Jordan:
MICHAEL JORDAN'S VERTICAL JUMP
Krugh _l LeVeau B
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
PURPOSE The purpose of this study, which was part of an advanced
master's motion analysis class project in 1983, was to determine Michael Jordan's maximum vertical jump.
SUBJEa Michael Jordan
METHODS: Surface markers: Left lateral malleolus, left femoral epicondyle, left greater trochanter, left pelvic crest and right distal phalanges of digits 2 and 3 of the hand.
Tasks (in order) were:
Vertical reach while standing flat-footed-baseline
Vertical reach during a jump from standing
Vertical reach during a jump from running
Vertical reach during a 1-hand dunk
Vertical reach during a 2-hand dunk
All tasks except baseline vertical reach were done with free swing of
the upper limb(s). Equipment and instrumentation: Camera, lighting, markers, meter stick, and standard basketball. Location: Carmichael Gymnasium, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
DATA ANALYSIS: Distance measurements were analyzed by comparison to a meter stick in view of the camera. Displacement measure
ments of reach (pelvis) involved measurement of vertical height to
the tip of fingers 2 and 3 (pelvis) during a task minus vertical height
to the tip of fingers 2 and 3 (pelvis) during bilateral flat-footed
stance. Velocity measurements were analyzed by dividing vertical
height distance traveled divided by time taken for the tasks. A
VanGuard Motion Analyzer was used to analyze motion frame by
frame.
RESULTS: Maximum measurements:
Vertical reach while standing flat-footed 93.67 in.
Floor to pelvic crest while standing 49.00 in.
Vertical reach displacement during a jump 35.93 in.
from standing
Vertical displacement of the pelvis during a 38.07 in.
jump from running
Vertical velocity during a jump from running 6500.00"/sec
Vertical reach displacement during a jump 45.76 in.
from running
Vertical reach displacement during 41.70 in.
a 1-hand dunk
Vertical reach displacement during 40.93 in.
a 2-hand dunk
During the vertical reach from standing, push from the floor was
with both feet. During the vertical reach during a jump from running, push from the floor was with oncfoot and momentum of the
body, two upper limbs, and one lower limb was used to the maximum.
CONCLUSION/CLJNICAL RELEVAN=. Maximum displacement
for vertical reach was achieved with a jump from a running start, a
2-hand dunk, a 1-hand dunk, and a jump from standing, respectively.
This is consistent with use of momentum of the body and limbs to
assist with the vertical displacement. Michael Jordan's vertical jump
ability during several tasks provides a standard with which athletic
achievement by others can be compared.
https://www.jospt.org/doi/pdf/10.2519/jospt.1999.29.1.A1
Although his running vert being 10 inches higher than his standing vert is...suspect.
LeBron James
Nike said a player landing after a 32-inch vertical leap (James has a 40-inch vertical)
https://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/2014/09/lebron_12_nike_lebron_james.html
Also mentioned here:
