2006 draft in large part because of his athletic ability. His vertical jump was recorded at 44.5 inches.

Potentially the most impressive vertical leap on this list belongs to Zion Williamson. The hype surrounding him is something only comparable to LeBron in terms of the near mythical view of his abilities as an athlete. As a sports performance coach myself, I can tell you that Zion has overdelivered on that hype. His athleticism at a height of 6’6″ and a bodyweight of somewhere around 280 lbs is unlike anything I have ever seen. He moves and explodes like the best athlete on the floor, something more commonly seen out of athletes that are nearly 100 lbs less in size.

This athleticism is probably best displayed during his jumping ability. Zion famously broke the vertical jump record at Duke with a 45 inch performance. That is crazy height for a player weighing almost 300 lbs and is only possible with elite levels of strength and power. If you factor in a performance decrease due to testing anxiety, which is common amongst athletes, then Zion may one day be known for having the highest vertical jump in NBA history.

Anthony “Spud” Webb is iconic in the NBA and is best known for his 1986 Slam Dunk Contest victory. Spud Webb was one of the shortest players in NBA history which makes his accomplishments even more impressive. His jump height was put on display during his rookie year when he entered into the NBA Dunk Contest.

Spud Webb had a spectacular vertical jump of 46 inches and stood only 5’7″ tall. His nearly 4 foot vertical allowed him to complete an assortment of successful dunks, eventually leading to his victory over NBA legend and teammate Dominique Wilkins. At the peak of his jump Spud’s head was only 5 inches below the rim, a crazy display of athleticism for an athlete his size. He is also one of the few players in league history who could dunk without being able to palm a basketball.

Dr. Dunkenstein himself, Darrell Griffith is possibly the highest jumper in league history. Most fans probably have never heard of him and he actually never won a Slam Dunk Contest despite having a 4 foot vertical. That’s right! Darrell Griffith had a 48 inch vertical jump, a height that is really hard to fathom.

Griffith earned the nickname of “Dr. Dunkenstein” while playing at Louisville. In the NBA he played his entire career for the Utah Jazz where his athleticism was put on display. He played 11 seasons in the league and later received the honor of having his #35 jersey retired by the Jazz.

The greatest, plain and simple. Michael Jeffrey Jordan is the rightful owner of the highest vertical jump in NBA history. With a nickname like “His Airness” and the inspiration for the jumpman logo it should really not even be a question. Michael Jordan is the best jumper of all time. His explosiveness really has very little comparison in basketball terms.

Michael Jordan tops this list with a vertical jump of 48 inches. His reported hang time was 0.92 seconds.

I understand that technically he tied Darrell Griffith, but come on, the tape doesn’t lie. Jordan had a snap and an effortless nature to how he moved that is so rare even amongst the elite. If that doesn’t end the discussion, then he was 2 inches taller than Griffith which means that his peak elevation would’ve been higher either way.

His most iconic dunk is the now infamous free throw line jump during the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Competition. To put that in perspective, the free throw line is a full 15 feet away from the rim and he was able to easily maintain his vertical height while covering that distance.

I’m sure you were surprised by this list. A lot of the best dunkers in the NBA did not make the cut. Many of the league’s top scorers and superstars were no where to be found on a ranking of the highest NBA vertical jumps. This just goes to show how much of success in sports comes down to skill and intangibles. Athleticism is a game changer but the best are always the most skilled, and I’m a sports performance coach saying that.

Dwayne Wade was electrifying as a player. His first few seasons took the league by storm and he was able to put together on all time level career. The injuries did pile up early and he lost a bit of explosiveness but like any elite player he adjusted and found new ways to make a difference.

His vertical jump was recorded at a max height of 36 inches. A great score, but when you also factor in his height there isn’t anything that jumps out at you about that number. Regardless, he has some of the best highlights in recent memory and was able to stack up a few posterized moments over his career.

Russell Westbrook has a vertical jump of 36.5 inches. I was shocked by this one because Russell is consistently putting up crazy flying dunks. He is also not the tallest player so I just assumed his vertical had to be amongst the best. Now to be clear 36.5 is great and when you combine that with his elite quickness and speed it makes for a dangerous combination.

His numbers speak for themselves, the guy is impossible to guard.

One of the greats, Kobe Bryant should be on any list of top NBA anything. The man had a competitive fire that we rarely see in an athlete. He was truly uncommon amongst uncommon men. His scoring ability was the best in the league for an entire era and he racked up some impressive dunks over that time.

