Who has the highest release point on their shot?

[Im Still Ballin]

I was watching some '70s Knicks footage today. I was amazed at how long Phil Jackson's arms were and how high his release point was.

https://i.ibb.co/JHMH2tC/7m3bvt.gif

https://i.ibb.co/kJVTqvH/7m3d57.gif

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/143586785/photo/los-angeles-lakers-v-new-york-knicks.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=_p6M5LMfRnXdJDdzdqRpcbhKqvO-m8QzIHezLh3nTlg=

The shot release is determined by anthropometry and technique. Guys like Marion, McHale, and Phil Jackson have odd-looking shots because of their long arms and broad shoulders.

Phil's release is pretty damn high; probably the highest for a guy 6'8" or shorter. Maybe even 6'10" and under. Durant is an obvious name, but he doesn't quite have the same extreme technique as P-Jax does.

So, who does have the highest release ever? Has to be Wemby, right? Phil's combination of long arms, jumping, and catapult technique is hard to beat.

[Im Still Ballin]

Here's KD's shooting technique. More of an outward motion; not as much verticality as P-Jax:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOtMzRuCMn8

[Wally450]

I always though KG's shot would be hard to block for anyone. 7'0 frame with a high release.

https://www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2009/12/05/b0f14576ec_KG_12052009.jpg?w=535

[Jasper]

I always though KG's shot would be hard to block for anyone. 7'0 frame with a high release.

https://www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2009/12/05/b0f14576ec_KG_12052009.jpg?w=535

there where several player s IMO ... Mchale , Wilt, even Kareem , Dawson , Cauldwell , iceman, and many others ...
But I think Garnett was the most consistent .

[highwhey]

book has a really high one too

https://www.yourbasin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/78/2021/11/bd7a831192564336948016aaa3e54e2a.jpg?strip=1

[tpols]

Dirk highest.

Shawn Marion lowest.

[StrongLurk]

Jokic has a high release.

[Patrick Chewing]

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZKX6rE3VJNXnl6hF45WrGY1S7A0=/1400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19829186/96360473.jpg.jpg

[Kblaze8855]

Alex English shot damn near standing straight up like a spear but he didn’t jump much.

[j3lademaster]

If we're including height and elevation on jumpshots, it's probably Gerald Green. Dude is flirting with a 30 inch vert on his j's on top of being a long 6'8 or 6'9

https://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/tumblr_mz4qi03FJN1shf1upo1_1280.jpg

That lift is insane. Imagine jumping mid 20's- 30 inches effortlessly like that. On every J.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5wnyhnJKxM

If we're talking pure release point on shooting mechanics, I'm going Chris Webber.

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1574149/photo/chris-webber-of-the-sacramento-kings-makes-a-jump-shot-against-the-denver-nuggets-in-the-second.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=G92gmG8MJzzmJKtXiqMo8RycHj5NvLLLxey_4Y-bG4o=

Didn't know much about Pjax as a player besides he was a scrappy roleplayer for the knicks, but based on the pics he's a strong contender here with a real funky looking J.

[j3lademaster]

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZKX6rE3VJNXnl6hF45WrGY1S7A0=/1400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19829186/96360473.jpg.jpgPretty sure op is talking jumpshots here. Otherwise, a dunk is a type of "shot" as well and we're bringing Javale Mcgee into this conversation.

[tpols]

Pretty sure op is talking jumpshots here. Otherwise, a dunk is a type of "shot" as well and we're bringing Javale Mcgee into this conversation.

The skyhook is technically a jump shot. It's clearly not a dunk... he's jumping and he's shooting.

[j3lademaster]

The skyhook is technically a jump shot. It's clearly not a dunk... he's jumping and he's shooting.By that same logic, you're jumping and shooting when you dunk too.

[tpols]

By that same logic, you're jumping and shooting when you dunk too.

Dunkers release the ball as they slam it through the rim. Kareem probably had his hand 12 feet in the air on those shot releases.

[Im Still Ballin]

More of a hook shot, isn't it?

[Patrick Chewing]

Yeah a hook shot is a jump shot but with primarily one hand. You are "jumping" when you shoot the hook shot, hence, "jumpshot". Dunking is completely different. The category should include any shot that is not a dunk.

That's why, considering how Kareem's sky hook was released with his arm straight up, the apex of that shot has to be higher than any other shot in my opinion.

