Top 10 Most POWERFUL Verticals in NBA History - You Can't Argue with this Math!

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The top 10 most powerful verticals in NBA history! Backed by objective scientific calculations, this is an NBA top 10 list you've never seen before! Using established research I calculated the Top 50 Most Powerful Jumpers and verticals in NBA History, and these are the top 10. You'll be surprised at who didn't make the list. Is Michael Jordan #1? What about Vince Carter or the reigning NBA Slam Dunk Champion Derrick Jones Jr? This video will also explain some basics physics behind jump height and review the equations used to calculate the list.
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Reference for paper that developed the equation used in this video:
SAYERS, STEPHEN P.; HARACKIEWICZ, DAVID V.; HARMAN, EVERETT A.; FRYKMAN, PETER N.; ROSENSTEIN, MICHAEL T. Cross-validation of three jump power equations, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: April 1999 - Volume 31 - Issue 4 - p 572-577
DISCLAIMER: Content not intended to be taken as medical advice. Opinions are my own and do not represent those of my employer. I have not personally treated or evaluated the individual(s) discussed in this video. Content used with educational and transformative intent within Fair Use Guidelines
Content owned and produced by Brian Sutterer LLC 2020
#NBA

[@Corporis]

This was peak nerdy kinesiology and I loved it. Great analysis dude!

[@FuneralGraveMemorial]

Who else thought when he said jumpers he meant jump shots?

[@ckobo84]

Skip the first 4:45 of the video. Believe me you won't regret it!

[@BrianSuttererMD]

5k likes to see #41-50. List starts @4:47 but I hope you don't skip the science first to understand the rankings! Who am I kidding, I'm sure I'll put it out either way. Enjoy!!

[@roberthoey1000]

Sick video cant wait for the next one

[@elayda93]

can't wait for it!

[@StatPadder22]

Can i get the equation typed out ?

[@user-bo4jv1xb9u]

@@StatPadder22 3:29

[@StatPadder22]

@@user-bo4jv1xb9u lol i was so focused on the video I didn't even notice that, thanks nonetheless

[@XxLeoRiversxX]

Did you really just blur out wilt thinking we can’t tell who that is in yo thumbnail !!!! 😂😂

[@2006MC]

I thought it was javale McGee lmao

[@XxLeoRiversxX]

Eric Githens lol only a couple things wrong with the guess, outdated uniform for one and doesn’t McGee have a full on beard ? Not just a goatee 🤔 lol I don’t recall him ever rockin a goatee lol

[@cadenr06]

Leo Rivera I hope u actually get the joke

[@bendovermen5141]

Your both wrong that was the white mamba

[@andimencias493]

u clicked on the vid tho so it worked lmao

[@brunswick14w]

I just want to know where vince carter fell on this list of 50. The Damn NBA ended before he did.

[@rebelranger]

Wilt was approaching 310 lbs near the end of his career, around the same time of that clip of him jumping over Wes Unseld.

[@shiro9112]

rebelranger of muscles

[@TheIcemanthomas]

Rip wes

[@ckobo84]

The list is a Joke. No Darryl Dawkins? Dwight Howard? Shaq? I will go with the eye test over some very questionable vertical measurements this guy is going with. Bernard King 👑 was an average leaper, maybe a 36" vertical.

[@rebelranger]

@@ckobo84 Dwight Howard only had a 36 inch vertical jump. There's no reliable source for Dawkins' vertical.

[@CadChamberlain]

Wilt was such a freak of nature. He is probably the most athletic human to ever exist.

[@tord2354]

For sure!

[@YeeSoest]

I'm not gonna say you're wrong, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic and CR7 both strongly disagree (mainly because they're both REALLY confident). Well not strongly...more in an endurance heavy, acrobatic, balance oriented way...

