When you see a guy like Ja Morant or Anthony Edwards seemingly hover in the air for a second too long, it feels like physics just took a smoke break. You start wondering about the numbers. We’ve all heard the legends of 50-inch leaps and seen the grainy footage of 1980s stars looking down at the rim, but who actually has the highest vertical in the NBA today, and how does that stack up against the all-time records?
The truth is a bit messy.
The NBA doesn’t exactly keep an "official" live leaderboard of every player's vertical jump throughout the season. Instead, we rely on a mix of NBA Combine data, private workout leaks, and those eye-popping moments where a player's chin is level with the cylinder. If you want the short answer for 2026, the crown for the highest vertical in the NBA is currently a battle between a young record-breaker and a few dunk contest icons.
The Modern Record: Keon Johnson’s 48-Inch Flight
If we are talking about cold, hard, verified data, Keon Johnson is the man you’re looking for. Back in 2021, while he was still a prospect out of Tennessee, Johnson absolutely shattered the NBA Draft Combine record. He posted a 48-inch max vertical leap.
To put that in perspective, he broke the previous record of 45.5 inches held by Kenny Gregory, which had stood since 2001. When Keon jumped, scouts weren't just impressed—they were genuinely confused. A 48-inch jump means if you’re 6'5" like Keon, your head is effectively hitting the rim.
While his NBA career has seen him move from the Blazers to the Nets, that explosive twitch hasn't gone anywhere. He’s often tied at the top of athletic rankings because, quite honestly, once you hit 48 inches, there isn't much higher a human being can go without a trampoline.
The Challenger: Mac McClung
Then there’s the guy who saved the Slam Dunk Contest. Mac McClung might spend a lot of time in the G-League, but when he’s on an NBA floor, he’s arguably the most explosive pound-for-pound leaper in the world. His verified combine vertical was 43.5 inches, but those who train with him—like the famous vertical coach Paul Fabritz—have suggested his "unlimited approach" jump (the kind he uses for those 540-degree dunks) pushes closer to that 47 or 48-inch mark.
Who Has the Highest Vertical in the NBA All-Time?
We can't talk about verticality without mentioning the ghost of 1984. Michael Jordan is widely credited with a 48-inch vertical.
Some people call it a myth. Others point to the 1988 dunk contest as proof. Whether it was exactly 48 inches or "only" 46, His Airness set the gold standard. But he wasn't alone at the top. Darrell Griffith, known as "Dr. Dunkenstein," also reportedly cleared 48 inches during his time with the Utah Jazz.
Honestly, it’s hard to compare eras because of how they measured back then. Today, we use laser-calibrated Vertec machines; in 1980, they were basically using a piece of chalk and a prayer.
Other High-Flyers in the Record Books
- Spud Webb: At just 5'7", his 46-inch vertical is arguably more impressive than Jordan's. He had to jump higher just to reach the same rim.
- Zach LaVine: The Kings guard (and former Bulls legend) has a verified 46-inch max vertical. What makes LaVine special is how effortless it looks—he glides rather than jumps.
- Dennis Smith Jr.: Another member of the 48-inch club. Smith Jr. reportedly hit that number during a workout with the Lakers, proving that his ACL recovery was nothing short of miraculous.
- Zion Williamson: Zion is a different beast entirely. At 280+ lbs, his 45-inch vertical is terrifying. It’s like a refrigerator being shot out of a cannon.
Why Some Numbers Are Deceptive
You’ve probably seen TikToks claiming Bronny James or some high school phenom has a 55-inch vertical. Don't believe everything you scroll past.
There is a massive difference between a standing vertical and a max vertical.
A standing vertical is exactly what it sounds like: no steps, just raw power from a stationary position. Most NBA players hover between 28 and 32 inches here.
The "Max Vertical" allows for a run-up. That’s where the 40+ inch numbers come from.
Also, beware of "reach" tricks. At the combine, some players will intentionally "short-arm" their standing reach measurement. By making their reach look shorter, their vertical jump looks higher because the distance between the two points is greater. Scouts are usually smart enough to catch this, but it’s why some workout numbers seem inflated.
The Evolution of the Leap
LeBron James, even in his 40s, still maintains a vertical that’s reportedly around 40 inches. That’s insane. Most people lose their "bounce" by 30. LeBron’s longevity is a mix of billion-dollar body maintenance and pure genetic luck.
Younger stars like Amen and Ausar Thompson are the new generation of leapers. Amen, specifically, has been rated with the highest vertical attribute in recent years, often hitting that 44-inch range with such speed that defenders don't have time to leave the ground.
Verticality isn't just about dunks, though. It's about "functional bounce." Guys like Derrick Jones Jr. or Shaedon Sharpe use their vertical to snatch rebounds that should be out of reach or to block shots at the top of the square. Sharpe, in particular, has a vertical that many insiders believe is the highest in the league right now, even if he hasn't officially broken Keon Johnson's combine record yet.
If you’re trying to improve your own bounce, don't just do endless calf raises. The highest jumpers in the NBA focus on plyometrics and posterior chain strength.
Start by recording your standing reach and then your max touch against a backboard. If you want to see what a real 48-inch leap looks like, go watch Keon Johnson’s 2021 Combine tape. It’s basically a glitch in the Matrix.
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To track how these athletes keep their bounce as they age, you should look into the specific plyometric routines used by trainers like Pjf Performance, who works with some of the league's top dunkers.