Can Gabby Dunk? | The Boneyard

Can Gabby Dunk?

FanHam

FanHam

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She high jumped 6'2 1/4" at the Olympic trials when she was 15. I realize she's had a few knee injuries since then, but can she dunk? Could she ever? Does anyone know? Just curious...

My guess is "yes".
 
She should be able to, but maya is the greatest dunker i have seen in wbb.
 
Something I posted two years ago
"For the most part the quantifiable athleticism that they are talking about is vertical jumping and because we are talking about basketball when the rim is 10' high it definitely translates to basketball. It goes by other names hops, explosiveness, & ups but for the most part it is how high you can get up in the air. I don't know if UCONN "officially" test the players for vertical leaping ability but at least once per game you will see Gabby leap off the floor like she has been shot out of cannon. Many of us did not take Gabby Dad seriously last year when he said "I can't stop her ( Gabby) from playing but I want to make sure she at the level she needs to be. So I've kind of challenged her and told her, 'When you can dunk the basketball consistently, you can play.' "
https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/recruit-williams-on-track-to-get-back-on-court/148619324
If and when Gabby does dunk in a game she will be the first (maybe last or only woman) under 6' 4"' foot to achieve the feat."
 
Fishbone said:
What about Btitteny Griner?
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Just because she's tall doesn't make her a great dunker. I have seen maya do MJ style dunks where she takes off from the foul line and slams it home. Griner doesn't have the athletic ability to do that. Her dunks are like stewies dunks from underneath the basket. Griner isn't even a great rebounder for her height.
 
.-.
Gabby touching the rim.jpg
 
CocoHusky said:
Something I posted two years ago
"For the most part the quantifiable athleticism that they are talking about is vertical jumping and because we are talking about basketball when the rim is 10' high it definitely translates to basketball. It goes by other names hops, explosiveness, & ups but for the most part it is how high you can get up in the air. I don't know if UCONN "officially" test the players for vertical leaping ability but at least once per game you will see Gabby leap off the floor like she has been shot out of cannon. Many of us did not take Gabby Dad seriously last year when he said "I can't stop her ( Gabby) from playing but I want to make sure she at the level she needs to be. So I've kind of challenged her and told her, 'When you can dunk the basketball consistently, you can play.' "
https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/recruit-williams-on-track-to-get-back-on-court/148619324
If and when Gabby does dunk in a game she will be the first (maybe last or only woman) under 6' 4"' foot to achieve the feat."
Expand ...

Charlotte Smith dunked at 6'0
 
One of the issues that keep small performers who are great leapers from dunking the ball is the lack of hands large enough to get a good enough grip on the ball. Butch Lee, a great leaper in the Association always had a problem because of his small hands. I think with Gabby this is perhaps the primary issue.
 
CocoHusky said:
Something I posted two years ago
"For the most part the quantifiable athleticism that they are talking about is vertical jumping and because we are talking about basketball when the rim is 10' high it definitely translates to basketball. It goes by other names hops, explosiveness, & ups but for the most part it is how high you can get up in the air. I don't know if UCONN "officially" test the players for vertical leaping ability but at least once per game you will see Gabby leap off the floor like she has been shot out of cannon. Many of us did not take Gabby Dad seriously last year when he said "I can't stop her ( Gabby) from playing but I want to make sure she at the level she needs to be. So I've kind of challenged her and told her, 'When you can dunk the basketball consistently, you can play.' "
https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/recruit-williams-on-track-to-get-back-on-court/148619324
If and when Gabby does dunk in a game she will be the first (maybe last or only woman) under 6' 4"' foot to achieve the feat."
Expand ...

Sorry to burst your bubble Coco. Check out Florida State's Shakaya Thomas. She, like Gabby is only 5' 11". SHE CAN DUNK!!!! Click the link tab for visual evidence.

[LINK]
 
.-.
FanHam said:
She high jumped 6'2 1/4" at the Olympic trials when she was 15. I realize she's had a few knee injuries since then, but can she dunk? Could she ever? Does anyone know? Just curious...

My guess is "yes".
Expand ...
I personally think that it would almost be silly for her to attempt dunks and put any undue stress on her knees and possibly injure herself for something so frivolous. The beauty of UConn basketball is that there is no need for showboat or above the rim nonsense that does nothing but showcase athleticism that we already know Gabby has in spades. Using her athleticism the way she does, in the course of normal game conditions to block shots, run down fast breaks, block shots, etc. means so much more.
 
I get so nervous when Gabby skies like she does , it takes your breath away, she has to be the most watchable hoops player , mens included!!!
 
