I saw that 28 inches quoted online, I looked more and think that number maybe quite old. The average vertical at the combine increased dramatically from 2004-2013. I think this is do to overall increased strength training by college players, and some more focus on "jump training" at the individual level as players prepare for the combine. Here are the increases: Power Forward: 2013: 35.7 inches 2004: 31.3 inches Change: 4.4 inches Small Forward: 2013: 36.9. inches 2004: 34.8 inches Change: 2.1 inches Shooting Guard: 2013: 36.5 inches 2004: 34.5. inches Change: 2 inches Point Guard: 2013: 38.3 inches 2004: 33.8 inches Change: 4.5 inches Just thought this was interesting.
I don't have a lot of faith in these recorded numbers. You see guys like Brandon Ingram and Giannis being praised for their high vertical leaps, but the truth is that neither one of them can jump high. They have long reach. A lot of people see their horizontal leaps and confuse it with vertical leaps. A guy like Zion has a high vert. You know it when you see it.
How high you can get is what is important and how quickly you can get there also matters. A long player that gets to a certain height is actually better than a shorter player that gets there because he gets there faster.
That's cool. We are talking about two different things, though. What you said doesn't counter what I said, and vice-versa.