[@petiteexplication6249]

@@YeeSoest come on man ronaldo is a freak of nature but they are nowhere near as wilt

[@Cardiaccat98]

Bo Jackson should be in that conversation as well

[@welpyeet8307]

@@petiteexplication6249 fr Wilt is an alien by human standard. I bet Wilt presence is much more intimidating than any athlete in the world

[@matsbartram7642]

Kinda surprised prime dwight isn't on here, since he jumped so high while being heavy. Where's he on this list doc?

[@oakinw8361]

@David Carrasco Lebron was heavier with a higher vert

[@damofoluis]

M.D Sutterer turned physics guru! Great content!

[@BrianSuttererMD]

My undergraduate and master's degrees are in engineering!

[@damofoluis]

Brian Sutterer MD That’s awesome!! Keep it the good work!

[@infiniteimprovement]

@@BrianSuttererMD I'm curious how quickly and with how much school were you able to become an MD. I'm currently pursuing a degree in engineering but I have a strong passion for sports, but i feel it's too late to switch.

[@emperorza5777]

Brian Sutterer MD what type of engineering?

[@sanjitshelukar7648]

I did the math and I generate 6,063 watts. Really shows how different pros are

[@georgechristofidis7944]

sounds like you can dunk

[@liusam651]

The NBA vert testing protocol is not good enough so the actual max power can even be higher

[@louischampagnon3670]

Well the pros are just heavier. More mass. You probably jump well

[@extrafreshhh]

I have 8065, for comparison what sport did you play? How tall are you? Weight and vertical? I’m 5’11 37” vert 215 pound. I wrestled and played football.

[@jsrryy]

did it with my brother and got 8,741 watts, i’m 5'8, 127 lbs

[@jptenuta]

I would be really interested in some type of comparison of 1 footed vs 2 footed jumpers. Lots of people would argue power while jumping is jumping off of 2 feet. Thus the idea of somebody dunking chest to chest against an opponent would be more powerful than a skinny dunker taking a running start. Really appreciate all you do. Thanks for continuing to post while we are all locked out of sports for the most part. Wash those hands;)

[@Anon.G]

Not true, watch a William Williams jump, he has a super low gct off two feet

[@jptenuta]

Anon I’m just saying guys like Dominick Williams would have been on the top 10 and Vince Carter although Vince can dunk it every which way...

[@pigs6486]

@Jp Tenuta Vince has to be the greatest 2 foot leaper of all-time.

[@jptenuta]

Go Pro Dominick Williams and Zion are the best 2 footed. The thing that makes Vince so special is he does both 1 and 2 footed...

[@Anon.G]

@@jptenuta Dominique is a lower flyer than Vince, regardless no nba player is the greatest 2 foot jumper. There are 1000 pro dunkers that jump higher than Zion

[@joneh9483]

Hey can you make a video talking about all the injuries that Dominick Cruz has gone through and why he is so easily injured.

[@juncruz3685]

Johnny Guy yes good topic

[@Samotrulez]

great idea!

[@Fastbreak10]

Rather than looking at 41-50 I'd rather like to see top 10s by position. Or a comparison between the best in different sports.

[@haha69sexnumber]

Wilt definitely didn't have a 48" vertical, and Lebron might have been heavier jumping 44". But this is a fascinating video.

[@coyedwards6184]

Go watch some clips of him blocking shots, he barely puts any effort into his dunks.

[@haha69sexnumber]

@@coyedwards6184 ok, but neither of these prove he has a 48" vertical

[@kylethomas2993]

Yeah he did

[@haha69sexnumber]

@@kylethomas2993 no he didn't lmao

[@kylethomas2993]

@@haha69sexnumber And on what proof is that

[@pullt]

Dunno how the 41st thru 50th most powerful dunkers in NBA history could be considered the "opposite end of the spectrum".... They are still top 50 among several thousand players in NBA history....with those several thousand being among the best jumpers of humans....

[@dunmatta2670]

Geeked out! Love the unique approach during this quarantined sports drought 👍

[@CooperHernick]

Same

[@ShariaLawAllDay]

What is Vince Carter's power output?