JordyG said:
One of the issues that keep small performers who are great leapers from dunking the ball is the lack of hands large enough to get a good enough grip on the ball. Butch Lee, a great leaper in the Association always had a problem because of his small hands. I think with Gabby this is perhaps the primary issue.
Expand ...

One night I was warming up by myself in a small church gym. I'm 6'0" and could jump pretty good then. A shorter guy came by me and started warming up. He was about 5'7" or so. All of a sudden he took off and slammed the ball like Dr. J!

I was blown away. He said he didn't do anything special but was able to jump that high naturally. His hands weren't big at all.

One of the guys on ort church league team had brought him to play with us.
 
Last edited:
THEMAN/MAN said:
I get so nervous when Gabby skies like she does , it takes your breath away, she has to be the most watchable hoops player , mens included!!!
Expand ...

I saw her up close at the Nebraska game.

Reminded me of myself back in the day...
 
HuskyPhan said:
She can throw down a softball but not a basketball-yet.
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Question: Who has the best vertical, Maya or Gabby?
Gabby 5'11" Maya 6' 0" Gabby dunks a softball. Maya dunks a basketball.
 
Striper69 said:
One night I was warming up by myself in a small church gym. I'm 6'0" and could jump pretty good then. A shorter guy came by me and started warming up. He was about 5'7" or so. All of a sudden he took off and slammed the ball like Dr. J!

I was blown away. He said he didn't do anything special but was able to jump that high naturally. His hands weren't big at all.

One of the guys on ort church league team had brought him to play with us.
Expand ...
Dunking in a gym and dunking in game are two different things. So often I've seen guys with smaller hands have the ball roll off mid jump as the sweat and excitement of the moment ruins their chances.
 
.-.
Striper69 said:
I saw her up close at the Nebraska game.

Reminded me of myself back in the day...
Expand ...
Which part. The nervousness or the shortness of breath.
 
bizarro aj said:
Just because she's tall doesn't make her a great dunker. I have seen maya do MJ style dunks where she takes off from the foul line and slams it home. Griner doesn't have the athletic ability to do that. Her dunks are like stewies dunks from underneath the basket. Griner isn't even a great rebounder for her height.
Expand ...

Is their some sort of video of maya doing this? I'm not trying to discredit you or anything but I just wanted to see her dunk from the free throw line.
 
bizarro aj said:
Just because she's tall doesn't make her a great dunker. I have seen maya do MJ style dunks where she takes off from the foul line and slams it home. Griner doesn't have the athletic ability to do that. Her dunks are like stewies dunks from underneath the basket. Griner isn't even a great rebounder for her height.
Expand ...

Maya has great jumping ability, but she can't come close to taking off from the foul line and dunking. She would be the first to tell you that.
 
SVCBeercats said:
Question: Who has the best vertical, Maya or Gabby?
Gabby 5'11" Maya 6' 0" Gabby dunks a softball. Maya dunks a basketball.
Expand ...

Gabby, in the past at least, was said by her dad to be able to dunk in HS. I think she is closer to 5'10" , and besides being shorter than Maya does not have Maya's wingspan.

Threads on this topic in past years estimated Gabby's vertical at somewhere in the low to mid 30"s. Maya's was documented at 28" about the time she graduated high school, IIRC.
 
bizarro aj said:
Just because she's tall doesn't make her a great dunker. I have seen maya do MJ style dunks where she takes off from the foul line and slams it home. Griner doesn't have the athletic ability to do that. Her dunks are like stewies dunks from underneath the basket. Griner isn't even a great rebounder for her height.
Expand ...

Say what ....??? Not on a standard 10' rim!
 
bizarro aj said:
Just because she's tall doesn't make her a great dunker. I have seen maya do MJ style dunks where she takes off from the foul line and slams it home. Griner doesn't have the athletic ability to do that. Her dunks are like stewies dunks from underneath the basket. Griner isn't even a great rebounder for her height.
Expand ...
You must be kidding or you did not see much of her play.
I love Gabby's game. She is an incredible leaper, but she is not a great dunker.
 
.-.
...not trying to be a wise guy, but why would dunking be worse for one's knees than plain ol' jumping?
 
I'm 59 years old, 5' 11", weigh a little over 250 pounds and I dunk EASILY all the time.
I grab the ball, set by eye on the target, leap and stuff it.
Get a clean hit every time.
Unfortunately, I get so excited when I make it that I make a huge commotion cheering for myself.
That causes my wife to wake me and make me turn over so I quiet down and let her sleep.
 
Lou can dunk, saw her do a reverse slam in the "make your hands clap" video.

Wait, what?
 
.-.
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