Malik Monk’s purported 43-inch vertical has to be one of the best in the league, right? If not the very best? So why doesn’t he dunk it more? Here’s a hint for young Mr. Monk: dunking the ball is pretty much a guaranteed two points and there’s no reason not to do it every time down the court.
If MY vertical was 43 inches, you can bet your bottom dollar that I’d go over to the local elementary school’s court where the rims are like 9 feet tall and put on a serious dunk exhibition for the kiddos. Free of charge. I’d be doing double windmills and stuff from the free-throw line, maybe even the three-point line if I was feeling it and the wind was at my back. Obviously, Monk has to deal with regulation-height rims, but he’s also taller than me so it evens out a little bit.
I don’t fully trust the measurement, though, and even if it is legit, tremendous raw combine stats aren’t always the best in-game. Remember, Luke Babbitt had one of the highest verticals ever recorded at the combine (I am not even joking, he kicked Blake Griffin’s butt) and look at him now. I don’t think he can even do windmill dunks.