The highest vertical jump ever measured at the NBA Draft Combine is 48.0 inches, by Keon Johnson in 2021. Kenny Gregory set the old mark of 45.5 inches in 2001, and Tobi Lawal matched it in 2026.
Highest Max Verticals at the NBA Combine
| Player | Combine year | Max vertical |
|---|---|---|
| Keon Johnson | 2021 | 48.0 inches |
| Kenny Gregory | 2001 | 45.5 inches |
| Tobi Lawal | 2026 | 45.5 inches |
| Jericho Sims | 2021 | 44.5 inches |
| Hamidou Diallo | 2017 | 44.5 inches |
| Cassius Stanley | 2020 | 44.0 inches |
| Kay Felder | 2016 | 44.0 inches |
| Pat Connaughton | 2015 | 44.0 inches |
| Shane Larkin | 2013 | 44.0 inches |
Sources: NBA.com, highest max vertical leaps and Virginia Tech for Lawal. When NBA.com published its list, 129 players, or 7.19 percent of those tested, had reached 40 inches.
How the Test Works
The combine reports two jumps. The standing vertical leap starts from a stop. The max vertical leap allows a running start. Both are scored as the height a player touches minus his standing reach.
The test covers players who go through the combine in a given year, so it is not a ranking of every player in league history. A max vertical also does not tell you how high a player jumps in a game.
Training and Tools
The dunk calculator shows how much jump a player needs from his own height and reach. For training, see vertical jump training, plyometric exercises and strength training for basketball. For finishing at the rim, see layup drills.
The rest of this set covers the shortest NBA players, the tallest NBA players and the oldest NBA players.
Questions Coaches Ask About NBA Vertical Jumps
Who has the highest vertical jump in the NBA?
Keon Johnson has the highest max vertical in NBA Draft Combine history at 48.0 inches, set in 2021. A player who never tested at the combine has no number on this list.
What was the record before Keon Johnson?
Kenny Gregory's 45.5 inches from 2001.
What is the difference between standing and max vertical?
The standing vertical starts from a stop. The max vertical allows a running start.
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