What happened to LeBron's vertical leap?

[Rowe]

Looking through some of his dunks from his days in Cleveland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAUQBGFwqJs

What happened to his vertical?

Hes mainly become a power dunker, but even with that it doesn't look like he gets up as high as he did a few years ago.

Its not like hes had any injuries to affect it, did his weight/muscle gain over the last 2-3 years affect his explosiveness? Last I saw he was at 265 lbs after working out with Wade's trainer this offseason, which is about 30lbs heavier than he was in Cleveland.

[CardiacKemba]

Looking through some of his dunks from his days in Cleveland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAUQBGFwqJs

What happened to his vertical?

Hes mainly become a power dunker, but even with that it doesn't look like he gets up as high as he did a few years ago.

Its not like hes had any injuries to affect it, did his weight/muscle gain over the last 2-3 years affect his explosiveness? Last I saw he was at 265 lbs after working out with Wade's trainer this offseason, which is about 30lbs heavier than he was in Cleveland.

1. That easily wasn't one of his highest jumps.
2. He still gets his head up to the rim this season.

I guess you could argue that he isn't as 'explosive' as he was at Cleveland, but in my opinion this season he seems to have gained a lot of that explosiveness back (still not to the level of 2/3 years ago though).

[Go Getter]

It gets old after you've been in the league for years. Dunking hurts your hands sometimes and he doesn't have that youthful exuberance or desire to prove that he can do miraculous slams.

After awhile it just becomes 2pts.

[Nash]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIEm5AZsQFQ&feature=related

[CardiacKemba]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIEm5AZsQFQ&feature=related

So much hangtime. I don't want to say it....but flying through the air like that reminds me of a certain former flyer...

[ukballer]

We get this thread at least 5 times every season for the last 3 seasons or so now. :oldlol:

[DrunkenDave]

Physical peak is actually around the age of 18, the problem is most people havent trained enough before turning 18, so for most it is early 20s, like 21 or 22. Your body begins to decline AFTER that, that means your decline begins at 23, 24 etc. So sure he cant get as high as he used to. I dont get the point of these "ZOMFG LEBRON LOST HIS ATHLETICISM HE SUX NAO" threads. Sure he has, but he is still the best athlete around imo. Even Jordan, Carter, Kobe... coudnt get as up with 27 as they could with 21.

[2swift4u]

it's normal to lose some hops as you get older. but as mentioned before, he actually looks a bit more explosive to me this year than last season. But obviously he'll never be 20 again..

[SlayerEnraged]

Kinda randombut I'm 18 and gained like a 12 inch verticle verticle in like 2 months and no I can't dunk cause I'm short but this came simply from doing leg workouts and while I have sprained achiles hill...I bet if I let it heal I could dunk but I got a bball season and don't wanna sit out.

[Lebron23]

He's 27 yrs.old, and on his 9th NBA Season. He was a much better athlete when he was still younger. He's still a world class athlete in the NBA, but younger athletes like Griffin are currently dominating the NBA highlight Reel.

[arifgokcen]

He still has one of the highest hops in nba.I have seen couple of head at the rim jumps.However we are gonna miss these kind of jumps.Nobody at his size 270lbs has jumped like that before.This is just sick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNOOoZZB9BY

What we dont realize is he jumps off of one leg.Like kobe said he has a bionic left leg.

[pauk]

He still has one of the highest hops in nba.I have seen couple of head at the rim jumps.However we are gonna miss these kind of jumps.Nobody at his size 270lbs has jumped like that before.This is just sick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNOOoZZB9BY

What we dont realize is he jumps off of one leg.Like kobe said he has a bionic left leg.

That was the same year just before he went to Miami........


and no... there is nothing wrong with Lebrons vertical today:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2EXfqqcAyDA/TRTsji6x3SI/AAAAAAAAOf8/AWHmE66f9WA/JHP10_NBA_36285.JPG
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/2382/25038825.jpg

[lilgodfather1]

The guy can still touch the top of the box. Let's calm down on this h ost his athletecism stuff.

[pauk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=EwQhha3Bo60#t=177s

[arifgokcen]

Sorry guys you may all be right, seeing other videos,wow he still got it,he just doesn't do it very often,anyways thanks for the video,pics

[pegasus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=EwQhha3Bo60#t=177s

That rim is shorter, and you know it.

[Vienceslav]

One of those days this thread will actually have substance , but i think it lies more than 4 years in the future , so please stop it.

