Shaedon Sharpe could be essentially the most explosive leaper within the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers guard was a top-10 draft pick despite coming straight out of high school, and he’s beginning to change into an enormous a part of the staff’s rotation now in his third professional season.
Sharpe’s huge putback slam in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves final month was tracked as the best vertical leap of any participant this season. Whereas that dunk was spectacular, he topped himself in a significant method on Friday night time.
Within the second quarter in opposition to the Utah Jazz, Sharpe left the Earth to catch a reasonably horrible lob move from teammate Anfernee Simons. The worst lobs make for the very best alley-oops, and Sharpe could be the one participant within the NBA who may have introduced this one down. The 21-year-old one way or the other caught the ball with one hand, adjusted his angle mid-air, and threw it down for the massive dunk. In keeping with NBA information, Sharpe leaped 45.1-inches within the air on the play, the best leap of any participant in a recreation since monitoring information started.
Watch the play right here:
Shaedon Sharpe’s 2nd quarter alley oop final night time had a recorded vert of 45.1”
That is the best recorded vert since monitoring grew to become out there final season!pic.twitter.com/uQCJsqKJ7e
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) December 7, 2024
Sharpe’s eyes are parallel with the rim when he catches that ball. Regardless of being solely 6’6, Sharpe’s 7-foot wingspan helped him snatch the ball and proper course whereas within the air to have the ability to put down the dunk.
Right here’s an inventory of the best vertical leaps this season. Sharpe now has the highest two.
Jalen Inexperienced is the one different participant within the league to have a 40-inch vertical in a recreation this season. Sharpe didn’t simply break his personal file — he shattered it. That’s going to be very, very tough for any participant to beat this season.
The Jazz nonetheless beat the Blazers, 141-99, in a key Western Conference tanking showdown. Each of those groups need Cooper Flagg come June. He’s in all probability going to have a pair 40-inch verticals in video games subsequent season himself.
Sharpe solely shot 3-of-12 from the sphere to complete with 10 factors. He was a -30 within the recreation. That’s tough, however not less than he created a spotlight to recollect.
