Can you dunk?

[Ant3411]

Exactly.

I am calling bullscalito on everyone who claims they were 6' or under and dunked. Being 5'10" and dunking would probably put someone in the Top 0.01% of athletes in the country. Something tells me that the Boneyard doesn't have 5 people like that posting here. Here is some perspective on jumping.

Average Vertical Jump: By Age, Sport, NBA and NFL (homeexerciseequipmenthq.com)

I am 6'3, and had a 25-26 inch standing vertical in college, which is pretty good for someone that was not a D1 athlete. I could only dunk a women's basketball.

Dunking is as much a math problem as an athletic one, and like being intimate with a woman, every extra inch matters, A LOT. I am halfway to my second knuckle over an 8 foot rim when I am standing flat footed. So, to get up to a 10 foot rim, plus be enough over the rim to get a men's basketball over and through the rim, I needed to get about 30-31" off the ground with a running start and have perfect extension when I did it. Websites will tell you that you need 4 extra inches over the 10' to dunk a basketball, but for mortals, the number is probably more like 6-7 inches because the vast majority of us are not coordinated enough to time the dunk perfectly. We need a cushion.

So if someone is 5'10, and their finger tip when flat footed is probably 7'5" or something like that, they need to be jumping OVER THREE FEET UP to dunk. Does everyone realize how ridiculous that is?

Many parks, especially back in the day, had non-regulation rims, and so some of you may have thrown down on a rim that was between 9' and 10' off the ground. That is a LOT easier than dunking on a 10' rim. Back in the 90's, the courts at Alumni dorms on campus were 9'6", and a lot of us were Michael Jordan on those. I could reverse dunk off an alley-oop and would play games there where I would only dunk, because why not? That is a lot easier than dunking on a 10' rim.

If you've ever played competitive basketball and been around real athletes, there are plenty of 5'10" guys playing college hoops (and even high school) that can dunk, maybe not in the game but it's not unfathomable. Yes you are correct, that timing and coordination need to be on point, but lots of kids can figure that out when all they do is hoop.

My high school team had 3 guys 5'10" and under that could dunk (one even in the game) and my D3 college team had the same. My 5'9" college roommate could dribble up to the hoop and 2 hand reverse dunk off two feet.

All I'm saying is there are athletes out there - it's just a matter if you've been exposed to them.

 

[Deepster]

If you've ever played competitive basketball and been around real athletes, there are plenty of 5'10" guys playing college hoops (and even high school) that can dunk, maybe not in the game but it's not unfathomable. Yes you are correct, that timing and coordination need to be on point, but lots of kids can figure that out when all they do is hoop.

My high school team had 3 guys 5'10" and under that could dunk (one even in the game) and my D3 college team had the same. My 5'9" college roommate could dribble up to the hoop and 2 hand reverse dunk off two feet.

All I'm saying is there are athletes out there - it's just a matter if you've been exposed to them.

All I'm saying is there are athletes out there....just not on this thread.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Exactly.

I am calling bullscalito on everyone who claims they were 6' or under and dunked. Being 5'10" and dunking would probably put someone in the Top 0.01% of athletes in the country. Something tells me that the Boneyard doesn't have 5 people like that posting here. Here is some perspective on jumping.

Average Vertical Jump: By Age, Sport, NBA and NFL (homeexerciseequipmenthq.com)

I am 6'3, and had a 25-26 inch standing vertical in college, which is pretty good for someone that was not a D1 athlete. I could only dunk a women's basketball.

Dunking is as much a math problem as an athletic one, and like being intimate with a woman, every extra inch matters, A LOT. I am halfway to my second knuckle over an 8 foot rim when I am standing flat footed. So, to get up to a 10 foot rim, plus be enough over the rim to get a men's basketball over and through the rim, I needed to get about 30-31" off the ground with a running start and have perfect extension when I did it. Websites will tell you that you need 4 extra inches over the 10' to dunk a basketball, but for mortals, the number is probably more like 6-7 inches because the vast majority of us are not coordinated enough to time the dunk perfectly. We need a cushion.

So if someone is 5'10, and their finger tip when flat footed is probably 7'5" or something like that, they need to be jumping OVER THREE FEET UP to dunk. Does everyone realize how ridiculous that is?