His vertical jump was recorded at 38 inches. That’s a great performance and honestly no surprise. I would have guessed Kobe Bryant would end up around there because while always athletic he was never known for being super explosive. He is however an elite athlete with elite skill that to me is one of the best to ever play the game.

Former University of Memphis standout DJ Stephens is by no means a household name. He went undrafted and played in the NBA’s Summer League before moving on to play oversees. In his time at Memphis he was known for his acrobatic dunks and has some seriously impressive highlights. DJ Stephens also holds the NBA combine vertical jump record, with a 46 inch vertical that he set in 2013. The record was previously held by Kenny Gregory who jumped 45.5 inches back in 2001.

This is the only completely verifiable vertical jump height on this list. It was performed during a testing event held by the NBA itself, most of these other performances are validated stories. I am not confident in calling DJ Stephens’ performance the highest vertical jump in NBA history because, well…have you seen Michael Jordan.

It is important to note that Stephens wasn’t considered for the highest vertical jump in NBA history because he only ever signed a 10 day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, playing in one game for 12 minutes.

When we think about the athletes who can jump the highest there is no doubt that an NBA player comes to mind. But, who has been able to jump the highest?

I set out to sort through the information and stories surrounding the amazing feats of athletes past and present to definitively answer that question. In the end, the answer was no surprise. Michael Jordan is a legitimate legend and was known for his ability to fly through the air. The fact that he has the highest vertical jump in NBA history is simply another small note to add to his unmatched list of career accomplishments.

I hope that you found this article fun and entertaining. If you are interested, check out my post on who had the highest vertical jump ever.

Highest jumper in basketball (NBA)

Accurately identifying the basketball player with the highest jump in the world is a difficult task. To keep it simple and accurate, I've taken a reliable source as the basis of the ranking - data from NBA draft combines.

The NBA Draft Combine is a multi-day review of young basketball players that traditionally takes place shortly before the draft. On the harvester, players undergo anthropometric measurements, interviews with teams, various medical and sports tests.

The NBA Draft Combine has been running since the 2000/2001 season. During this time, physically developed players came to the strongest basketball league on the planet: LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, Zach Lavigne and many others. All of them have passed various tests of the draft combine, during which the vertical jump is necessarily measured. However, none of them appeared in the top ten jumpers. We talk about basketball players who jump higher than LeBron.

10. Timmy Bowers

• Height: 188 cm
• Draft combine year: 2004
• Vertical jump height: 110.49 cm

Timmy has been Timothy for a long time, because he is now 39 years old. In the 2004 draft, Bowers was not selected by any of the NBA teams. Then he went to the Development League and even became a champion in the Oklahoma farm club in the 2004/2005 season.

This achievement did not help Timmy get a contract in the NBA, so he left to work in Europe. For 13 years, Bowers has played in 10 teams from Italy, Israel and Greece. Achievements include two wins in the Israel Cup with Hapoel from Jerusalem and the title of National Championship MVP with Maccabi Givat Shmuel.

9. Tyler Bay

• Height: 201 cm
• Draft combine year: 2020
• Vertical jump height: 110.49 cm

basketball is just beginning, so I’ll talk about them briefly. Philadelphia selected Bey 36th overall in the 2020 draft. However, Tyler did not stay long in Pennsylvania. Soon he was traded along with Josh Richardson for Seth Curry to Dallas. In his debut season, Bay spent only 71 minutes on the court and scored 18 points.

8. Cassius Stanley

• Height: 196 cm
• Draft combine year: 2020
• Vertical jump height: 111.76 cm In his first season in the NBA, he played 93 minutes and scored 36 points. The main achievement of Cassius was participation in the Slam-dunk contest of the All-Star Game. Based on the results of two attempts, he scored 81 points out of 100 possible and took only third place.
  Indiana selected Cassius Stanley 54th overall in the 2020 draft.

  7. Shane Larkin

  • Height: 182 cm
  • Draft Combine Year: 2013
  • Vertical Jump Height: 111.76 cm

  Larkin is a very interesting character to write a separate article about. Here are just a couple of facts. Shane has struggled with obsessive-compulsive disorder for most of his career. Playing basketball with obsessive thoughts in your head is definitely not easy.

  Shane's father is Barry Larkin, former professional baseball player. His Cincinnati Reds teammates taught little Shane how to properly hold the bat and hit the ball. Larkin Jr. tried to apply what he learned in the children's league, but something went wrong:

  I went to the bat and swung. The coach criticized my stance. I thought, “I was taught to hit by Tony Perez and Pete Rose. What am I doing wrong?". After that, my love for baseball died and I never came back.

