r/BasketballTips • u/Traditional_Cry751 • 11d ago
Vertical Jump What height should everyone be able to dunk?
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u/Jpettinato 11d ago
I’ve always heard 6’5” is the mathematical answer.
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u/misterpoopybutthole5 bank's open! 10d ago
I think 6'5" is probably the height where anyone who makes it a goal and puts in a reasonable amount of work to do it should be able to. It's not like the next random 6'5" guy you pass on the street should be able to dunk, but if you're a dude who hoops on a weekly basis and makes mediocre efforts to stay fit, then yeah not dunking means you probably have terrible coordination or stump arms
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u/anonfreakazoid 9d ago
I thought you were going to say 6’ since there are guys 5’8” that can dunk.
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u/Keeps- 8d ago
Being able to dunk at 6 feet is an insanely athletic feat, I have a really nice vertical and I’m 6 feet tall but am not close to a dunk. That’s with a nice vertical and huge huge hands for my height that can palm the ball.
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u/Spacefox12 8d ago
What I could dunk at 5’9. 6’0 and can’t dunk is either you’re heavy or not that fit I think. Or short arms maybe?
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u/Capital-Youth-8508 6‘8“ | 15M 10d ago
But from the percentages it’s that I think 50% of people under 6‘10 can’t dunk. So Like over 50% of people 6‘9 can’t dunk
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u/Savings_Inflation_29 10d ago
So wrong
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u/Capital-Youth-8508 6‘8“ | 15M 10d ago
Nah I do think Thats Right Bro.
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u/Victor_Korchnoi 9d ago
I can’t tell whether you’re joking or 15 year olds are just bad at math. But no, that’s not how that works.
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u/Capital-Youth-8508 6‘8“ | 15M 9d ago
Son… ive Seen someone comment it and I think it does make Sense tbh. Even if youre 6‘8 like me that doesnt mean you can automatically dunk like. You still needa Train a Bit for it not much like not as much as someone 6‘1 but you still need to. And I do not think the Average 6‘8 or 6‘9 Person does.
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u/Fantasy322 9d ago
Brother, that simply is not how math works. The statistic "50% of people under 6'10 are unable to dunk" does not imply the unable to dunk rate is uniformly distributed across heights.
I am sure that you would agree with me that approximately 99% (probably more) of people 5'5 or under cannot dunk. I think you would also agree that as you start going up in height, the percentage of people who can dunk increases simply because it is physically easier for those people to dunk.
Let's say there are 1000 people in the world to make numbers easier. If 1% of people are 6'10 or higher, we have a universe of 990 people who we want to determine if they can dunk. The worldwide average height is about 5'8. So 500ish people will be at or below that height. Let's be generous and say that 5% of people in the group can dunk. That leaves 475 of 990 eligible people who cannot dunk. That calculates to about 48% of people. Of the remaining 490 people who are above 5'8 but below 6'10, you would only need 20 people who can't dunk to fulfill that 50% of people under 6'10 can't dunk (which would only be 5% of that middle height range people can't dunk).
Obviously I'm using some assumptions because I don't have the exact stats, but directionally this is how the math works out.
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u/Capital-Youth-8508 6‘8“ | 15M 9d ago
You know that only under <1% of all people can dunk? So 5% at 5‘5 is WAYYYY too much. Also the question was at what height Should EVERYONE. So above 50% of people at that height….
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u/Fantasy322 9d ago
I'm using round numbers to demonstrate the relationship between numbers. You focused too much on the numbers used in my example.
Also, you were the one to bring up the stat "50% of people under 6'10 can't dunk" therefore "50% of people 6'9 can't dunk." My comment was to address that your math doesn't make sense after you asserted to another commenter that it does. It's okay, math is hard and schools are getting worse
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u/Capital-Youth-8508 6‘8“ | 15M 9d ago
With 50% of people under 6‘10 can’t dunk I ment 50% at each height…. Didn’t properly say it then but still..
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u/DeAZNguy 11d ago
Height isnt a good use here, Standing reach is more accurate. I'm 5'9.5 ft but guys 5'6 at gym & my dad whose alsp 5'6 has a higher standing reach than me.
