NBA Draft Combine: Tests, Results & Average Vertical Jump Explained

What is the NBA Draft Combine?

The NBA Draft Combine is the league’s official pre-draft evaluation event. It is a multi-day showcase held each May ahead of the NBA Draft in June. Invited prospects undergo standardized measurements, medical examinations, team interviews, athletic performance testing, shooting drills, and five-on-five scrimmages in front of NBA coaches, general managers, and scouts.

Attendance is by invitation only. A strong performance at the combine can significantly influence draft perception, draft position, contract value, and long-term career trajectory. Beginning in 2024, participation in the NBA Draft Combine became mandatory for draft eligibility, further increasing its importance in the evaluation process.

The NBA Draft Combine evaluates a complete athletic profile, providing teams with standardized data to compare prospects accurately across different draft classes.

size length speed agility explosiveness

NBA Draft Combine: Test Categories

1) Physical Measurements

2) Athletic Tests

3) Shooting Tests

Overall Combine Logic

The NBA Draft Combine measures:

• Size - height, wingspan, standing reach
• Speed - three-quarter sprint
• Power - standing vertical
• Agility - shuttle + lane
• Explosiveness - max vertical

NBA Draft Combine 2025 Top Results

1) Standing Reach

Standing reach measures how high a player can touch flat-footed with one arm fully extended.

• Reduces required vertical jump for dunks and blocks.
• Strong predictor of defensive impact near the basket.

2) Height (Without Shoes)

Measured barefoot for standardization.

• Removes shoe inflation.
• Allows accurate cross-year comparisons.

3) Wingspan

Measured fingertip to fingertip with arms extended.

• Increases defensive impact.
• Improves finishing angles.

4) Standing Vertical Jump

Performed without a step. Pure countermovement jump.

• Measures raw lower-body power.
• Strong indicator of force production.
• Less influenced by coordination than max vertical.

Example standing vertical jump test

Watch Ace Bailey performing a standing vertical jump test.

5) Max Vertical Jump

Performed with approach steps.

• Measures speed-to-power conversion.
• Reflects coordination and elastic efficiency.
• Closest to in-game dunking ability.

Example max vertical jump test

Watch Bronny James performing a maximum vertical jump attempt.

6) Shuttle Run

Short-distance lateral change-of-direction test.

• Defensive slide speed.
• Reaction quickness.
• Guarding pick-and-roll actions.

Example shuttle run test

Watch Zach Edey’s shuttle run drill.

7) Lane Agility

Timed movement around the NBA key in multiple directions.

• Multi-directional coordination.
• Body control under speed.
• Defensive versatility.

Example agility test

Watch Cooper Flagg performing the lane agility drill.

8) Three-Quarter Court Sprint

75-foot sprint (baseline to opposite free-throw line extended).

• Transition speed.
• Acceleration capacity.
• Fast-break finishing potential.

Additional Draft Combine Insights

How NBA Players Compare to Average Athletes

The average vertical jump of nba players (28-29 inches) already sits in the elite range compared to the general population.

The Big Picture

In the NBA, success isn’t just about size, speed, and explosiveness. It’s also about skill, basketball IQ, experience, and being clutch. Some of the best players, such as Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić, aren’t explosive athletes, yet they dominate the game of basketball.