  Shane Larkin

  Atlanta selected Larkin 18th overall in the 2013 draft and immediately traded him to Dallas. In the NBA, Shane also managed to play for New York, Brooklyn and Boston, after which he moved to Europe. Here his career flourished in all its glory.

  In 2021, Larkin won the Euroleague with Anadolu Efes. At the end of the season, he was named to the Second All-Star Team of the tournament. Photo: euroleague.net 9. When your height is only 175 cm, it is a priori difficult to break into the NBA, but Kay nevertheless paved his way to the strongest basketball league in the world.

  The shortest professional basketball player is 160 cm

  Top 10 shortest basketball players

  Atlanta selected Felder 54th overall in the 2016 draft and immediately traded him to Cleveland. Then in Kay's career there were "Chicago" and "Detroit", but nowhere did he manage to gain a foothold. Kay's last known club was the Chinese Xinjiang Flying Tigers, for which he played until January 2020.

  Kay Felder jump at training camp.

  5. Pat Connaughton

  • Height: 196 cm
  • Draft combine year: 2015
  • Vertical jump height: 111.76 cm

  Connaughton is a living refutation of the claim made in the title of the legendary basketball movie "White Men Can't Jump". In 2020, Pat took part in the Slam Dunk Contest, where he performed one of his throws in the guise of Woody Harrelson's character. It turned out nice.

  The film "White Men Can't Jump" influenced the development of streetball

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  Connaughton scored 9 after two attempts5 points out of 100 possible. Pat was only one point short of reaching the final round of the Slam Dunk Contest.

  Among the participants of the rating, Connaughton stands out not only for the color of his skin, but also for the presence of a champion ring. In the 2020/2021 season, Pat won the Larry O'Brien Cup with the Milwaukee Bucks.

  4. Jericho Sims

  • Height: 208 cm
  • Draft combine year: 2021
  • Vertical jump height: 113.03 cm

  Jericho is the tallest basketball player in the rankings center. New York City selected him 58th overall in the 2021 draft. Previously, Sims ran for the University of Texas team from Austin for three seasons. In his last year in the NCAA, he averaged 9.7 points and 8.2 rebounds.

  Jericho Sims resembles Brooklyn's Deandre Jordan and Cleveland's Jarrett Allen in physique and playing style. He is also athletically complex and also responds with pleasure to the side passes of his teammates.

  Sims' best NCAA game moments.

  Sims is not that tall

  The tallest basketball players in the world

  3. Hamidou Diallo

  • Height: 196 cm
  • Draft combine year: 2017
  • Vertical jump height: 113.03 cm

  Diallo is the only player on the list to win a slam dunk contest. In 2019, he won over the judges with an overhand throw over legendary center Shaquille O'Neal.

  Shakil O'nil's growth-216 cm.

  2. Kenny Gregori

  • Height: 196 cm
  • DRAFT COMBAINA: 2001
  • Vertical jump height: 115.57 cm

  Gregori held the record of the highest jump in basketball for 20 years. However, as we have already found out, jumping ability is not always the key to success in the NBA. In the 2001 draft, Kenny was not selected by any of the teams of the Association.

  Gregory's failure is even more amazing when you know his accomplishments. In 1997, he became the MVP of the All-Star Game of American and Canadian high school graduates (McDonald's All-American Game). At various times, famous basketball players received this award: Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, LeBron James and many others.

  Gregory then received an athletic scholarship to the University of Kansas, which has one of the strongest varsity basketball teams in the NCAA. He played there for four seasons, consistently improving individual statistics before entering the draft.

  Last year in Kansas, Kenny averaged 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds. Photo: Getty Images

  What went wrong? One possible reason is that Gregory threw badly. During his career in the NCAA, he took 347 free throws, but sold only less than half (47%). Surely there were other shortcomings that did not disappear from the eyes of the scouts during the draft combine.

  As a result, Gregory went to Europe, where for 9 years he played in 9 teams from France, England, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Spain and Slovenia. Achievements include the title of French champion in Le Mans and the victory in the Slovenian Cup with Cedevita.

  1. Keon Johnson

  • Height: 196 cm
  • Draft combine year: 2021
  • Vertical jump height: 121. 92 cm He turned 19 in March. Without further ado, let's just look at the officially recorded highest vertical jump in basketball history.
    New York selected Johnson 21st overall in the 2021 draft but traded to the Los Angeles Clippers the next day.

    Where is Jordan

    The trouble is that His Air was playing at a time when there were no draft combines yet. Jordan debuted in the NBA in 1984, and statistics on the height of the jump on views began to be kept only 16 years later.