[@djdj2231]

Yeah I don’t know how Richardson and Smith Junior and even Jordan are in the top 10 if Vince Vinces got to be 220 pounds

[@powpowvideos]

I totally wanna know where Baron Davis is. That man's dunk on Andrei Kirilenko was NASTY!

[@domagojtrninic2637]

Brian the 🐐, great idea for video 😁

[@CooperHernick]

That's definitely the best video on your Channel

[@BrianSuttererMD]

Thanks so much!!

[@CooperHernick]

@@BrianSuttererMD I feel like I learn something new everytime I watch your videos

[@YeeSoest]

1. Haven't watched this until now because I thought it was about powerful jumpSHOTS and couldn't make sense of it^^ 2. Next to VC taking off, a shuttle launch really loses its thrill... 3. FANTASTIC video!!! Instead of 41-50 I'd love to see the numbers for Big Baby Davis, Marc Gasol, Andrew Bogut...^^

[@BrianSuttererMD]

Thanks! Ive debated changing the title..

[@joshuashipley8523]

What about DJ Stephens? I know his time in the league was very limited but he holds the combine record for vertical.

[@MidnightVentures]

Blake Griffith though?! Those older guys mentioned that most of us have never heard of had nothing on Griffiths force and power. Sorry.

[@IIIXTREME]

U don't watch ball at all I can tell lol

[@jimmycolleran349]

255lbs and a 38 inch vert. Basically take LeBrons number and subtract about 1500 watts

[@tylerthegiraffe]

Why is this so amazing

[@jumpguyty]

Interesting video! Fun to see a different measure for vertical jump. Also fun to know that in my prime I was #4 on this list with 9563.3 Watts. Love to collab with you on another video that looks at pro dunkers. Keep up the great work.

[@georgehinchliffe5325]

what about Allen Iverson? i need some hope for me so i know how many Watts i need to be able to produce to dunk

[@gustavebbesen6160]

Can you do more injury prevention guides like with the Steph Curry video? That was really helpful to me

[@danv.2695]

Brian: *talks about physics formulas* Me: *flashbacks of me doing all physics homework at 2am before it's due*

[@youngmarcy7087]

Crazy how you know physics so well too ! Bravo !

[@BrianSuttererMD]

Two engineering degrees to thank for that !

[@m_js5709]

I used to put in that work with Jason Richardson in the NBA Live 2006 dunk contest mode. Man was a monster

[@nickbarrio6272]

great video! enjoyed watching. however, i would like to add that the calculation using the conservation of mechanical energy must use the centroid of the body when using the max height it reaches. so add close to 1/2 the body height to the vertical of each player. will make their speeds off the ground higher!

[@ez7956]

Wow some people are amazing

[@squill1am]

The crazy thing with wilt is that there are stories of his vertical being even higher.

[@AbRey21wastaken]

I tought it was a 50 inch fr

[@squill1am]

AbRey21 Heard stories of it being around 54 inches

[@huudinii123]

how old are you.? 10? you really believe everyting you read? lol. Wilt never had a 48 inch vertical...not even 40 inch. wake up little boy

[@huudinii123]

Alfredo Duro what should i watch?? his head was never at rim level. if he had a 46inch vert his shoulders would be at the rim. a sad world we live in if we have dumbasses like you actually believing wilt had a 48 inch vertical. there is no help for people like you..you believe everything somebody tells you.

[@jojoprocess2820]

@Alfredo Duro Wilts standing reach in college when he wasn't done growing was 9'6. That would mean that at best he was jumping 42". However the video says that it's nearly 13 feet not actually 13 feet so it'd be lower. Going off just his head height which can only barely get to the rim would put him at a minimum of 35". In reality his max vert is probably in the highs 30s, not 40s like all the bullshit myths say it was.

[@haha4938]

Shawn Kemp and Dominique Wilkins. I would have thought they'd made your list. Kemp was an animal.

