James White vs a Jumping Myth (article)

[zen_4_10]

There had been rumors of a "busted nut" (is that part of the knee or something?) that took place an hour before the jump, slowing James down,

My favorite part of the article.

[hodgy#11]

How about Ryan Hollins?

Never heard anything about him doing it, but the guy is a freakishly athletic 7 footer with a long wingspan so its probably possible

[theTHIEF]

-= original quote snipped =-



Do the latter and you'll know the former.

i see...i didn't realize it was posted in that article...i thought it was like an old quote from him...just finished reading it...interesting i guess...like i said, i don't believe anyone is,was or can do it in the basketball world...

being roughly the same height as Howard, and having had equal or there about leaping ability...i could never see myself getting up there, never...12'6 alone is a tough measure...but 13' is just insane...and physically i don't see it happening...the fables are great, they make for awesome stories to tell your kids and such...but when it boils down, there isnt a lick of footage documenting it...and until that day, it never happened...

[Simulack]

Its hilarious that the article is basically debunking the myth by showing how the author was unable to find anyone who could actually do it... yet half the responses in this thread are "Player X on my favorite team can do it!"

Portland's particularly lucky with TWO players able to accomplish this feat.

Roy?

[tha_rock220]

Nobody in the history of the NBA could do this. Say what you will about the man, but Wilt chamberlain's story about making change on the backboard is BS. Wilt's standing reach was 9'7". The top of the backboard is 13' feet up. That means that just to get his fingertips even with the top he'd have to have a 41" vertical. To actually get your hand over the backboard to start doing that would require at least an extra 3" meaning he'd need to be able to jump 44", and I don't care what anyone say that just never happened.

[NO-KG-AI]

-= original quote snipped =-



i see...i didn't realize it was posted in that article...i thought it was like an old quote from him...just finished reading it...interesting i guess...like i said, i don't believe anyone is,was or can do it in the basketball world...

being roughly the same height as Howard, and having had equal or there about leaping ability...i could never see myself getting up there, never...12'6 alone is a tough measure...but 13' is just insane...and physically i don't see it happening...the fables are great, they make for awesome stories to tell your kids and such...but when it boils down, there isnt a lick of footage documenting it...and until that day, it never happened...

Yup, and I like how everyone comes in and says "he did it when he was younger" as if they have some sort of proof.

As far as I know, Vince holds the pre-draft record for highest touch at 12'7.

This is a guy that is 6'7, with a tremendous wingspan and 42+ vertical easily.

[NetsForce]

Its hilarious that the article is basically debunking the myth by showing how the author was unable to find anyone who could actually do it... yet half the responses in this thread are "Player X on my favorite team can do it!"

Portland's particularly lucky with TWO players able to accomplish this feat.

Roy?

WHAT CAN'T ROY DO?

lol man that gives me another sig idea...

[Doctor MJ]

-= original quote snipped =-



i see...i didn't realize it was posted in that article...i thought it was like an old quote from him...just finished reading it...interesting i guess...like i said, i don't believe anyone is,was or can do it in the basketball world...

being roughly the same height as Howard, and having had equal or there about leaping ability...i could never see myself getting up there, never...12'6 alone is a tough measure...but 13' is just insane...and physically i don't see it happening...the fables are great, they make for awesome stories to tell your kids and such...but when it boils down, there isnt a lick of footage documenting it...and until that day, it never happened...

Curious your take on Wilt stories. Any specific thoughts on Wilt capabilities here?

Also, writerman often talks about Wilt doing what was called the "Hammer and Nails" dunk, in which he was said to hold the basketball with one arm (not hand) and spike it into the hoop with the other. How hard does that sound to you? Do you believe Wilt did it?

[rsavaj]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wXY9_2yb6GA

That's kinda freakish...

[theTHIEF]

-= original quote snipped =-



Curious your take on Wilt stories. Any specific thoughts on Wilt capabilities here?

Also, writerman often talks about Wilt doing what was called the "Hammer and Nails" dunk, in which he was said to hold the basketball with one arm (not hand) and spike it into the hoop with the other. How hard does that sound to you? Do you believe Wilt did it?

anything IS possible in this world...of course we all know that has been said...

