Here is a list of the 15 highest vertical leaps in the NBA that I could find. I'm sure a lot of players that aren't on this list have verticals that are high enough to be on it, but i haven't found them. Top 15 Leapers (in inches): 1. Steve Francis- 45 2. DeShawn Stevenson- 44 3. Baron Davis- 43 4. Vince Carter- 42 4. Allen Iverson- 42 4. Kobe Bryant- 42 7. Tracy McGrady- 40 7. Corey Maggette- 40 7. Darius Miles- 40 7. Stromile Swift- 40 7. Keon Clark- 40 (I found this out of TSN.ca. I'm not positive if it's acurate) 7. Eddie Robinson- 40 13. Desmond Mason- 38 14. Craig "Speddy" Claxton- 37 15. Kevin Garnett- 35 If you know anybody that has a higher vertical than 35 inches that isn't on this list please post it. ------------------ Houston Chronicle: He sat with his teammate and buddy Cuttino Mobley in Philly and they talked about how they had whipped the Sixers and Pacers by about 30 each this season. "Smacked the ... out of them," he said. "We have the talent."
Why waste time with this? Who cares? First it's a worthless comparison. If you want to measure verticals, measure track stars'. If you've ever seen them dunk a basketball, you would see former world record holder in the long jump, Mike Powell, jump more than 2 feet behind the free throw line to jam it in. But who cares? And it's not like this numbers are all measured at some kind of combine. Are all of the verticals just straight standing jumps. Or are we talking about running and touching a certain mark to measure? In the end, most of the numbers are just hearsay. ------------------
I am pretty sure Antonio Mcdyess, Sprewell, and Larry Hughes should be on the list, and I am pretty sure that I have read that Carter has a 46 inch vertical, maybe with his jumpers knee this past year, it was 42. ------------------ "See they pick and pick and pick. Man they picked me to death." -Steve Francis on the Utah Jazz
[QUOTE 14. Craig "Speddy" Claxton- 37 [/QUOTE] "Speddy." Tee hee hee.. ------------------ All hail Fadeaway's Cyberfish -- your 2000-2001 BobFinn* Fantasy Basketball League Champions!
Stevenson had 46 in high school. Did he get older and lose his hops? ------------------ "Break off the block like Maurice Green" --- Steve Francis President of the Moochie Norris fan club.
Shawn Kemp had a 40+ vertical in his Reign Man days, but now in his Klump days who knows what his vertical is...5 inches maybe? ------------------
And if you want to measure slam dunk contests, include ballet dancers. Carlos Acosta, the tall Cuban dancer discovered by Houston's own Ben Stevenson, who now is considered arguably the best ballet dancer in the world (definitely most athletic), is on record with a 720 degree slam. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited May 27, 2001).]
Do you have proof that Steve has a 45" vertical? Anyway, he was actually measured at 42-43" last I looked. McDyess from what I remember is also in that range although loony legends have him up somewhere around 48". ------------------ "Light travels faster than sound, so some people appear to be bright until you hear them speak." -- Brian Williams (now Bison Dele) commenting on Isiah Thomas.
No way Baron Davis still has a 43-inch vert, not after knee surgery. And Paul McPherson I know has a 40+ inch vertical. And what about Shawn Marion? ------------------ Charles Barkely on the Raptors defeating the Knicks in Round 1 :"I think it was the Lord. The Lord was with the Raptors. You know the Knicks like to talk so much about religion, but I think the Lord was a Raptor fan."
I don't doubt he did say that. I've seen people say a couple of kids in high school had/have 50 inch verticals. I want proof! ------------------ "Light travels faster than sound, so some people appear to be bright until you hear them speak." -- Brian Williams (now Bison Dele) commenting on Isiah Thomas.
man spree cant jump that high an vince only has about a 40 inch vert. he is to tall to have a 43 inch vert. i read iverson had a 46 inch vert. ------------------
Paul McPherson has a 45 inch vertical. In a interview Francis said his verticl was 45 inches. McDyess has a 42 inch vertical. ------------------ Houston Chronicle: He sat with his teammate and buddy Cuttino Mobley in Philly and they talked about how they had whipped the Sixers and Pacers by about 30 each this season. "Smacked the ... out of them," he said. "We have the talent."
I read in SLAM that Marion has at least a 40 inch vertical. Also, what about Mobley? I think he might be up there somewhere. ------------------
rocketdude, I guarantee you that Spree has more than a 35 inch vert, which would put him on the list. You say Carter can't have over 42 inch vert because he is too tall? Please, remember Dominique? He was 6'8" with a 48 inch vertical, so don't tell me tall players can't have high verticals. Vince has more than a 40 inch, my guess is that when helathy it is in the mid 40s, and I remember reading in some magazine that he has a 46 inch vertical, with Jordanesque hangtime. ------------------ "See they pick and pick and pick. Man they picked me to death." -Steve Francis on the Utah Jazz
You need a lot of creativity to be a great dunker, which is what Jordan and Nique had, and Carter and Kobe have now. I don't think Clark has a lot of creativity or enough quickness to be a great dunker. ------------------ "See they pick and pick and pick. Man they picked me to death." -Steve Francis on the Utah Jazz
My updated list. I couldn't find Shawn Marion's vertical. Check out my site at http://www.geocities.com/nbahighleapers 1. Steve Francis- 45 1. Paul McPherson- 45 3. DeShawn Stevenson- 44 4. Baron Davis- 43 5. Vince Carter- 42 5. Allen Iverson- 42 5. Kobe Bryant- 42 5. Antonio McDyess- 42 9. Tracy McGrady- 40 9. Corey Maggette- 40 9. Darius Miles- 40 9. Stromile Swift- 40 9. Keon Clark- 40 9. Eddie Robinson- 40 15. Desmond Mason- 38 ------------------ Houston Chronicle: He sat with his teammate and buddy Cuttino Mobley in Philly and they talked about how they had whipped the Sixers and Pacers by about 30 each this season. "Smacked the ... out of them," he said. "We have the talent."
