Jordan had a wings poster. Meanwhile, a Kevin Durant wingspan of 7’5″ was immortalized on an airliner using more than 30 decals to cover approximately 560 square feet of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737.
In-flight or on take-off: Does wingspan determine success?
You don’t have to watch him play to appreciate the importance of a Kevin Durant wingspan in basketball. He’s a top-10 player in the league and a nightmare for opposing defenses. And with that incredible wingspan, Durant can contest seemingly open jump shots, close down lanes, all while getting his jumper off over the defender.
Unless it was Tacko Fall’s standing reach in the way, of course. That’s the difference between blocking a shot and getting your hand on it. But Fall is not a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer; Durant’s intangibles and incredibly smooth shooting stroke aren’t typically found in such a massive wingspan.
Even among his peers, Durant is genuinely unique. No other active player who is 6-foot-9 or taller has a wingspan longer than 7-foot-2. And while some players may have the length to block a shot or disrupt an opponent’s shot, Durant has the reach and touch to make a shot from anywhere on the court.
What does it mean if your wingspan is longer than your height?
Kevin Durant is 6-foot-9 (listed), but he has a 7-foot-5 wingspan. And the rare combination of size and shooting touch has turned Durant into one of the best shooters in NBA history.
Kawhi Leonard’s wingspan has made him work to extend his range and his ability to make threes off the dribble, but he still prefers to play inside the arc. On the other hand, Durant has made himself into a deadly shooter from three-point range, and he is among the best of all-time in that category.
The 2012/13 NBA season was historic for Kevin Durant. He became the youngest player to make at least 50% of his shots, 40% of his three-pointers, and 90% of his free throws in a single regular season.
But that’s not the only thing that makes Durant unique. In addition to his height and wingspan, Durant is incredibly agile. It’s not unusual for a 6-foot-9 guy to be able to move well on the court, but Durant’s combination of athleticism, range, and wingspan is unparalleled.
What is the average NBA wingspan?
Wingspan is measured from fingertip to fingertip when the player stretches his arms out to their maximum length. And it’s worth noting that this measurement is different from the listed height on a player’s profile page.
KD is not alone at the next level. The average NBA player has a wingspan 4 inches greater than his height, and the average wingspan is about 6 feet 8 inches. Among basketball players, point guards usually have the shortest wingspan, while centers typically have the longest.
But success is not a direct correlation as his former Golden State Warriors teammate, Steph Curry’s height and wingspan are approximately 6’3″.
