The NBA is home to some of the most athletes and their vertical jumps are a testament to their incredible physical prowess.
Some rise above the rest in the land of giants, not just in height but in their defiance of gravity. These are the NBA's elite leapers, leaving defenders grasping at air and igniting highlight reels with their vertical prowess.
Michael Jordan leads the NBA in this aerial leap. His 48-inch vertical jump remains the gold standard, a testament to his otherworldly athleticism.
Besides Jordan, athletes like Harold Miner, Spud Webb, and Wilt Chamberlain have all claimed 40-inch plus verticals, their jumps defying their frames.
1. Michael Jordan
- Height - 6 feet 6 inches
- Vertical Jump - 48 inches
Michael Jordan is one name above the rest in the NBA's pantheon of high-flyers.
During the 1984 Olympics, Jordan recorded the highest vertical leap in NBA history and remains the gold standard, a testament to his otherworldly athleticism.
The six-time NBA Champion Jordan's 48-inch mark remains a near-mythical benchmark, a constant reminder that His Airness indeed flew above the rest.
Jordan's gravity-defying dunks allowed him to hover about 20 inches higher than an average vertical jump in the NBA, winning the 1987 and 1988 Slam Dunk Contests.
2. Darrell Griffith
- Height - 6 feet 4 inches
- Vertical Jump - 48 inches
Darrell Steven Griffith, nicknamed "Dr. Dunkenstein," wasn't just a catchy moniker. It was a scientific fact describing his 48-inch vertical leap, a feat rarely matched in NBA history.
The 1981 Rookie of the Year Griffith, standing at a mere 6'4", defied his height with the grace of a gazelle and the power of a rocket.
Playing shooting guard his entire 11-year career with the Utah Jazz, Dr. Dunkenstein's legacy lived on.
3. Keon Johnson
- Height - 6 feet 5 inches
- Vertical Jump - 48 inches
In the NBA's rookie class, Christopher Keon Johnson is more than just a name—he's a vertical leap sensation.
He shocked the league by setting a record with a 48-inch running-vertical leap at the 2021 draft combine.
Johnson routinely displays his unearthly jumps during play, rim-grazing smashes, and two-foot takeoffs, which become hallmarks of his thrilling style.
4. Dennis Smith Jr.
- Height - 6 feet 3 inches
- Vertical Jump - 48 inches
Although Dennis Cliff Smith Jr. isn't the tallest NBA player, his vertical leap is incredible. He is among the few to match Michael Jordan's max leap of a 48-inch vertical.
Even though he is only 6'3", he uses his explosiveness to get rebounds against bigger opponents, averaging 3.0 per game.
5. Jason Richardson
- Height - 6 feet 6 inches
- Vertical Jump - 46.5 inches
Overlook jumping mortals, Jason Anthoney Richardson was a human highlight reel with wings. His 46.5-inch vertical flouted anticipation, making him a dunk contest legend and a nightmare for defenders.
Richardson's consecutive NBA Slam Dunk Contest wins in 2002 and 2003 were testaments to his aerial artistry. The iconic between-the-legs, reverse 360 that secured his 2003 title cemented his place in dunk history.
6. James White
- Height - 6 feet 7 inches
- Vertical Jump - 46 inches
James William White IV's NBA career may have been filled with quick stops, but one aspect of him remained constant: his vertical leap.
Standing an incredible 6'7" and measuring a stratospheric 46 inches, White's leaps were legendary, with his head reaching 5 inches over the rim.
The 2007 NBA Champion White was drafted 31st overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2006 NBA draft.
7. Spud Webb
- Height - 5 feet 6 inches
- Vertical Jump - 46 inches
Within the world of basketball legends, Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb is a living example of the strength that comes from surpassing expectations.
Despite being among the shortest players in NBA history, Webb had a famous vertical leap. His legendary jumps, measuring an estimated 46 inches, astounded opponents and supporters.
His status as a dunking legend was solidified with his 1986 Slam Dunk Contest victory, in which he soared over opponents and even dunked from the free-throw line.
8. Zach LaVine
- Height - 6 feet 5 inches
- Vertical Jump - 46 inches
Zachary Thomas LaVine is a skywalker rather than merely a skilled scorer. He is among the NBA's best leapers thanks to his 46-inch vertical leap.
Zach proudly demonstrated his leap in his back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest triumphs (2015, 2016).
Genetics alone cannot account for LaVine's athleticism. His hop has been refined over years of intense training and fitness, making it a highly skilled tool.
9. Bernard King
- Height - 6 feet 7 inches
- Vertical Jump - 46 inches
Bernard King dominated the NBA's airspace with a spectacular vertical leap reverberating through Madison Square Garden like a thunderclap.
King's leap is rumored to have measured an incredible 46 inches, narrowly missing Michael Jordan's legendary 48. Estimates vary, though.