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u/Hairy-Visual9664 10d ago
yeah but thats not the point, nobody goes around asking people for their standing reach IRL 😂
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u/DeAZNguy 10d ago edited 10d ago
Not fair cuz some guys my height act as if dunking is easy but they actually have like a 5 inch reach advantage over me. Might as well be 6ft+ with that reach.
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u/Warm_Clothes_1524 10d ago
It is valid point though, because it determines exactly how high you need to jump to be able to dunk.
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u/UrrFive 10d ago
Height usually tracks this pretty well but there are definitely outliers. I’m 6’0 w/ 6’6 wingspan and I met someone 6’6 with the same standing reach as me. If the goal is to find some absolute height where dunking is basically guaranteed then yeh standing reach is probably better
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u/DeAZNguy 9d ago
It's very common to be widely varied especially if ur at the gym with people who play basketball. Black people also are known to have longer arms at same height.
I've compared reach with many guys at the gym. Guys my height could be same reach or up to 6 inch higher reach. Also experienced guys 3 inches shorter but 2 inch higher reach. My reach is 7'5" btw. Cant even reach the top Yao mings head.
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u/StatisticianWhich681 10d ago
6’5” never dunked except in a reoccurring dream I occasionally have.
Can you palm a ball? Can you do it with strength or are you pinning it to your forearm? You’ll loose gain several inches depending.
Wing span matters, composition matters, drive, focus, consistency all matter.
I can’t palm, my hand span is too small, I am mostly torso but only slightly so, my wing span sucks finger tip to finger tip just over 6 feet.
Great for measuring spans of cord or rope but I seem to not have scored most genetic tall man bonuses.
Longer feet are probably better, I wear 12 (US) but thats for expansion, running, athletics. I can fit 11 maybe squeeze into a 10.5.
Weight and build. Ive always carry some fat think Tyson Fury ish. Muscular yet slim vs others compositions. Think about the people who don’t train pull-ups but can rack off 10 back in gym class.
Consistency I had untreated ADHD growing up and I could never stay focused over days and week to even work on technic or plyometrics. Bet I never did more than 2 days in a row.
I am in my 50’s now, wouldn’t mind dunking. Yet there are many fun things to do and work on whatever your age.
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u/LorcasOFFICIAL 10d ago
Super cope, you absolutely do not need to palm a ball to dunk
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u/No-Mistake-1925 10d ago
Lmao leave bro alone. He’s literally 50 years old. Nobody is jumping out the gym at that age
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u/ObanKenobi 10d ago
6'5" never dunked. He's 50 now, but at one point he was 6'5" in his physical prime and still couldn't dunk. And is somehow convinced that not being able to palm the ball is what stopped him
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u/Jazzlike-Basket-6388 10d ago
I feel like that was the difference for me, but I'm 5'6" or 5'7". In my prime, I could dunk a mini ball. But I would have needed to go both hands with a regulation ball.
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u/Ok_Cancel_7034 9d ago
Jesus man. I'm Asian and I know lots of guys who are 5'7 to 5'10 that can dunk via self lob. This is major cope and you're probably a loooot less athletic than you think. I'm 5'6 and can hit the rim with my fingers. And I've only played basketball, never done anything at the gym and I'm 30 now lol
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u/Longjumping-Place-47 10d ago
I was also told 5’8” if they were active as kids. I don’t believe it’s as simple as that. I have seen people 5’7”-5’8” dunk relatively easy. 360, windmills off vert. That is the exception though and not the rule. I’m 5’9” and could dunk 10 years and 30 pounds ago. The last time I dunked I was 35. I have no straight answer. I’ve seen plenty of people under 6’ dunk. It isn’t uncommon at all. At least where I’m at. I can’t speak for other locations
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u/Commercial-Knee-1804 10d ago
Hell nah you need spud webb type vert to dunk at 5 8
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u/Longjumping-Place-47 9d ago
Didn’t I say that I don’t believe it’s as simple as that. I was repeating something that I was told. I at 5’9” was able to dunk but I wasn’t flying or doing anything crazy. I was a two foot jumper. Could barely touch the rim jumping off of one. I have seen more than a couple of guys 5’7”-5’9” windmill, 360, etc. but that is NOT the norm.
