The top NBA Combine stats you need to know

The NBA Combine is a great opportunity for players to showcase their skills and talents in front of NBA scouts and personnel. Here are the top stats you need to know from this year’s event.

Introduction

The National Basketball Association (NBA) Combine is an annual event that tests the skills and physical attributes of prospective NBA players The event is invite-only and takes place in early May, prior to the NBA draft Over the years, the Combine has become increasingly important for players seeking to be drafted into the NBA.

The Combine features a number of different drills and tests, including the Vertical Jump bench press and lane agility test. While all of these drills are important, there are a few that stand out as particularly relevant for NBA prospects Here are the top five NBA Combine stats you need to know:

1. vertical jump The vertical jump is a measure of a player’s explosiveness and lower-body strength. It’s also one of the best predictors of success in the NBA. Players with a high vertical jump tend to be more successful at shooting, rebounding, and blocking shots.

2. bench press The bench press is a measure of a player’s upper-body strength. A high bench press score indicates that a player has the strength to body up with bigger players in the post or fight for rebounds.

3. Lane Agility Test: The lane agility test is a measure of a player’s speed and quickness. Players with high scores in this drill tend to fare well in transition offense and defense, as well as in half-court settings.

4. Standing Reach: The standing reach is a measure of a player’s height without shoes. It’s important because it allows scouts to accurately compare players of different heights. Players with longer standing reaches tend to have an advantage on both ends of the court, especially when it comes to shot blocking and rebounding.

5. Three-point shooting While shooting isn’t typically considered a “Combine drill,” it has become increasingly important in recent years as the NBA has shifted toward a more perimeter-oriented game. Players who can shoot well from beyond the arc tend to have an advantage over those who can’t, so it’s no surprise that Three-Point Shooting has become one of the most important skills for NBA prospects to showcase at the Combine

Height

Height is always one of the most talked-about stats at the NBA Combine and for good reason. While there are many players who have overcome being shorter than average to have successful NBA careers, height remains one of the biggest factors in determining success at the professional level.

The average height of an NBA player is just under 6’7”, and the vast majority of players fall within a few inches of that mark. However, there are always a few outliers who are either much taller or much shorter than the rest of the pack.

There are a number of different combine drills that focus on height, but perhaps the most consequential is the max vertical leap. This drill not only measures how high a player can jump, but also how explosive they are. Players who can jump higher and explode off the ground are usually more successful at the professional level, regardless of their height.

Weight

Weight is always an important factor in any sport, but especially in basketball. Heavier players have an advantage in the post, while lighter players have an advantage in speed and quickness. The ideal weight for a player depends on his or her position.

For example, centers are usually the heaviest players on the court, whereas point guards are usually the lightest. Heavier players also tend to play fewer minutes than lighter players, so their stats may not be as impressive when compared to those of their leaner counterparts.

The table below shows the average weight of NBA players by position.

| POSITION | AVERAGE WEIGHT |
|———-|—————-|
| Center | 245 pounds |
| Power Forward | 240 pounds |
| small forward | 220 pounds |
| shooting guard | 210 pounds |
| point guard | 190 pounds |

Wingspan

One of the main areas of focus during the NBA combine is a player’s wingspan. Many coaches and scouts believe that a longer wingspan can help a player on both ends of the floor, especially on defense.

While there is no set measurement for what qualifies as a “long” wingspan in the NBA, the average wingspan for a shooting guard is around 6’7″. The average point guard is around 6’3″.

Some of the longest wingspans recorded at the NBA Combine belong to players like Tacko Fall (7’5″), Josh Jackson (7’0″), and 7-footers Kevin Durant and Rudy Gobert All four of those players have reached at least the All-Star game in their careers.

A few other notable players with unusually long wingspans are Brook Lopez (7’3″), Giannis Antetokounmpo (7’2″), and Lebron James (6’9″).

Vertical Leap

or “how high can you jump?”

The answer to that question is important if you want to play in the NBA. That’s because the higher you can jump, the better your chance of getting rebounds and blocked shots, two very important stats for any basketball player

At the NBA Combine, all potential draft picks are measured in a variety of ways, including their vertical leap. This stat is important because it gives scouts an idea of how high a player can jump and how well they will be able to rebound and block shots at the professional level.

Here are some of the top vertical leaps from recent combine tests:

-Dwayne Wade: 46 inches
--Jason Richardson 46 inches
--Vince Carter 44.5 inches
-Shawn Marion: 44 inches
--Tracy McGrady 42.5 inches

Bench Press

The bench press is one of the most popular events at the NBA Combine. It’s a measure of an athlete’s upper body strength and it’s also a good indicator of how they’ll fare in other events like the vertical jump and standing long jump. Here are the top bench press numbers from the last five years:

Year|Player|Bench Press (reps)
—--|——|—————--
2018|Mitchell Robinson|27
2017|Justin Patton|23
2016|Thon Maker|22
2015|Myles Turner|21
2014|Noah Vonleh|20

Lane Agility

Lane agility is a measure of an athlete’s change-of-direction speed and is performed by having the player start from a standstill, sprint five yards, touch the line with their left hand, sprint 10 yards to the right, touch the line with their right hand, then return to the starting point The time is then recorded. A faster lane agility time indicates better coordination and lower body explosive power

Three-Quarter Court Sprint

The NBA Combine is an important event for prospective NBA players It’s a chance for them to showcase their skills and athleticism in front of NBA scouts and coaches. One of the key metrics that is measured at the Combine is the three-quarter court sprint

Here are the top three-quarter court sprint times from the past five NBA Combines:

2017 NBA Combine:
1. Derrick White: 3.01 seconds
2. Josh Jackson: 3.03 seconds
3. Semi Ojeleye: 3.04 seconds

2016 NBA Combine:
1. Jaylen Brown 2.94 seconds
2. Tyler Ulis: 2.95 seconds
3. Dejounte Murray 2.96 seconds

2015 NBA Combine:
1. Terry Rozier: 3.04 seconds
2. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: 3.05 seconds
3= Sam Dekker, Justin Anderson, Kelly Oubre Jr.: 3.06 seconds

Standing Vertical Leap

The standing vertical leap is one of the most important combine stats for NBA prospects. It measures how high a player can jump from a standstill position, and it is a good indicator of the player’s explosiveness and athleticism.

Players with a good standing vertical leap can help their team in many ways, such as rebounding, blocking shots, and dunking the ball. A high vertical leap can also be helpful on the defensive end, as players can more easily defend against opponents who are trying to drive to the basket.

The combine record for the standing vertical leap is held by Darren Collison, who jumped 46 inches in 2009. Other notable players who have had a good showing in this drill include Dwayne Wade (42 inches), Lebron James (41 inches), and Blake Griffin (40 inches).

Body Fat Percentage

Body fat percentage is one of the most important stats to track at the NBA Combine. A high body fat percentage can indicate that a player is carrying too much weight, which can affect their speed and agility on the court. A low body fat percentage can indicate that a player is at risk for injury.