LeBron James’ Vertical Jump Is Impressive But Not the Highest
The legendary NBA basketball star has played in the league since 2003. LeBron James has crushed titles, won awards, and endorsed products. He caught the attention of the world when he became the 2003 Rookie of the Year playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In 2012 and 2013, King James helped the Miami Heat win the NBA championship title. He won again in 2016 when he returned to the Cavaliers and they took the title. Now, James plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, where he signed a four-year contract valued at $153.3 million.
He’s earned a salary of $270 million over the past 16 years, and twice as much as that in endorsement deals. According to Forbes, this is the sixth-year James has ranked as the highest-earning NBA player, with a reported yearly revenue of $92.4 million.
LeBron James’ vertical jump
Money aside, James is also known for his incredible vertical jump. This is a measurement of how high a player can jump from a standing position. The average vertical jump for a NBA player is about 28 inches when attempting to go “above the rim.”
But, James is nothing short of ordinary and dominates with a vertical leap of 44 inches. This insane ability makes his slam dunks monumental.
Believe it or not, a few NBA legends can jump even higher. Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain made his 48-inch vertical jump look easy, standing 7-foot-1. Retired player Darrell Griffith of the Utah Jazz earned the title “Dr. Dunkenstein” with his ability to leap 48 inches.
Michael Jordan became known as “Air Jordan” for good reason. He consistently hit an outrageous 46-inch vertical jump with ease. The Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine, winner of the 2015 and 2016 slam dunk competitions, ha a vertical leap of an incredible 46 inches.
Michael Wilson of The Harlem Globetrotters had a reported 52-inch vertical jump. He holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for the highest slam dunk, performed on a 12-foot high rim. Kadour Ziani, from basketball dunking team Slamnation, holds the unconfirmed world record at an astounding 61-inch vertical jump.
James’ physical attributes
At 250 pounds, James stands tall at 6-foot-8-inches. His performance on the court is a perfect example of flexibility and mobility. He has a 7-foot wingspan and a hand span of 9.25 inches.
King James’ hand length of nine inches is narrower than the average NBA player, but this doesn’t seem to be a problem for James. His lifetime-endorsed Nike shoe is a size 15.
NBA players by the numbers
Manute Bol is still known as the tallest NBA player. His giant-like stature of 7-feet-7 made him a sight to see on the court. Philadelphia 76ers center Boban Marjanović stands at 7-feet-3, making him the tallest active NBA player. He has a hand size of 10.75 inches long and 12 inches wide.
Another NBA player holding the record for big hands is none other than Shaquille O’Neal. He has an estimated hand span of 10.25 inches long and 12 inches wide. The Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo runs a close second with hands that measures 9.85 long and 12 inches wide.
Michael Jordan is the whole package with a handspan of 9.75 inches long and 11.375 inches wide. Tacko Fall, who is 7-foot-5 with a hand length of 10.5 inches, has an 8-foot-2 wingspan. This is second only to Manute Bol who had an incredible reach of 8-foot-6. Mohamed Bamba of the Orlando Magic has a huge wingspan of 7-feet-10, making it no surprise that he plays a phenomenal blocking game.