[j3lademaster]

Dunkers release the ball as they slam it through the rim.I know how a dunk works. It's a shot, you're taking a "shot" at the basket. if you make it it's 1/1 fg, if you miss you're 0/1. Let's not re-invent the wheel here, when someone says "jumpshot" you know what they mean. We're just debate-lording for the sake of being annoying at this point.


Kareem probably had his hand 12 feet in the air on those shot releases.Yeah, zero chance of that. 12 feet is insane.

[tpols]

Kareem had a 10 foot standing reach and a 40 inch vertical. It's not far fetched at all which is why the shot was defined as being unguardable due to release point

[hateraid]

If we're talking release point then Larry Bird should be mentioned. He shot from behind his head.
I also remember Josh Richardson having a high release point. This of course is without including elevation I'm assuming

[j3lademaster]

Kareem had a 10 foot standing reach and a 40 inch vertical. It's not far fetched at all which is why the shot was defined as being unguardable due to release pointA 7'2 with a 40 in vert would get his head half a foot over the rim. 40 in verts don't grow on trees, my guy, there's been like a handful of dudes in the NBA who can claim that with evidence(one is a 40 year old VC, which is damn impressive). I know Kareem's hook shot was unguardable, I'm not contending that, or that KAJ was a freak athlete. I'm contending your claim he'd jump 24 inches on them. That's insane lift to be getting casually on your normal shots, it just doesn't impress people on paper because "40 in vert" gets thrown around irresponsibly.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yPpNYESLyaCUf00UmEgjyoZcVVI=/1400x1400/filters:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24012202/1212112436.jpg

That's like... 4-5 in? Maybe 6 at most?

This is how these tall tales about old players start.

[Kblaze8855]

Kareem could get up but he wasn’t gonna go all out for a hook. Even the ones over wilt he didn’t need to do all that. He could shoot it higher without jumping higher.

Ive seen him around head level with the rim though.

[Patrick Chewing]

A 7'2 with a 40 in vert would get his head half a foot over the rim. 40 in verts don't grow on trees, my guy, there's been like a handful of dudes in the NBA who can claim that with evidence(one is a 40 year old VC, which is damn impressive). I know Kareem's hook shot was unguardable, I'm not contending that, or that KAJ was a freak athlete. I'm contending your claim he'd jump 24 inches on them. That's insane lift to be getting casually on your normal shots, it just doesn't impress people on paper because "40 in vert" gets thrown around irresponsibly.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yPpNYESLyaCUf00UmEgjyoZcVVI=/1400x1400/filters:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24012202/1212112436.jpg

That's like... 4-5 in? Maybe 6 at most?

This is how these tall tales about old players start.

That's definitely closer to 12 inches off the ground. In fact, Kareem is still rising in that pic as the shot would not have been released as he was on the way down. I don't know, the title of the thread asks for highest release point, and with his arm straight up in the air and not at an angle like a regular two-handed jump shot, it's hard to argue that Kareem did not have the highest release point at the time or all time.

[j3lademaster]

That's definitely closer to 12 inches off the ground. In fact, Kareem is still rising in that pic as the shot would not have been released as he was on the way down. I don't know, the title of the thread asks for highest release point, and with his arm straight up in the air and not at an angle like a regular two-handed jump shot, it's hard to argue that Kareem did not have the highest release point at the time or all time.If op's intention was asking for the highest release point period and used a jumpshot as his example, then he has a really dumb understanding of how basketball works as ANY hook shot or layup is going to have higher release point than jumpshots. He seems like a pretty intelligent guy from the little interactions I've had with him, so assuming this thread wasn't made from a lack of understanding the game I assume he meant strictly jumpshots. I'm always open to being wrong. If it's any shot that isn't a dunk, then yeah I'll go with either the skyhook or the Wilt's drop step finger-roll.

[Spurs m8]

Wemby :pimp:

[Jasper]

I was referring to jump shots... Kareem had a left wing jumper , and it was one of the highest.
A hook shot parleys to a layup ... I don't count that.
Kareem's hook used to not arc. put all most throw down.
I saw in many angles in the Milwaukee mecca arena.
He walked by me once in the tunnel , and it was un real !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Round Mound]

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZKX6rE3VJNXnl6hF45WrGY1S7A0=/1400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19829186/96360473.jpg.jpg

This