Did Michael Jordan really jump from the free-throw line?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 06, 2026
The moment you're thinking of is from one year later in Chicago, when Jordan took flight from the free throw line twice in the 1988 Dunk Contest to beat Dominique Wilkins and repeat as champion. Jordan converted from the free throw line twice, cementing his place in Dunk Contest and NBA history.
Did Jordan really dunk from free-throw line?
Everything was on the line, so he broke out his signature dunk in front of the home crowd. Jordan's dunk from the free-throw line earned him a perfect score and allowed him to successfully defend his title.
Who was the first to jump from the free-throw line?
In the 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest, Julius Erving dunked after leaping from the free-throw line, with his heel on the line, and has since been credited with introducing the free-throw line dunk to the general public.
What year did Michael Jordan jump from the free-throw line?
Top Moments: Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins duel in 1988 dunk contest. Michael Jordan scores a perfect 50 on his free-throw line dunk to defeat Dominique Wilkins.
How far did Jordan jump dunk?
#2 Michael Jordan (46 Inches)
Michael Jordan's vertical jump was officially measured at North Carolina during his time at college. There, he reached a maximum running jump of almost 46 inches and also showed a 42″ vertical or one-handed dunks.
31 related questions foundWhat was Michael Jordan vertical leap?
Michael Jordan's vertical is reportedly anywhere from 42 inches to 48 inches.
Who jumps higher LeBron or Jordan?
#4 LeBron James, AKA King James
Bottom Line: James' 44 inch (4 inches less than Jordan's) vertical leap puts the top of his head a full 4 inches above the rim and only two inches lower than His Airness. This takes into account James' 2 inch height advantage over Jordan.
Who has the longest dunk in NBA history?
And the longest jump in history came from the legendary Mike Powell when he jumped 8.95 meters, or 29.36 feet, in a competition back in 1963. Also, Michael Jordan's longest dunk was estimated at about 14 feet for anyone out there wondering.
Is a 3 point line dunk possible?
As alluded to above, for a player to dunk from the three-point line they will have to be very tall, probably around 7 feet (2.13 meters) tall and long arms. There are many NBA players that fit this specification, but most players at this size do not have the coordination and athletic ability to make a jump of 23 feet.
Did Michael Jordan invent the slam dunk?
A brief history of the dunk
Kurland may be credited with basketball's first dunk, but the first one made in an organized basketball game belongs to the NBA's Joe Fortenberry.
What is Michael Jordan signature dunk called?
Michael Jordan: Rock the Cradle.
Why did NCAA ban dunking?
Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, dominated his opponents because he was a master of this move. To limit the player's dominance, the NCAA banned the slam dunk from 1967 to 1976.
What happens if a player shoots the ball before the buzzer?
A goal counts if the shot was released before the official's whistle signaling the end of play for any period of the game, even if it goes in after having previously contacted part of the goal or a defensive player (post-whistle shots that contact an offensive player in any way before entering the goal, however, do not ...
Who did Michael Jordan dunk on?
Michael Jordan Big Slam on Mark Eaton ! If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Somehow Jordan's epic dunk over Turpin wasn't even his most impressive posterizing dunk over a Jazz big man. That came when he cranked one on the 7-foot-4 giant Mark Eaton.
What is the best dunk of all time?
- Vince Carter: 360 Windmill (2000)
- Vince Carter: Honey Dip (2000) ...
- Michael Jordan: Free-Throw Line Dunk (1988) ...
- Julius Erving: Free-Throw Line Dunk (1976) ...
- Andre Iguodala: Behind-the-Basket Reverse (2006) ...
- Jason Richardson: Off-the-Glass, East Bay Funk Dunk (2004) ...
- Michael Jordan: Kiss the Rim (1987) ...
How many dunk contests did Michael Jordan win?
While Robinson is the only NBA player to win the competition three times, there are five men who have been victorious twice: Dominique Wilkins (1985 and 1990), Michael Jordan (1987 and 1988), Harold Miner (1993 and 1995), Jason Richardson (2002 and 2003) and Zack LaVine (2015 and 2016).
Can a 6 foot person dunk?
To summarize, with a height of about 6 feet, you can dunk a basketball very quickly. But people of shorter height can still fully afford to dunk. Although that means you will have to go through more intense muscle training and vertical jumps. With effort and luck, you will likely dunk.
Can you catch your own airball?
An airball occurs when you shoot the basketball and miss the rim and the backboard. As long as you are not in the NBA, you can catch or rebound your own airball as long as it is an intentional shot. In pickup basketball, high school, college, and international play, this is legal.
Can you jump over the line for a three pointer?
A player is allowed to jump from outside the line and land inside the line to make a three-point attempt, as long as the ball is released in mid-air.
How Long Can Michael Jordan jump?
Michael Jordan jumped to a maximum height of 45.5 inches. In the standard Sargent test, 42 inches was his vertical jump record. After a training period, Michael Jordan has perfected his vertical jumping ability to achieve formidable achievements like now.
How many times did Jordan do the free throw dunk?
The moment you're thinking of is from one year later in Chicago, when Jordan took flight from the free throw line twice in the 1988 Dunk Contest to beat Dominique Wilkins and repeat as champion. Jordan converted from the free throw line twice, cementing his place in Dunk Contest and NBA history.
Did Muggsy Bogues dunk?
Given the fact that Muggsy Bogues didn't ever dunk in-game, the title of “shortest NBA player to dunk” belongs to Spud Webb. Measuring just 5-foot-7, Spud Webb not only dunked in games, but even won the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Who jumps higher Ronaldo or MJ?
Michael Jordan holds the NBA record for a “vertical reach during a jump from running” at 116.8 cm. Cristiano Ronaldo was 71 cm high when he reached the ball. That jumping height is extraordinary for a footballer.
What's Steph Curry's vertical?
Curry doesn't get up especially high. His maximum vertical in pre-draft measurements, back in 2009, was 35.5 inches. Washington guard John Wall's pre-draft max was 39 inches. But beyond leaps and speed, Curry is just as freakish as Westbrook, just as mind-blowing as James.