Michael Jordan's vertical jump

[Bill Hartman]

I came across a study done at UNC when Jordan was there. They measured his vert using a number of rather precise methods. Thought you'd like to see the resulting numbers.

"Vertical reach displacement during a jump from running 45.76 in.
Vertical reach displacement during a 1 hand dunk 41.70 in.
Vertical reach displacement during a 2 hand dunk 40.93 in."

Not bad for a skinny kid who couldn't make the high school team.

Bill

[Matthew]

Good timing on this, I was talking to a couple people in one of my classes and apparently there was an NBA player that had a four foot vert, and he was only 5'6 or somewhere around there. I forget his name, I'll ask about it tomorrow. Jordan's numbers are really impressive too, imagine being able to jump that..

[Q.]

I'd like to know what Spud Webb's was when he won the Dunk Competition!?!




Not bad for 5'7"!

[kmfisher]

JR Giddens at Kansas has a 48" vertical. He wants to put 2" - 4" on it, too. That kid can leap out of the gym.

The real question is what is a good routine to increase your vertical leap? Obviously squats, box squats, sissy squats, deadlifts, all the single leg versions, calf exercises.. Shoulder and arm work seems important, too. Then, some reactive work like box jumps, depth jumps, etc. But how would you balance all that leg work while still playing basketball 1-3x per week and not hindering your basketball performance?

Of course, I ask this because my rec league's first game is Tuesday, and I'm looking to increase my vertical through the season. I really need to increase my jumping stamina, too. I can dunk pretty well in the start of games, but not at the end. Anyway, I chose Westside for Skinny Bastards for now. The only leg day would be on Thursday, and consists of Box Squats, Single-leg DB squats, RDLs, and single-leg calf raises. Would that be enough to consider rest for the next game (Tues), weekend practices, or could I possibly do more to increase it?

[Kaiser]

Jordan was widely reported to have a 42" inch vertical while with the Bulls, so that would jibe with what Bill reported was tested at UNC. Webb was reported at 48".

I saw a video of the sprinter Oto Bolden jumping up onto a box that was above his shoulder height (he's around 5'8" tall). From a short two step start and a 2 foot takeoff. I'd like to know what his vertical is - world class sprinters have to have some world class explosiveness.

[kmfisher]

If I remember correctly, Carl Lewis could dunk a basketball from the 3pt line.

[jakenshape]

If I remember correctly, Carl Lewis could dunk a basketball from the 3pt line.

I'd have to say that is impossible. Would be very, very impressive if true.

[dos]

Just keep in mind that there are MANY methods to measure VJ's. For example, most of the huge #'s you see are approach jumps....even a step-close (where one foot is planted and you step the other leg together to close the gap before jumping) can and will add upward of 6 inches onto a jump. Also, how you measure the initial reach can also add 6+ inches onto your "vertical jump". At the NFL combines, you are allowed to measure reach by placing both arms above your head and measureing the high point....you then jump and reach with only one hand (I know, makes absolutely no sense but it will make a 40 in. VJ'er our of a true 34 incher).

At COC, we use a max reach measure with the arm the athlete will jump with so what you see on our records is what you get. We had a female Vball player who had a true no-step VJ or 27 in. We also had a 38 in. "true' VJ by one of our football db's. In college, weighing over 300lbs., I was able to dunk a basketball with no-step, standing under the rim.....I could not, however, dunk when I tried to run and take off with one leg etc. I had to step-close and take off of two feet. This is what separates most of the big basketball dunks (from the free throw line etc.) from the big 'true' VJ's measured by say footbal players. BTW, you will find that at almost every single college, the VJ record will be held by a football player and not a basketball player.

Lastly, Kaiser...I don't believe the correlation between measured, no-step VJ and the ability to box jump is as high as you might think. Some of our best box jumpers are not our best VJ'ers. There is lots of flexibility involved when jumping onto very high boxes that the ability to "tuck" often seems to be the limiting factor. However, I too have seen Bolden's box jump and he actually lands with not too much knee flexion so I would guess that he does have some serious hops.

I think if you were to measure a 'true' standing no-step VJ, the group that would probabaly do best (overall) would be Olympic weightlifters.

Oh, and I think the dunking from the 3 point line thing is something out of space jam movie or something

[dos]

Anyone seen the Powernetics videos (the are the company that built the "supercat" etc.). Well, there is video of the owners 6 ft. son putting his head on the rim...this sould be a legit 48 in. 'approach' VJ. By far the most impressive one I have ever personally seen.

Here is the closest thing I could find showing this jump...

[Bill Hartman]

In college, weighing over 300lbs., I was able to dunk a basketball with no-step, standing under the rim.....I could not, however, dunk when I tried to run and take off with one leg etc. I had to step-close and take off of two feet.

Makes total sense...at over 300 pounds I think you're at the wrong end of the force continuum to have a high reactive jump (single leg with run approach). It also illustrates how different athletes will achieve the same goal via different means.

Bill

[kmfisher]

I was able to dunk a basketball with no-step, standing under the rim.

These dunks always impress me the most because they can be so effective in a game situation. Get the rebound and go straight up and throw it down... Moving dunks are much harder to integrate into the game and come with so much more risk, especially in traffic.

The Carl Lewis 3pt dunk was on a college 3pt line. It was during a 20/20 type report where he showed them he could do it. He did a running jump with the ball and got it. Really crazy.

[austintwo]

Originally posted by kmfisher:
If I remember correctly, Carl Lewis could dunk a basketball from the 3pt line.

I'm doubtful you're remembering correctly. It's 23'6" from the front of the rim - he never long-jumped further than 29', and during his longest jump was nowhere near the necessary height to dunk on a 10-foot rim.

[Rev]

the fact he long jumped farther than the length of the 3pt line period still blows my mind, let alone if he dunked it or not. wow

[nobody]

Originally posted by austintwo:

I'm doubtful you're remembering correctly. It's 23'6" from the front of the rim

They said he jumped from the college 3-point line. That distance is 19'9".

[Chris Correia]

I just want to say: Hi, Dos! [img]smile.gif[/img]

As far as vertical, I'm 5-5 and old; I ain't gonna be dunkin' anything.

[kmfisher]

Yeah, college 3pt line. 19'9" dunk would be doable if you can long-jump 29'! Still amazing.