Wilt was an amazing man...and my opinion is that if it was possible, Wilt was probably the guy to do it...but at the same time, the guy has soo many stories about him, he is the center of the "xxx said he saw him do xxx one night when no one else was around"...

if we believed everything about Wilt, he's be a superhero, from another planet, there would be no world hunger, we'd all be his descendants and we all know about the time he scored 211 points in a park game, he jumped from one rim to the other where he dunked it, all without having to run...

idk...

[Doctor MJ]

I think you've got a reasonable outlook on this stuff. What about the Hammer & Nails dunk? Does my description make sense to you? Do you have an idea of how hard it would be?

[theTHIEF]

the description doesn't make it clear to me...try it again...

[tha_rock220]

-= original quote snipped =-



i see...i didn't realize it was posted in that article...i thought it was like an old quote from him...just finished reading it...interesting i guess...like i said, i don't believe anyone is,was or can do it in the basketball world...

being roughly the same height as Howard, and having had equal or there about leaping ability...i could never see myself getting up there, never...12'6 alone is a tough measure...but 13' is just insane...and physically i don't see it happening...the fables are great, they make for awesome stories to tell your kids and such...but when it boils down, there isnt a lick of footage documenting it...and until that day, it never happened...

Are you saying you're as tall as Dwight Howard and could jump as high or were you talking about Wilt???

[gizardoe]

wasnt there rumors years back that shawn kemp could touch the top of the backboard.

[Doctor MJ]

the description doesn't make it clear to me...try it again...

Okay, yeah I wonder it that would be enough, it's tough to visualize. Basically, the player starts with the ball trapped between his upper arm and his body, and he keeps control of it with that arm through his ascent, without using that arm's hand. He then punches the basketball out from his arm into the hoop with his other hand.

Now, it's within the realm of debate how exactly someone would do this. My feeling is that if someone literally kept the ball in the same place the whole time, not only would it be ridiculously impossible (you'd have to get your belly button at rim level), but it would simply awkward to try to hit the ball across your body that way and would look nothing like hammering a nail.

If it actually happened then, I think what happens is that the player eventually grabs the ball between his upper arm and forearm, then lifts his arm up so that the ball is being roughly held horizontally, and one could come down hard with the other hand, knocking the ball out of the arm's grip with fast downward velocity. This would not be awkward to do, and would indeed looking like hammering a nail. Now, to get your arm horizontal, that means it's got to be around your shoulder, so we're talking here about someone who could their shoulder at rim level I'd say, and do so easily enough that they could manipulate the ball as need on the way up to the rim.

Does that make sense? What are you thoughts on it?

[theTHIEF]

well, your talking about almost getting your waist up to the rim it sounds like...that is absurd...even your chest area, where you described getting the ball locked into...that is just unfathomable...i cant even imagine that...if it could be done, it would require lots of hang time and lift, and lots of poise...all things Wilt had...

IMO, no, not possible...

doesnt mean anything though...it could have happened...after all, it was Wilt...

[Doctor MJ]

well, your talking about almost getting your waist up to the rim it sounds like...that is absurd...even your chest area, where you described getting the ball locked into...that is just unfathomable...i cant even imagine that...if it could be done, it would require lots of hang time and lift, and lots of poise...all things Wilt had...

IMO, no, not possible...

doesnt mean anything though...it could have happened...after all, it was Wilt...

Hmm, well the last thing I mentioned there was talking about shoulder level. Thoughts on that?

[Egg Nog]

Pardon the judgement, but getting this kind of height on a reach is far more difficult than most people seem to think.

Doug Thomas holds the current (mind you unofficial) high touch record at 13 feet. That is a few inches higher than James White could touch. This is higher than anyone in the NBA could touch. And he's got the record, so if he can't, nobody can.

A question: Does this even count? If he could only touch as high as 13', could he actually touch the top itself?

I wonder if Manute Bol could've done it. He had a standing reach of 10'3".

[Taiwan Killa]

I think it'll happen sometime in the next 50 years. And I don't mean by genetic modifications either. It'll be a huge deal too.

I don't think any big man can do it. You gotta get Kevin Durant type of guy. Skinny, so no extra weight to carry but still tall and just beastly arms.

Now that I think about it Kevin Durant has the perfect body for it, other than lacking leg strength and perhaps the proper tendon length. I think he could do it if he quit basketball and tried to do it.

[kooldude]

^except Durant isn't that athletic. Oden had a better vertical than him.