[DaHeezy]

He' also a lot bigger than those days. Harder to get up higher when you're carrying more girth

[Force]

Physical peak is actually around the age of 18, the problem is most people havent trained enough before turning 18, so for most it is early 20s, like 21 or 22. Your body begins to decline AFTER that, that means your decline begins at 23, 24 etc. So sure he cant get as high as he used to. I dont get the point of these "ZOMFG LEBRON LOST HIS ATHLETICISM HE SUX NAO" threads. Sure he has, but he is still the best athlete around imo. Even Jordan, Carter, Kobe... coudnt get as up with 27 as they could with 21.

Stop posting. 18 as a physical peak? 18 year olds still don't have any man strength this post is crazy. This isn't women's gymnastics. 18 is not the physical peak. OMG at how bad this post this.

[LAClipsFan33]

Lebron is being smart enough to not blow energy in games jumping as high as he can to do dunk when he gain exert less energy and still score two points. He can still get high enough to put his chin over the rim. He chooses not to...

[bingo123]

I think he plays a lot smarter now. He realised he has to calm down a little bit so he can be healthier and conserve more energy for playoffs and longevity. Just my opinion.

[ShaqAttack3234]

Last I saw he was at 265 lbs after working out with Wade's trainer this offseason, which is about 30lbs heavier than he was in Cleveland.

Lebron was 245 at the pre-draft camp in '03 when he looked like this. I believe he dropped down to 242 by training camp of his rookie year, but same thing.

http://images.quizilla.com/N/nelly25/1059119795_mes_030626.jpg

He's been 260+ since at least '07-'08. It has more to do with Lebron being in his 9th season as Lebron23 said. Being a bit lighter might help him keep his explosiveness as he ages like Kobe in '07-'08 when he lost 20 pounds, but his game seems to be fine right now. He's playing unbelievably well to start the season and his game wasn't the problem last year year either, so if he keeps playing like this, I'm not sure it's an issue, even if he doesn't have the highlights he did around '06 or '08.

[Indian guy]

Really? His vertical leap, that's what stood out to you? The most telling thing about that highlight is the acceleration LeBron puts on for the drive. That's what he CAN'T do anymore. His jumping ability is just fine on the other hand for his age.

[Pushxx]

Really? His vertical leap, that's what stood out to you? The most telling thing about that highlight is the acceleration LeBron puts on for the drive. That's what he CAN'T do anymore. His jumping ability is just fine on the other hand for his age.

This.

[DrunkenDave]

Stop posting. 18 as a physical peak? 18 year olds still don't have any man strength this post is crazy. This isn't women's gymnastics. 18 is not the physical peak. OMG at how bad this post this.

Fail. Dont post if you dont know anything. The human body is at his peak at around 18. At 18, you have the most hops (on average, there are always exceptions). The problem is, LIKE I ****ING SAID IN MY POST ABOVE, that nobody, not even pro athletes, train enough to hit there possible peak.
Muscles grow til you are in your mid 20s, but thats it. If trained properly, you are the best at about 18. Learn to read.
(Here is a hint for you: your regeneration ablities hit their peak at 18 too, thats not a coincidence...)

[Rowe]

Really? His vertical leap, that's what stood out to you? The most telling thing about that highlight is the acceleration LeBron puts on for the drive. That's what he CAN'T do anymore. His jumping ability is just fine on the other hand for his age.

You've brought that up before.

[che guevara]

Watch the dunk at 7:00:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20H9sO_rAx0

Godly athleticism there, that's the type of play that current Lebron can no longer make. His vertical hasn't been affected much.

[andgar923]

It gets old after you've been in the league for years. Dunking hurts your hands sometimes and he doesn't have that youthful exuberance or desire to prove that he can do miraculous slams.

After awhile it just becomes 2pts.

Tell me about it. I know I hate it when my wrists are all bruised up from all the dunking.

:D

[KevinNYC]

Fail. Dont post if you dont know anything. The human body is at his peak at around 18. At 18, you have the most hops (on average, there are always exceptions). The problem is, LIKE I ****ING SAID IN MY POST ABOVE, that nobody, not even pro athletes, train enough to hit there possible peak.
Muscles grow til you are in your mid 20s, but thats it. If trained properly, you are the best at about 18. Learn to read.
(Here is a hint for you: your regeneration ablities hit their peak at 18 too, thats not a coincidence...)

So you hit your physical peak several years before you finish building muscle...um, explain how.