Many parks, especially back in the day, had non-regulation rims, and so some of you may have thrown down on a rim that was between 9' and 10' off the ground. That is a LOT easier than dunking on a 10' rim. Back in the 90's, the courts at Alumni dorms on campus were 9'6", and a lot of us were Michael Jordan on those. I could reverse dunk off an alley-oop and would play games there where I would only dunk, because why not? That is a lot easier than dunking on a 10' rim

I am one of those world class 5’10” athletes. I was a ~decent~ HS cross country runner and pitcher. The only machine I used in the weight room was the leg press (where I would do the max 400 lbs as many times I wanted). I had very strong very thick legs. Now I have very thick legs. For me to dunk the volleyball I would run the length of the baseline and sneak it over the back corner of the rim (where it attached to the backboard) for some reason the rim “seemed” shorter there. This was in the Rockville High varsity gym. Never measured it with one of those things but through some unscientific means I measured myself with a 34” vert at peak. I actually feel like adding a couple inches to your leaping ability with a targeted routine and practice isn’t that tough.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

If you've ever played competitive basketball and been around real athletes, there are plenty of 5'10" guys playing college hoops (and even high school) that can dunk, maybe not in the game but it's not unfathomable. Yes you are correct, that timing and coordination need to be on point, but lots of kids can figure that out when all they do is hoop.

My high school team had 3 guys 5'10" and under that could dunk (one even in the game) and my D3 college team had the same. My 5'9" college roommate could dribble up to the hoop and 2 hand reverse dunk off two feet.

All I'm saying is there are athletes out there - it's just a matter if you've been exposed to them.

I spent a lot of Saturdays playing pickup in the Field House, and there were some really good players in that gym, including several dunkers. Those guys were really freaking good and usually really freaking tall, not some 5'10" hack who played every now and then and then claims "but I could dunk back in the day".

My math above is a little off because I forgot that smaller guys generally have shorter arms. A 5'9 guy needs to jump about 38-39 inches to dunk. That is high D1 level athleticism. A 6'4 guy needs to jump about 28-29 inches. That is decent but not spectacular athleticism that you might find in a Saturday afternoon pickup game at the Field House in 1992.

Maybe one of the Boneyard posters was really that athletic. Possible. It is impossible that two were. It is a ridiculous lie that 3 or more were.

I don't know what to make of your story that 3 guys under 5'10 on one high school team could dunk. That seems really unlikely. How many times did you see Kevin Ollie dunk in a game? He was 6'1, and went on to an NBA career, and he did not have enough confidence in his dunking to do it in a game.

 

[Kolumbo]

I spent a lot of Saturdays playing pickup in the Field House, and there were some really good players in that gym, including several dunkers. Those guys were really freaking good and usually really freaking tall, not some 5'10" hack who played every now and then and then claims "but I could dunk back in the day".

My math above is a little off because I forgot that smaller guys generally have shorter arms. A 5'9 guy needs to jump about 38-39 inches to dunk. That is high D1 level athleticism. A 6'4 guy needs to jump about 28-29 inches. That is decent but not spectacular athleticism that you might find in a Saturday afternoon pickup game at the Field House in 1992.

Maybe one of the Boneyard posters was really that athletic. Possible. It is impossible that two were. It is a ridiculous lie that 3 or more were.

I don't know what to make of your story that 3 guys under 5'10 on one high school team could dunk. That seems really unlikely. How many times did you see Kevin Ollie dunk in a game? He was 6'1, and went on to an NBA career, and he did not have enough confidence in his dunking to do it in a game.

I think your math is off. Someone who is 5'10" and has average to long arm length can easily reach well over 7'6", maybe closer to 7'8". Plus the 4" over the rim makes sense because although you need a cushion, if you try enough times, you will eventually time it well enough to dunk. So you would need to leap about 28" to have a chance which is tough to do but possible.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

I spent a lot of Saturdays playing pickup in the Field House, and there were some really good players in that gym, including several dunkers. Those guys were really freaking good and usually really freaking tall, not some 5'10" hack who played every now and then and then claims "but I could dunk back in the day".

My math above is a little off because I forgot that smaller guys generally have shorter arms. A 5'9 guy needs to jump about 38-39 inches to dunk. That is high D1 level athleticism. A 6'4 guy needs to jump about 28-29 inches. That is decent but not spectacular athleticism that you might find in a Saturday afternoon pickup game at the Field House in 1992.

Maybe one of the Boneyard posters was really that athletic. Possible. It is impossible that two were. It is a ridiculous lie that 3 or more were.

I don't know what to make of your story that 3 guys under 5'10 on one high school team could dunk. That seems really unlikely. How many times did you see Kevin Ollie dunk in a game? He was 6'1, and went on to an NBA career, and he did not have enough confidence in his dunking to do it in a game.

obviously, u are wholly unfamiliar with places like Bridgeport, and many others, where 6' and under players regularly slam up a storm. here's bassick high's kevin crawford, rim rattling at 15 years old. (6' now? yeah, sure. only in a publicist's imagination). having played coast to coast, i can tell you that these guys are everywhere.

 

[Ant3411]

obviously, u are wholly unfamiliar with places like Bridgeport, and many others, where 6' and under players regularly slam up a storm. here's bassick high's kevin crawford, rim rattling at 15 years old. (6' now? yeah, sure. only in a publicist's imagination). having played coast to coast, i can tell you that these guys are everywhere.