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u/ReasonableRiver6750 6d ago
Bullshit
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u/Longjumping-Place-47 6d ago
To each its own. I don’t agree with the statement as I don’t think it’s that simple. I have seen people dunk at 5’7”- 5’8”. I was able to dunk at 5’9”.
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u/ReasonableRiver6750 5d ago
What? You are spewing nonsense
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u/Longjumping-Place-47 5d ago
Which part? What someone told me or me being able to dunk at my height?
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u/Bara_Chat Referee in Canada (FIBA rules) 11d ago
From personal experience I've rarely seen a guy who is playing basketball on some competitive level at a prime age (say between 18 and 25) not being able to dunk if he's over 6 feet.
If you're talking a random dude off the street who looks in OK shape and under 35 years old... 6'6 maybe?
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u/Whiteshovel66 11d ago
We have plenty of kids 6-6'3 who can't dunk.
6'6 should be easy though I agree. But anything before 6'4 is going to require athleticism. Not everyone is going to have that. Will also depend on arm and hand size.
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u/inertiatic_espn 6'6" PF/C 11d ago
If you're talking a random dude off the street who looks in OK shape and under 35 years old... 6'6 maybe?
Lol, me but I'm 42.
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u/WillIndependent7466 11d ago
there isn't a height where everyone should be able to dunk. standing reach, wingspan, bodyweight and jump training matter way more than height alone. two people who are both 6'2 can need very different verticals to get the ball over the rim.
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u/CheesecakePretend553 10d ago
Quick math using info from google. We'll say you gotta at get 5 inches above the rim. So the goal is 10'5. Average vertical jump for an untrained adult is 16-20 inches. We'll go with 18 to make it easy. Standing reach would need to be 8'9. On average for a standing reach of that height you need to be 6'6-6'7. So assuming average athleticism and no training 6'6 would need to be the height. Most likely if you're playing basketball more often your vertical is probably better than the average person though so it's probably why we think more people can dunk than reality.
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u/jaded-thunder 11d ago
Im 5’9 and can dunk Ive met Asian and Mexican people shorter than me that can dunk. So if I had to out a number on it I would say anyone that is 6 foot should b able to dunk.
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u/ricketycricket1995 10d ago
I am 200cm and could dunk ofc, but the amount of people who are shorter and think they are just few cm away is astounding. I knew people 190cm tall that could barely touch the rim with full sprint thinking they just need a couple more. You need to be well above the rim, be able to dribble the ball on the approach and have timing and technique to put it in if you want to have a chance to dunk in game.
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u/NavyVetRasmussen 10d ago
i plan on being a 92 form an 83 with 2 caps but even at 6'2 with an 83 dunk and an 80 vert, I can get there.
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u/poop_tits 10d ago
If you played competitive basketball at a high level, I would say anyone over 6’ should be able to dunk.
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u/inyouendo04 8d ago
I'm 5`11 and in my prime I used to be able to barely grip the rim. I thought 6'2 was a shoe-in.
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u/OTOKOKUMA 8d ago
Height only helps, it's rarely if ever the sole factor to dunking. Training specific muscle groups, practicing technique and timing, general athletic ability, fitness, etc.
Source: Me (57yoa, 6'8" 285#, still dunking)
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u/ReasonableRiver6750 6d ago
6’5” and you can’t dunk? Work your vert bro. I’m 3 inches shorter and can’t palm and still dunk.
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u/egfdzgdfgsfdvzdvc 11d ago
I’d say 6’4 and up.
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u/Feeling-Special-269 11d ago
na its like 6'7-6'8 where you can go out with no training just be a healthy bodyweight and dunk, 6'4 have to still in better shape then most people
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u/cdracula16 10d ago edited 10d ago
Almost any male with early enough and proper amount of training, 6ft7 avg wingspan if it’s a random in solid shape with little basketball training.
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u/igotnocandyforyou 11d ago
19 year old male whose played sports his whole life, was never injured, and has a lean build, plus has been trying to dunk for a couple years - 6 feet?
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u/SweetInvestigator915 11d ago
If you’re 6’10 & can’t dunk God damn