Highest Vertical Leap -- Top 10 (hoop, star, game, record)
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I seem to remember there was a famous NYC playground player nicknamed 'Herman the helicopter.' According to this Bernard King said he saw this guy pick a quarter off the top of a backboard when King was in 9th grade.
Michael Cooper of the Lakers at 6'6" was another guy said to be able to touch the top of the backboard. But picking a quarter adds to the degree of difficulty.
Michael Cooper couldn't come close to touching top of backboard. Wilt Chamberlain 48" vertical? No way.
I was surprised by Wilt's 48" too. Wilt was also a track star and I recall a photo of him high jumping 6'6". I realize that we're talking about different jumps, but just sayin'.
I was surprised by Wilt's 48" too. Wilt was also a track star and I recall a photo of him high jumping 6'6". I realize that we're talking about different jumps, but just sayin'.
He was an incredible athlete, with strength, speed, agility and size. I'm a big Wilt fan myself.
There's no evidence to support that 48" figure though, whether it be measured or anecdotal. He only jumped as high as necessary to dunk, which wasn't much.
A great story in Connie Hawkins' book "Foul" about 6'5" Jumpin' Jackie Jackson trapping Wilt's fade away near the top of back board in a NY playground game. It really pissed Wilt off so after that he just took over the game and dominated in all ways. Hawkins' take away: Never anger Wilt Chamberlain!
He was an incredible athlete, with strength, speed, agility and size. I'm a big Wilt fan myself.
There's no evidence to support that 48" figure though, whether it be measured or anecdotal. He only jumped as high as necessary to dunk, which wasn't much.
A great story in Connie Hawkins' book "Foul" about 6'5" Jumpin' Jackie Jackson trapping Wilt's fade away near the top of back board in a NY playground game. It really pissed Wilt off so after that he just took over the game and dominated in all ways. Hawkins' take away: Never anger Wilt Chamberlain!
Yeah, I remember a game in which the great defensive center Nate Thurmond blocked three of Wilt's finger rolls, Wilt got that ball back after that third block and put the ball, and, damn near, put Nate through the hoop on a savage dunk.
Yeah, I remember a game in which the great defensive center Nate Thurmond blocked three of Wilt's finger rolls, Wilt got that ball back after that third block and put the ball, and, damn near, put Nate through the hoop on a savage dunk.
Wilt was an incredible athlete who ran distance events in college at 7 foot. Most distance runners tend to be diminuative since carrying bulk over distance is obviously disadvantageous. The current marathon record holder is Dennis Kimetto of Kenya, 5'7", 121 lbs.
But playing on emotion as you describe shows why Bill Russell was the superior basketball player. Russell played to win, not to retaliate after someone blocked his finger rolls.
He was an amazing athlete for his height, but no way.
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