Zion Williamson Vertical Leap Out of the Gym
There is no question that Zion Williamson possesses otherworldly athleticism. His tremendous power is evident as he backs down opposing NBA centers in the paint right before he posterizes them with rim-rattling dunks that bring fans to the games.
Still, his most potent weapon is his unparalleled collaboration of dynamic timing and explosive power. The tantalizing combination can be seen in any Zion Williamson vertical leap over the masses. In-game dunks that bring NBA All-Stars out of their seats.
Mesmerized by the Zion Williamson Vertical Jump
Despite being 6 “6 and 284 lbs, Zion Williamson has a 45-inch vertical leap! This means that Zion Williamson has one of the highest vertical jumps in NBA history!
According to lore, Zion Williamson uncovered how extraordinary his leap was back in high school. During his first game at Spartansburg High School, he dunked an alley-oop pass on top of an opponent. And the fans in attendance haven’t stopped talking about his vertical jump performances since.
But the urban legend mythology really took hold when the standout freshman became the center of attention early on in his 2018-19 season. He nearly broke the Vertec during his combine testing at Duke.
In fact, he performed so well on the vertical test that the Duke’s staff had to put weights under the vertical test device so that it could be higher. And the social media team teased the seasons ahead with a tantalizing clip.
The 45-inch vertical leap record during his freshman combine was merely a preview to a historic college season. His new teammates saw first hand that Zion was a generational physical specimen. And the game of basketball had a new offensive game to marvel.
Given that he weighs nearly 300 lbs, one can only ponder the following: Who is even comparable to a Zion Williamson vertical? How about the otherworldly verticals of Michael Jordan and Cassius Stanley?
Duke vs. Carolina and the Michael Jordan Vertical Jump
It’s not just a rivalry on the basketball court. Duke vs. North Carolina. It’s a perpetual competition in everything.
Many consider Michael Jordan to be the greatest player in the history of the NBA. So it comes as no surprise that Jordan also has one of the most incredible verticals of all time.
Possibly elevating up to a height of 48 inches, it is no wonder that Jordan earned the nickname “His Airness.” Or in other terms, Jordan can leap so high that his head reaches six inches above the rim.
Highlights of Jordan sizing up his opponent, preparing for takeoff on approach, and eventually gliding through the air are forever etched in the memories of basketball fans. Just one example of this is his iconic slam dunk from the free-throw line at the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest.
Or his incredible layup in the 1991 NBA Finals. Jordan seemed to levitate in the air, while other mere “mortals” feel back to earth as he switched the ball between hands in mid-air.
Fret not Blue Devils; a Zion Williamson vertical is comparable to Jordan’s greatness, even though he outweighs Jordan by 68 pounds. And that is a lot more mass heading toward the rim.
Cassius Stanley takes back Zion Williamson’s Year-Old record
Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski recruits leapers in every incoming freshmen class. And from the moment Stanley stepped foot on campus, he elevated off of it.
Before the coronavirus shortened College Basketball season could get fully underway, Stanley took two quick steps and leaped past Zion into program history with a 46″ vertical. And later at the Draft Combine, he doubled down on his newly minted vertical record with a 44″ max vertical for the attending teams.
So how does a mere mortal fly so high? While a little natural talent does help, there are exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles needed to reach new heights.