Ranking 5 NBA Players players with the highest vertical in 2023 featuring Ja Morant, Keon Johnson, and more

The NBA has continued to evolve with players shooting from beyond the arc. Many offensive schemes are predicated on the biggest players not clogging up the paint. But today we are going to go a little old school and talk about some of the league's highest vertical leaps.

Some of these players are budding rotational players who have a lot of potential. Others have established their dominance and have placed themselves in the Vertical Leap Hall of Fame. We will check out five players with the highest max vertical leaps in the association.

#5, Keon Johnson

Johnson went from the LA Clippers to the Portland Trail Blazers as a part of the Norm Powell and Robert Covington deal to free up cap space for Portland. The Trail Blazers not only added a player who will come up later in this list, but they also added the vertical leap record holder at the NBA combine last season. He jumping an impressive 48.

With the addition of Shaedon Sharpe and Gary Payton II, Johnson has seen scattered minutes (11.1 per game). However, he reminded everybody how he could jump at the Summer League, leading the Blazers to the championship. He is averaging 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game).

#4, Anthony Edwards

Ant-Man will probably find his way into his first All-Star Game this season. He has been able to keep the Timberwolves afloat with Karl Anthony-Towns sidelined for a significant portion of the season. The Timberwolves (23-24) are seventh in the Western Conference, and he has only shown progression and growth on both sides of the floor this season.

One thing that has not changed is how high the Georgia-born guard can jump. He has not let one rim live if he has any wiggle room, and this season has not been any different. He has shown that he should be known as one of the NBA's premier dunkers. He is jumping high and finishing lobs with ease.

Edwards is averaging 23.7 ppg, 4.4 apg, 6.0 rpg and 1.7 steals per game.

#3, Shaedon Sharpe

Sharpe, Johnson's teammate, was selected with the seventh pick in the June draft. A lot of question marks surrounded the Kentucky guard, because he did not play a single NCAA game. Nevertheless, he was evaluated at Team USA and Nike EYBL 2021, and he was able to use the potential in his athletic ability to carry to become a high draft pick.

When Sharpe arrived, he showed he was much more than just an athlete. He has some of the most impressive dunks early on this season. He has already been entered into the 2023 Slam Dunk competition. He is one of the league's most explosive players and has been nothing but entertaining. The man is a must-see.

#2, Derick Jones, Jr.

The 2020 Slam Dunk Contest winner has irregular jumping ability. He has a max vertical leap of 46 inches. That is insane.

The Chicago forward reminded everyone in France exactly what he was capable of above the rim on Thursday. Jones was a highlight reel. He was able to get a yes from his fiancee on his proposal in France as well. It's possible Jones had the best trip out of anybody on either team.

Jones is averaging 5.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 0.7 blocks per game this season.

#1, Ja Morant

Is there a lot more that has to be said about this human highlight reel? Every time Morant is on the court, he is bound to do something spectacular. His recent dunk was on one of the NBA's rising defenders, big man Jalen Smith.

Morant had not received the memo, at all.

It has to be the dunk of the year so far considering the elevation, thunder and pure aggression. He dunked the ball with so much authority. It'll be hard to dethrone him from the top spot.

What do we have to do to get Ja Morant in the Slam Dunk Contest?