[@intendedexpression6609]

This was super entertaining🔥🔥

[@NostalgicNolan]

Thank you for the physics lesson,I never took it in high school or college but always have loved sports and the nerdier aspect of how things happen.Keep up the great work !

[@carterbaker8635]

Absolutely Fantastic video! I love your channel!

[@spektren7]

I feel like Lebron might actually surpass 10,000, when you consider he's most likely heavier than 250lbs.

[@missedlayup5193]

In the heat days there was rumor of 270, but many would agree with at least 260

[@KeshawnPro2016]

He is

[@mackenziemurrell963]

I doubt that hes 250

[@mac-gustavemulondak1679]

Thank you doc,entertaining and educ at the same time! But how about Westbrook and Vince Carter?

[@lawsonhannah]

Curious, as the weight of the athlete increases, do the power requirements to maintain the same vertical increase in a linear or exponential manner? Example, Say it takes 9,000 watts for a 200lb athlete to jump 45 inches, but if that same athlete gains 20lbs/10% increase in weight, would we expect the increase in watts required to hit the same 45 inch vertical to be 9,900 or something far greater?

[@michaelzhang7897]

Plug the numbers into the formula doc gives and figure it out yourself?

[@missedlayup5193]

@@michaelzhang7897 Yikes, rude.

[@kidcurry420]

crazy how zion is number 2 and he is just on his rookie year, can't wait to watch him grow as a player

[@blakelip3]

More vids like this please

[@wazzup233]

6:20 Aaron Gordon has left the chat.

[@OM-el6oy]

I think it would be better to calculate the vertical of each of the players for which no combine results are available using frame counting. Some of the older footage has slower frames per second, but you would still at least be able to get an upper and lower bound.

[@jesswillans3222]

Nice stuff! Could you do a similar video on hitting power in baseball, or throwing velocity?

[@jaimejordan2013]

Have in mind MJ was 195lbs at the very beginning of his career later he went on to move between 212 and 218lbs and he’s 6’6

[@TheAirperri]

No Larry Johnson, Kemp or Shaq in the top 10? Great video!

[@LegitPlays777]

There are videos of Wilt almost reaching the top of the backboard just off of vert...

[@Bradley2806]

Yeah he was pretty long as well tho. His vert is closer to 36-40 inches.

[@BrianSuttererMD]

What's crazy is even if it were 40 hed still be #3 all time on the list

[@Bradley2806]

@@BrianSuttererMD yeah the man was a physical freak.

[@One_Proud_Papa]

He may play football, but @DHolliman_5 has a 65" vertical. #MSUBears twitter.com/DHolliman_5/status/1046952413100486662?s=09

[@poeltlpower1880]

@@One_Proud_Papa That's not how vertical is measured. It's a bastardization of the training pioneered by Verkhoshansky exploited for social media exposure.

[@alastairwood7277]

As a huge cycling fan aswell as Basketball when I hear Basketball and watts combined then this is going to be great

[@hat1696]

Make a video on the mechanics of jumping and how to increase your vertical

[@BrunoFSBeber]

in the last dance documentary, Jordan's trainer said his weight was around 210, 215 after gaining some muscle, if im not wrong, not 195

[@knutthompson7879]

When Wilt showed up, no one had ever seen anything like that physically. Arguably no one has since.

[@germanblanco7039]

This is so cool

[@jakekunz5168]

Amazing vid

[@mmjr23]

Jason Richardson and the King is definitely well deserving of being list. These two are my favorite dunker

[@T_da_yung_goat]

LeBron is listed at 250 but his actual weight is estimated to be 260-270 pounds (at least in his physical prime) - not that it'll change any of the rankings anyways.

[@Ali-ri2kn]

Didn’t Dwight Howard generate the most Watts sport science proved this with him actually doing tests for them🤷‍♂️

[@elmooth1261]

as if sport science is reliable at all.

