White boys can't jump (think again)!!! **Video**

[Dusty Bradford]

Thanks to my west side contact John Wilde I can see it.

He is tall which can explain how he gets his elbow in the rim, but that dunk from just inside the free throw line where he leaves from two feet shows how much leap he has.

I went to camp with a short white guy that was 5'9" and could dunk oops or whatever he wanted to . I think a lot of it is genetics but there is also some training and conditioning that helps. Anybody remember Adam Archuletta that played for Arizona State I believe? He had an unreal workout program from a russian coach. His true standing vertical was around 44-48 inches. I mean standing flat footed and leaping without any steps. A lot of the verticals you read about are from a move which in a lot of cases can gain you another 6-12 inches. Most college players are around 30". I lifted some weights but my leg workout was mainly standing under the goal and jumping as hard and high as I could until I couldn't even touch the backboard. At 6'1" and 170 I could only leap a true 29". It was enough to dunk with both hands from a move but it really puts in perspective how great a leaper some of these guys are that can jump a true 3 feet + vertically. You can tell from the hangtime in the video this kid is a great jumper.

And just to add to Tyler's post. Some of the olympic athletes have recorded vertical's in the 50+ range. Most college and pro players can't touch that.

 

[86brick]

Originally posted by NCTURBOS


If you look at all good/great jumpers and leapers you'll notice that the calf muscle is very high on the leg towards the knee. Whereas people with strong legs ie. for squating, leg press, etc., theirs are lower. It is the design of the muscle that attributes...


K.

Keith, I think you're right about the design of the muscle! This was also something I heard when I was playing ball... Before I screwed up my knee I was able to dunk a volley ball or a girls basketball, but it helped that I was 6'3" and had some long arms... I was never much into dunking anyways although I did enjoy watching a lot of the guys that could, I was a shooter... Just call me Larry Bird or better yet "Pistol" Pete Maravich

 

[John Wilde]

Originally posted by 86brick
Keith, I think you're right about the design of the muscle! This was also something I heard when I was playing ball... Before I screwed up my knee I was able to dunk a volley ball or a girls basketball, but it helped that I was 6'3" and had some long arms... I was never much into dunking anyways although I did enjoy watching a lot of the guys that could, I was a shooter... Just call me Larry Bird or better yet "Pistol" Pete Maravich

Steve,

You are killing me with the Bird and Maravich references.
I was thinking more like Laimbeer or Rambus.
Actually I heard you had moves like McHale.

 

[86brick]

Originally posted by John Wilde
Steve,

You are killing me with the Bird and Maravich references.
I was thinking more like Laimbeer or Rambus.
Actually I heard you had moves like McHale.

John, Maravich was my idol when I was playing ball! The guy averaged 44 ppg in college (think this record still stands) playing for his father Pres at LSU.... My dad got me all of his drill videos (shooting, dribbling, ball handling, passing).... I'm not one to brag, but I could shoot the ball lights out!!! I probably spent thousands of hours shooting the ball (would shoot at least a 100 free throws a day) and practicing the various ball handling drills..... Free throws? At my prime when I was playing seriously for school and AAU I was a 90% free throw shooter... I was never a very fast guy so I usually got stuck playing power forward on the low post and occasionally center so the McHale reference is probably the best one, but I prefered to be facing the basket.... I really miss playing pickup games!!! Anybody have a good knee (that doesn't dislocate) that they want to sell me??

 

[John Wilde]

Steve,

Pistol Pete was a head of his time.
Every NBA Fan should read this.

http://www.nba.com/history/players/maravich_bio.html

Sorry about your knee, I had issues with mine as well.
All the years of basket ball and volley ball jacked me up.

 

[Dusty Bradford]

Anybody have a good knee (that doesn't dislocate) that they want to sell me??

Funny you mention this. I went down last year when my knee gave out. We had a local pickup league that I played in last year. It got down to last 10 seconds and a guy I know on the opposite team had the ball. He knows I could still jump pretty good and that I can occasionally still get one to go down, he saw me dunk the night before, so he threw the ball to me and motioned for me to drive down and dunk it. Well when I went to jump my left knee just went away and I barely got higher than the bottom of the net. It hurt to walk for about a month afterwards. It sucks getting old and I'm only 29.

 

[86brick]

Originally posted by John Wilde
Steve,

Pistol Pete was a head of his time.
Every NBA Fan should read this.

http://www.nba.com/history/players/maravich_bio.html

Sorry about your knee, I had issues with mine as well.
All the years of basket ball and volley ball jacked me up.

John, That is a really good article!!! Thanks for posting it It is really ashame that the guy died so young... I remember when they had the ceremony for the NBA's top 50 greatest players his one son was there to take his spot There was also a movie made about him that I remember seeing (can't remember the name) but it was pretty good and was basically about his early years and High school.... His father was really a great influence on him and pushed him to be the best by dedicating himself (he took the ball everywhere he went)... Truly a legend!

Yeah all the years of playing took a toll on mine... Basketball as well as volleyball are both high impact sports (lotta running and jumping) so your knees definitely take the brunt...

 

[86brick]

Originally posted by Dusty Bradford
Funny you mention this. I went down last year when my knee gave out. We had a local pickup league that I played in last year. It got down to last 10 seconds and a guy I know on the opposite team had the ball. He knows I could still jump pretty good and that I can occasionally still get one to go down, he saw me dunk the night before, so he threw the ball to me and motioned for me to drive down and dunk it. Well when I went to jump my left knee just went away and I barely got higher than the bottom of the net. It hurt to walk for about a month afterwards. It sucks getting old and I'm only 29.

Mine happened while playing a little game of 21... Went up for a rebound and it popped out (and in doing so sheered of 3 centimeters of bone)... Had knee surgery (two pins to repair it), 6 months of rehab and I played a few more years with a brace on, but after having it dislocate and pop back in on a few occasions (very painful) I decided to give it up because I didn't want to have to go through another surgery or even worse (need a knee replacement)! Getting old definitely sucks, but if you didn't need surgery that is certainly something to be thankful for, trust me!

 

[krom]

Lots of good leapers, especially with the roids that are everywhere.



Pistol Pete was just another ball hog that could never get his Professional team to win. Stephon Marbury is a modern day Pete.

 

[86brick]

Originally posted by krom
Lots of good leapers, especially with the roids that are everywhere.



Pistol Pete was just another ball hog that could never get his Professional team to win. Stephon Marbury is a modern day Pete.

He was far from "just another ball hog" at least IMO, but because he played on medicore teams all of his career there will always be those that give him that label....

I do agree though about the roids... I knew several kids in high school that were on roids and the scary thing is that most of the coaches knew as well, but did nothing about it!

 

[darb]

Anyone here play college or professional basketball? If so, where? Just curious. BTW, although being able to palm a ball helps, it's not necessary. Ask me how I know.

 

[Scott Atk]

He is tall which can explain how he gets his elbow in the rim, but that dunk from just inside the free throw line where he leaves from two feet shows how much leap he has.


Did anyone else notice that particular dunk was LEFT HANDED. Pretty impressive.