Agree 100%, these guys are everywhere. Ever seen Weaver High play in the early 2000's? Plenty of guys under 6' and layup lines were pretty much a dunk competition.

Again, dunking in general and dunking in a game are very different...this thread is about dunking in general...

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I think your math is off. Someone who is 5'10" and has average to long arm length can easily reach well over 7'6", maybe closer to 7'8". Plus the 4" over the rim makes sense because although you need a cushion, if you try enough times, you will eventually time it well enough to dunk. So you would need to leap about 28" to have a chance which is tough to do but possible.

Your own math is off. If he can reach 7'8 flat footed, that means he would need 28" to get to 10'. He would need 32" to get to 10'4". 32" is a pretty high vertical, 7'8" means he has a pretty big wingspan, and I still think you are very wrong that 4" is enough cushion to dunk.

I could only dunk a men's basketball on rims where I could get my wrist to the rim level. I have big hands and can still palm some basketballs, and I needed that much cushion. That means at least 6-7 inches above the rim, Maybe others were more coordinated and could slip the ball over with 4" cushion in a combo dunk/layup move that is close enough to a dunk to get credit for it. I don't see how it is possible.

A basketball has a diameter of about 9.5". So to actually do a clean dunk, you would need to be 10" above the rim to be shooting down with the ball. But most near dunkers will be able to slip the ball over the rim and turn their wrist down on the ball to approximate a dunk that is more like a layup. I did that a few times with a women's ball. I couldn't get high enough or get the timing right with a man's ball.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Agree 100%, these guys are everywhere. Ever seen Weaver High play in the early 2000's? Plenty of guys under 6' and layup lines were pretty much a dunk competition.

Again, dunking in general and dunking in a game are very different...this thread is about dunking in general...

Those guys were probably taller than you remember. Most of the city teams have 6'6"+ front courts and 6'1-6'3 back courts.

 

[QDOG5]

@Demo Square did you ever play with/against Jim Carroll? Basketball Diaries is one of my all time favorite books. Too bad he's a People Who Died.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Agree 100%, these guys are everywhere. Ever seen Weaver High play in the early 2000's? Plenty of guys under 6' and layup lines were pretty much a dunk competition.

Again, dunking in general and dunking in a game are very different...this thread is about dunking in general...

Wilby H.S. in Waterbury is one that comes to mind years ago. Every single player dunked in layup lines before the refs came out. A couple of guys were over 6ft, but plenty were under.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

oldest hs all star tourney in 'murica, and prolly on planet earth. bridgeport, connecticut.

Coach Calhoun always get's a good seat. (at 23 seconds in).

 

[Ant3411]

Those guys were probably taller than you remember. Most of the city teams have 6'6"+ front courts and 6'1-6'3 back courts.

They were not taller than I remember, I was the playing the game against them, for years. 6'1-6'3 backcourts are not common in CT high school. The majority of kids that height in HS are forwards and even kids playing center sometimes.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

They were not taller than I remember, I was the playing the game against them, for years. 6'1-6'3 backcourts are not common in CT high school. The majority of kids that height in HS are forwards and even kids playing center sometimes.

Former UConn TE Tommy Myers lead the NATION in rebounding at Coventry High because he was 6’6” and other teams in the Patriot Conference would have maybe one dude who was over 6’2”

This is classic nelson. EVERYONE ELSE IS WRONG BUT ME. THAT MAKES SENSE.

 

[Kolumbo]

Your own math is off. If he can reach 7'8 flat footed, that means he would need 28" to get to 10'. He would need 32" to get to 10'4". 32" is a pretty high vertical, 7'8" means he has a pretty big wingspan, and I still think you are very wrong that 4" is enough cushion to dunk.

I could only dunk a men's basketball on rims where I could get my wrist to the rim level. I have big hands and can still palm some basketballs, and I needed that much cushion. That means at least 6-7 inches above the rim, Maybe others were more coordinated and could slip the ball over with 4" cushion in a combo dunk/layup move that is close enough to a dunk to get credit for it. I don't see how it is possible.

A basketball has a diameter of about 9.5". So to actually do a clean dunk, you would need to be 10" above the rim to be shooting down with the ball. But most near dunkers will be able to slip the ball over the rim and turn their wrist down on the ball to approximate a dunk that is more like a layup. I did that a few times with a women's ball. I couldn't get high enough or get the timing right with a man's ball.

Yup, my math was off. doh! There are plenty of videos where guys are dunking while just barely getting over the rim and not palming the ball. just using the inertia of the ball to keep it in their fingertips. I can't do it but like I said, with enough attempts it can happen. I guess the definition of a dunk matters too.