[@Ali-ri2kn]

Abdul Muizz Khan still Dwight was like three hundred and and a 38 inch vert

[@idowatiwant9]

@@Ali-ri2kn dwight was never that heavy

[@elmooth1261]

And they tested Lonzo's passing by making him throw a ball through a moving car. What kinda test is that? He probably didn't even do it on his first try.

[@baz1184]

@@idowatiwant9 6'10" and he's one of the most muscular guys on the court, I wouldn't be surprised if he was 300 lbs.

[@ajanco23]

No Shawn Kemp? Blake Griffin?

[@kostastube2010]

Blake is actually said to have less than 40" vertical!!!! But how does he dunk like he did????

[@dictatoribenevolo8394]

I was very surprised shaq wasn't on the list. with his weight and I mean a young shaq in magic uniforms hopped pretty high. so yeah with his weight I would have expected him to make the list

[@spoodermun1722]

same but with dwight howard

[@joeutm212]

Look at Ryan masons injury. He’s a football (soccer) player and he had to retire at 26 because of a clash of heads which broke his skull. He had 14 ,teal plates in His head and like 42 staples.

[@jaimejordan2013]

At the beginning of the video I’m like: hmmm... I wonder if any player is gonna get over ten thousand watts Zion: Please Shut Up

[@quiqueferrandisbrull3719]

wheres vince???

[@caseyjfromli3240]

Love you Doc but Lebron hasn’t been 250 for a very long time. He’s consistently been 265-275 throughout his career at least. Some even speculate that he was even 285-290. Awesome list tho!

[@Jeneric81]

I first read "10 most powerful lepers" and clicked instantly.

[@thomaslipsky9150]

Nice Video, as always. I appreciate the professional contribution! I was wondering about the formula. To my knowledge power in general is dependent on contact time with the ground und thus dependent on the length of the way of acceleration (depending on the height of the player). Is this approximation from the article also applicable to unusually tall and heavy people?

[@geraotut]

Nice vid doc!

[@ruthlessfitness8143]

You think you could do a video on Drew Brees and his injury and how he was able to come back from a potential career ending injury ??...that’s one I’ve always been curious about

[@wazzup233]

So when could we see Lebron James joining on the Slam Dunk contest?

[@paulgeorge9228]

just curious which formula did you use to calculate power?

[@YeeSoest]

As many players have said, many times you'll actually exceed your max vert as measured in games. LeBron used to have what Jones jr has now: "whatever it takes"- vertical

[@c956rubber]

In light of Michael Jordans documentary the last dance...Can you please do a video on the reason Michael Jordan has Yellow eyes...thanx

[@ArthurKiyanovski]

Brilliant!

[@GregoryFord98]

I'm shocked AG (225lbs), young Shaq (294lbs), DJ Stephens (46" vert), VC, Gerald Green(205lbs 44" vert), Shannon Brown (44.5" vert), and Giannis (245lbs) didn't make it. I wanna see the full list to see where these guys would fall. I'm sure others are curious too. Of course there's plenty of people l may have left out (David Thompson, James White, Dominique Wilkins, Dwight Howard, etc)

[@samtreharne4594]

Would love to see the top 10 LEAST powerful leapers too

[@Leontenklooster]

So these vertical jump heights are with a running start right? not a standing vertical jump?

[@missedlayup5193]

Yes, max vert is with a running start.

[@averagejohnson3985]

48 inch vert on a 7'2 person would mean that he could get his collar bone above the rim. I have yet to see a highlight of him with his head at the rim. I've seen close, but nothing remotely near 14 inches above the rim. That's bullshit and i love wilt

[@louischampagnon3670]

I find it hard to believe MJ is as explosive a dunker as Dennis Smith. That 48inch is probably not true IMO

[@samwilliams7868]

Do a video on Charles Barkley’s infamous golf swing

[@logankandel846]

I'm guessing Shaq didn't make the top 50 highest jumpers list, because he was 325 lbs and had a vertical of 39 inches. Using these numbers, he had a jump power of 10635 watts, which would've been 3rd on this list. Even if you wanna say he wasn't that heavy during his Orlando days when that vertical was recorded, even if he was only 290 lbs, his jump power would be 9917 watts, which would've still been 3rd on the list

[@hangtime1313]

All my God you make physics fun in sports

[@danielmsz]

Incredible video. Loved every bit. Thanks. Want to be a good professional like you someday. I also want to become a physician.

