With the 2023 NBA draft set to take place on the night of Thursday, June 22nd, a new cohort of athletes (some, admittedly, less athletic than others) will be joining the Boston Celtics and the rest of the league, at least for a little while in some cases.
Much of what will determine how well they will do in their prospective careers in the association in a sport where verticality is key is their ability to leap from both a standing and running position. To determine that aspect of their overall toolkit, players are measured for their maximum vertical reach in both contexts at the NBA Combine ahead of the draft.
A number of Celtics alumni can be found among the highest leapers in combine history — let’s take a look at which made the history books courtesy of research from the staff of our sister site, HoopsHype.
The 2023 NBA draft could be key to any big moves made by Boston or they could have a quiet night picking No. 35; we explore that range. https://t.co/3b1NwmeFYM
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 22, 2023
15. Marcus Thornton, 2015
Max vertical leap: 43 inches
Standing vertical leap: 34.5 inches
12. Nate Robinson, 2004
Max vertical leap: 43.5 inches
Standing vertical leap: 35.5 inches
8. Demetrius Jackson, 2016
Max vertical leap: 43.5 inches
Standing vertical leap: 37.5 inches
6. Shane Larkin, 2013
Max vertical leap: 44 inches
Standing vertical leap: 34.5 inches
Let’s take a look at which Celtics alumni landed where. https://t.co/RWfmBbX8Gh
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 21, 2023
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