Ask HOOPSBEAST: How Tall Do You Have To Be To Dunk? - HOOPSBEAST

"On average, a person’s standing reach is around 1.33 times greater than their height." That puts' a 5'10" person's reach at 7'9".

Difficult: 5′ 7″ – 5′ 9″​

Challenging: 5′ 10″ – 6′​

Normal: 6′ 1″ – 6′ 3″​

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Former UConn TE Tommy Myers lead the NATION in rebounding at Coventry High because he was 6’6” and other teams in the Patriot Conference would have maybe one dude who was over 6’2”

This is classic nelson. EVERYONE ELSE IS WRONG BUT ME. THAT MAKES SENSE.

I was saying that sub 6' posters who claimed they dunked back in the day are almost certainly full of Spartacus.

I don't know how your argument that a 6'6 guy would outrebound a bunch of 6'2 guys is evidence that my claim is wrong.

 

[Kenny11]

I’ve know guys short guys that were bench players or didn’t even make the high school varsity team not just in cities but in towns like manchester, East Hartford, even small schools like Cheney tech and others..with kids that easily dunk. There’s athletes everywhere.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Yup, my math was off. doh! There are plenty of videos where guys are dunking while just barely getting over the rim and not palming the ball. just using the inertia of the ball to keep it in their fingertips. I can't do it but like I said, with enough attempts it can happen. I guess the definition of a dunk matters too.

Ask HOOPSBEAST: How Tall Do You Have To Be To Dunk? - HOOPSBEAST

"On average, a person’s standing reach is around 1.33 times greater than their height." That puts' a 5'10" person's reach at 7'9".

Difficult: 5′ 7″ – 5′ 9″​

Challenging: 5′ 10″ – 6′​

Normal: 6′ 1″ – 6′ 3″​

That link is hilarious. How come anyone shoots the ball in basketball? They should all be dunking all the time.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Dunk Calculator - How High Do I Need to Jump to Dunk?

The vertical jump calculator will tell you the jump height you need to touch the rim, to dunk or throw down the Vince Carter 360° windmill.

www.thehoopsgeek.com

This is a more reality based link to estimate how tall you need to be to dunk.

 

[Kolumbo]

That link is hilarious. How come anyone shoots the ball in basketball? They should all be dunking all the time.

The same reason Carlton, Whaley, Polley and Sanogo don't dunk on every possession. Defense.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Yup, my math was off. doh! There are plenty of videos where guys are dunking while just barely getting over the rim and not palming the ball. just using the inertia of the ball to keep it in their fingertips. I can't do it but like I said, with enough attempts it can happen. I guess the definition of a dunk matters too.

Ask HOOPSBEAST: How Tall Do You Have To Be To Dunk? - HOOPSBEAST

"On average, a person’s standing reach is around 1.33 times greater than their height." That puts' a 5'10" person's reach at 7'9".

Difficult: 5′ 7″ – 5′ 9″​

Challenging: 5′ 10″ – 6′​

Normal: 6′ 1″ – 6′ 3″​

this! and talking physics now, the essential issue for hops barely sufficient yet handsize challenged playas, is the instinct or learned ability to be able to keep, even just one fanger, above the balls center of gravity when ur at the rim. just push it down. math is our friend.

 

[billybud]

Baseball player...had a good arm....dunked a few clowns over the water tank....I could hit the target...dunking a basketball? No...nada,..wasn't happening..

 

[Doctor Hoop]

I'm 61, have put on 20 unnecessary pounds, have lost an inch of height with time, and have one sore knee, so no. I was 54 when I finally hung it up in the rec league. It was a good run.

But back in the day, when I had some lift and could palm the ball ...

 

[Lefty2one]

Playing ball in and around New Haven for 30 years, there were enough sub-6' guys who could dunk the ball, and not just on a crooked park rim.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

and now, a physics haiku for shorties who wanna slam.

'on the way up, u
must keep the force below the
C.O.G. learn this!

if you don't, they'll call
you butterfingers, and weak.
don't be a weak snack.

on the way down, u
must keep the force above the
C.O.G. learn this!

if you don't, they'll call
you lame. weaksauce. a poser.
don't be a poser.

 

[SoFla Steve]

Does my Nerf hoop count?
I thought not.

 

[uconndogs]

Never could, but probably just as well because if I did I would be incorrigible.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I’ve know guys short guys that were bench players or didn’t even make the high school varsity team not just in cities but in towns like manchester, East Hartford, even small schools like Cheney tech and others..with kids that easily dunk. There’s athletes everywhere.

I think there's a difference between there being shorter folks who are able to dunk and 30+% of this board being able to dunk at some point in their life.

 

[Kolumbo]

classic

 

[bfs3]

5’9-5’10 and I could only ever get a couple inches of net. I played sports in High School but could never jump. I’m not sure I could reach the net now with my 6 inch vert