[@geesuperb2]

Being from Brooklyn Bernard King is one of my all time favorite players. But no way on earth did he have a 46 inch vertical!

[@pullt]

Is cool idea, but the results are only as accurate as the inputs are. Vertical and weight are often very dodgy inputs.....

[@oTownruler]

I would be interested who has the lowest power ever! When I think about it, is it more important to be super light and have a high vert like Spud Webb or is it "better" to be heavy but having a low vert like Nikola Jokic?

[@db-hj9cu]

Bernard King finally gets some love somewhere. Ridiculous how much that man is forgotten

[@TYLERORTIZ2021]

How can anyone believe Wilt had a 48in vertical... Rim is 120 inches. 7ft 1 = 85in.. combine w the 48inch vertical that would be 133 inches. Now where in history is Wilt seen with his HEAD above the rim a whole foot

[@kharis87]

I think Lebron is over 250.... comfortably. Great video.

[@dopelinZzz]

So cool!

[@intendedexpression6609]

Im surprised darryl dawkins didn't make the top 10

[@sydneyvolpei7395]

Mj in his prime was 225 lmao

[@TheIcemanthomas]

No he wasn’t. He best playing weight was 210. He gained more weight later on.

[@sharilajeeeeee]

Wonder how Bill Russell would've ranked. Hes like 6'9 and about 215-220 and stated that he had joined high jumping competitively

[@BiH1207]

Masterpiece

[@guillaumesageot2864]

I'm really curious about undersized 4-5 like Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman (could also include Blake Griffin), where they in your 50 player list ?

[@joshuamoreira8589]

i definitely thought Blake or DeAndre would be number one but I guess I forgot to factor in the undocumented shadow of the NBA ...Wiiiiiiiiiiiiilt.. like always great video, and thanks for the break down!

[@rarshibond]

Based on the factors in the equation I’m gonna guess that either shaq or Zion Williamson is the most powerful jumper, let’s see.

[@frightenedsoul]

Results?

[@rarshibond]

zion came in at 2. i thought shaq's weight combined with his leaping ability would have him at #1 that all star game when shaq dunked on david robinson was one of the most powerful displays of athleticism i ever seen. i wonder where did shaq rank

[@Mommascooking420]

Mr. Bond I think it’s because shaq’s vertical wasn’t that high if it was over 40 inches he would probably have been number one

[@rarshibond]

@@Mommascooking420 i have seen that at some point shaq max vertical was 39 inches. So im confused about shaq. shaq was about 325 with a 39 in vert

[@Mommascooking420]

Mr. Bond yeh idk prob was top 20

[@AlejandroPerez-mg3fc]

In my latest "prime" (im losing shape on quarantine) I generated about 5800 watts. What the fuck. NBA athletes are something else.

[@TheMrMurtle]

Cool video but what about the enormous guys with smaller verticals? Surely Shaq and Yao Ming generate stupid amounts of power to get off the floor

[@mr.e8226]

What about Gerald Green? does he just a very light weight frame? Doesn't he have a 50in vert?

[@bluefurby5251]

Surprised Shaq wasnt here, but i guess the velocity plays a huge role in calculating the power generated

[@BrianSuttererMD]

Old school magic shaq was much lighter then Lakers shaq, and best I could find, his vertical was from college/magic days. So I had "skinny Shaq" on my list and he was much lower

[@yuyu8163]

We need that DSJ acl video!

[@CesarGarcia-cd1bb]

You should explain Sleeves in basketball