Rising from the baseline, a swirl of orange and blue, he would produce tomahawk dunks that would send shivers down the spine of the assembly.
With it, he could finish fast breaks with smashes that defied gravity, block shots with a single, outstretched palm, and snag rebounds over enormous opponents.
10. Derrick Jones Jr.
- Height - 6 feet 6 inches
- Vertical Jump - 46 inches
Derrick Labrent Jones Jr. is a professional American small forward for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA.
Jones is among the NBA's best jumpers thanks to his 46-inch maximum vertical, which he proudly demonstrated by winning the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest.
His leaps transfer into domination in live games. He routinely blocks shots with seemingly endless reach, dunks massive jumpers, and snatches rebounds over larger opponents.
11. Zion Williamson
- Height - 6 feet 6 inches
- Vertical Jump - 45 inches
Zion Lateef Williamson, the term conjures up visions of thunderous dunks and leaps that transcend gravity.
With an incredible 45-inch vertical leap, his official combine measurement is among the most remarkable recorded hops in the current NBA.
The two-time NBA All-Star Zion's in-game athleticism and explosive strength are famous, laying down highlight-reel smashes.
With the elegance of a ballerina, he blocks shots with an endless arm and snatches rebounds from giants.
12. Shannon Brown
- Height - 6 feet 3 inches
- Vertical Jump - 44.5 inches
Although Shannon Brown's 44.5-inch leap may not immediately come to mind when considering the NBA's most incredible vertical leaps, he deserves significant respect.
Brown, who stands 6'3", had effortless height over the basket thanks to his jumps, thrilling spectators with highlight-reel finishes and in-game dunks.
13. Muggsy Bogues
- Height - 5 feet 3 inches
- Vertical Jump - 44.3 inches
The shortest NBA player, Tyrone Curtis "Muggsy' Bogues, at 5'3", might not seem a strong candidate for the NBA's vertical leap competition.
But don't be fooled by his size. With a vertical leap of 44.3 inches, this diminutive point guard was among the league's best jumpers.
He pulled down rebounds (averaging 2.6 per game) against taller players thanks to his vertical leap, frequently leaving them dumbfounded and angry.
Muggsy had incredible swat potential because of his leap, which made it easy for him to stop shots far above his head and obstruct passing lanes.
14. Harold Miner
- Height - 6 feet 5 inches
- Vertical Jump - 44 inches
Harold David Miner was not your typical flashy NBA player. Miner was among the league's best jumpers, with a stated vertical leap of 44 inches.
Known as "Baby Jordan," he averaged 9.0 points and 2.2 rebounds throughout his four years in the NBA.
He finished at the rim and snatched rebounds from bigger opponents with his explosiveness. He twice won the Slam Dunk Contest (1993 and 1995), delighting spectators with his daring alley-oops and gravity-defying windmills.
15. Andrew Wiggins
- Height - 6 feet 7 inches
- Vertical Jump - 44 inches
Andrew Christian Wiggins is a prolific scorer and a licensed skywalker. He is 6'7" and has an incredible 44-inch vertical leap.
NBA greats LeBron James and Michael Jordan fly in the same air as him. This dynamic athleticism translates to domination on the court and isn't simply for highlight reels.
The 2022 NBA champion unleashes vicious dunks, squirming to avoid angles and overwhelm opponents with his bulk.
16. Dee Brown
- Height - 6 feet 1 inch
- Vertical Jump - 44 inches
The 6'1" Boston Celtics icon DeCovan Kadell "Dee" Brown may not have been as tall as Michael Jordan, but he had an incredible vertical leap.
Brown's hops, which measured an incredible 44 inches, were among the best in NBA history. He was drafted 19th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1990 NBA draft.
Not only is his impressive dunk repertoire forever altered by his 1991 Slam Dunk Contest victory, but it also gave rise to the legendary "dab" celebration years before it became popular.
17. LeBron James
- Height - 6 feet 9 inches
- Vertical Jump - 44 inches
Although Michael Jordan still holds the record with a 48-inch vertical, LeBron Raymone James Sr. deserves a palace as high as the skies.
LeBron's leaping ability is famous for his incredible agility and 44-46 inch range, even though official measures have never surpassed Jordan's record.
18. Nate Robinson
- Height - 5 feet 9 inches
- Vertical Jump - 43.5 inches
One name sticks out for his aerial assault in the NBA, where towering giants rule supremely: Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson.
With a vertical leap of 43.5 inches, "Krypto-Nate," who was just 5'9", shocked everyone and launched his career.
Scouts and fans were shocked when Robinson's vertical was infamously measured at the 2005 NBA Draft Combine. Not only was it tall, but it was explosive.
He demonstrated his inventiveness and incredible leaping ability by winning three Slam Dunk Contests in 2006, 2009, and 2010.
