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=aIEm5...eature=related

[CardiacKemba]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIEm5...eature=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.

[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:

[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...ha3Bo60#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