    The height of Jordan's vertical jump in various sources varies from 109 to 121.9 cm. It is almost impossible to find exact data. Photo: si.com

    The same fate befell many other jumping basketball players, including, for example, Dominic Wilkins, Spud Webb, Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter. All of them, like Michael Jordan at one time, won the competition in throws from above, so they definitely jumped high. However, the ranking had to do without them to avoid inaccuracies.

    Who has the highest jump in the NBA? - Pie Time - Blogs

    When it comes to the vertical jump, most people who have been interested in basketball for a long time remember Michael Jordan's , which, rising into the air, made the audience tear their soft seats off their chairs and freeze in amazement. It is now that everyone admires Shannon Brown , who, in fact, knows nothing but how to hit well from above. Or doesn't want to know. Well, okay, the article is not about that.

    How many players do you know who could compete with Michael in this component? Dr. Jay ? Vince Carter ? This is what I propose to discuss now.

    10. Julius Dr. Jay Irving

    Vertical jump: 104.14 cm (41 inch)

    201 see

    NOT Career: 1971-1987

    Teams: New York Nets, Philadelphia 76.

    Irving's vertical jump allowed him to reach a height of only 2 cm below the ring with his head. Dr. Jay was one of the pioneers in the art of top-scoring. His rich arsenal of all kinds of moves and spectacular flights were later inherited by such skilled dunkers as Dominic Wilkins and Michael Jordan. In America in his time there were legends that he was an alien from outer space.

    8. Trace McGred

    Vertical jump: 106.68 cm (42 inch)

    Growth: 203 See

    -

    Teams: Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons.

    Tee Mac is one of the most outstanding scorers in the NBA. The turning point in his career forced him to sink to the level of an ordinary player. Sadly. Kobe Bryant , about the same age, now in his prime. Who knows? Maybe if T Mac and his cousin Vince Carter had stayed in Toronto then, they'd be wearing championship rings now.

    7. Vince Carter

    Vertical jump: 109.22 cm (43 inches)

    Growth: 198 See

    Dank Contest Titles: 88 200003

    87 1998-

    Teams: Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic.

    Probably a big surprise to many that Vince is not at the top of this list!

    6. Clydesler

    Vertical jump: 109.22 cm (43 inches)

    See: 200 cm.

    903 -1998

    Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets.

    A very good player, similar to Dr. Jay (they are often confused), but in a similar scenario, almost his entire career was chasing Michael Jordan .

    5. Nate Robinson

    Vertical jump: 110.49 cm (43.5 inch)

    Growth: cm.

    Sveta Dancing Vitulov: 2009

    Career: 2005-

    Teams: New York Knicks, Boston Celtics.

    Nate , with his height, does not reach 12 cm in order to get the rings with his head. It is rightfully considered the heir to Spad Webb . Robinson once again proved that in the NBA (where even Dwyane Wade is considered small) you can play with any height.

    4. LeBron James

    Vertical Jump: 111.76 cm (44 inches)

    Height: 203 cm.

    Slam dunk contest titles: no

    Career: 2003-

    Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers.

    James , due to his height and jump, reaches his head to a mark of as much as 10 cm above the ring. LeBron is a beast, but not the scariest beast in the sky! Now he flew to warmer climes, to Miami.

    3. Bernard King

    Vertical jump: 116.84 cm (46 inches)

    Growth: 203 See

    Slave Dank Contest Titles: No

    Career: 1977-1993

    NEU, NEW NEU, NEW NEW NEWS, NEU NEW NEWS, NEU NEW NEW NEWS, NEU NEW NEW NEWS, NEU NEW NEW. Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Washington Bullets.

    The peak of King's career was five glorious years in New York. Then he broke his leg and lost his former agility and explosive power. He was just a scoring machine! But unfortunately, almost no one remembers him, the same Michael Jordan is to blame.

    2. Anthony retang Webb

    Vertical jump: 116. 84 cm (46 inches)

    Growth: 170 cm.

    Svep Dancing Referee: 1986 9000 1985-1998

    Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic.

    This guy definitely came to us from another planet. When he jumped out, it seemed some unknown force threw him into the air. The laws of physics do not apply to Spudu Webb . With such growth, it’s not like being on top, it’s impossible to jump to the ring!

    1. Darrele Griffith

    Vertical jump: 121.92 See (48 inches)

    See 1981-1993

    Teams: Utah Jazz.

    Never heard of this friend? And he jumped no worse than Jordan.

    ---

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