Glory days: Could you dunk? How old is too old to try again?

[capitalcityguy]

Was listening in on the Dan Patrick show this morning and didn't catch the entire conversation but he was claiming that he was still able to dunk a basketball at age 40(witnessed only by his wife and kids).

This got me thinking. How old is too old to realistically be able to dunk a basketball? Would it be possible for a guy of "normal" height who could dunk in his younger days to be able to train hard enough to be able to dunk again in his 40's?

I played basketball in HS, but wasn't able to dunk until later when I got to ISU and we were playing ball almost nightly when we should have been studying. It was never an easy task for me, I'm barely over 6'...oh...and white, but definitely got to the point I could throw 'er down. I'd estimate the last time I realistically even tried to dunk was maybe age 22 or 23?

Fast forward to today some 20+ years later. With proper training, would it still be a realistic possibility to dunk again? I don't have my basketball legs anymore, as I probably haven't played basketball (besides occasionally game of pig) for 10-15 yrs but I do run and bike. Probably about 10-15lbs heavier than college days. No major health issues.

Would this be a worthwhile pursuit or a lesson in futility to even try? Does anyone have any first-hand experience to share?

 

[LindenCy]

This guy could offers some inspiration: [video]http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/280148/how-a-55-basketball-player-trained-himself-to-dunk/[/video]

I think it would be possible depending on your overall health, but the commitment might be pretty intensive.

 

[J-Diggy]

I could dunk in college...rare occurrence but did happen in a couple intramural or Lung Shot games.

Could still dunk at 30 or so, maybe even 35. Now 45. Can touch the rim but that's it. No chance otherwise.

I saw Dr. J can still dunk at 63 or something crazy like that.

 

[capitalcityguy]

^ Dr J is 6' 6" with a very long reach and huge hands. Probably not that crazy he can still dunk...even at 63

 

[ianoconnor]

Was listening in on the Dan Patrick show this morning and didn't catch the entire conversation but he was claiming that he was still able to dunk a basketball at age 40(witnessed only by his wife and kids).

This got me thinking. How old is too old to realistically be able to dunk a basketball? Would it be possible for a guy of "normal" height who could dunk in his younger days to be able to train hard enough to be able to dunk again in his 40's?

I played basketball in HS, but wasn't able to dunk until later when I got to ISU and we were playing ball almost nightly when we should have been studying. It was never an easy task for me, I'm barely over 6'...oh...and white, but definitely got to the point I could throw 'er down. I'd estimate the last time I realistically even tried to dunk was maybe age 22 or 23?

Fast forward to today some 20+ years later. With proper training, would it still be a realistic possibility to dunk again? I don't have my basketball legs anymore, as I probably haven't played basketball (besides occasionally game of pig) for 10-15 yrs but I do run and bike. Probably about 10-15lbs heavier than college days. No major health issues.

Would this be a worthwhile pursuit or a lesson in futility to even try? Does anyone have any first-hand experience to share?

From strictly a fitness perspective, it would be worthwhile for sure.

 

[Bret44]

I could dunk back in the day. Never in a game in HS could in practice or screwing around. Then I blew my knee out and one botched surgery later there is no chance of me getting that high again, without a stimulant.

 

[capitalcityguy]

This guy could offers some inspiration: [video]http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/280148/how-a-55-basketball-player-trained-himself-to-dunk/[/video]

I think it would be possible depending on your overall health, but the commitment might be pretty intensive.

There is probably one helpful takeaway from the video I hadn't considered. While the guy trained himself to dunk, it never shows him dunking off the dribble. Being able to dunk off of a lob bounce pass to the rim is probably a more realistic possibility for someone 5' 5" or maybe even over 40?

 

[Walden4Prez]

Starting dunking in high school, was able to dunk into my 30s, but that is when I quit playing basketball.

I am now in my 40s and haven't shot a ball in a long while let alone tried to dunk, though I would be lucky to touch the rim I am sure.

I would focus on overall health and fitness, if you can eventually dunk that is an added bonus.

 

[ruxCYtable]

I can still dunk. On the 8' rim in my driveway.

 

[NATEizKING]

I could dunk in high school and college, definitely can't dunk now at 27. Rim is still easy to get at 6'3". My hands are a size small enough that I can't dribble and palm a men's ball but without dribbling I could palm and dunk it. I could dribble palm a women's for a dunk. I'll get back in to training for it and post my success videos here for you all. I think you could dunk at 40+ if you are 6'.

 

[DeereClone]

I used to be able to dunk in high school. Tore my ACL in my main "jumping leg" and have never been able to do it since. I am 5-11, and don't think I would be able to get myself in a position to do it again.

You may as well go for it, what do you have to lose? If you have kids that are into sports I bet they would think it was really cool.

 

[capitalcityguy]

I could dunk in college...rare occurrence but did happen in a couple intramural or Lung Shot games.

Could still dunk at 30 or so, maybe even 35. Now 45. Can touch the rim but that's it. No chance otherwise.

How tall are you? Did you keep playing basketball regularly up until you could still dunk when you were 35? You said you can only touch the rim now at 45...is this despite continuing to play regularly?

 

[capitalcityguy]

I can still dunk. On the 8' rim in my driveway...with the aid of a mini-trampoline.

FIFY

 

[carvers4math]

Only way I am dunking is if Jameel and Bryce lift me up like they did Fran Fraschilla. But then I am a 5'9" old lady with small hands.

My brothers are all 6'2" but they could only dunk a volleyball. Also a small hands problem and not being able to jump high enough to dunk with two hands. I have a son who is 6 feet tall who can dunk with one hand, but he has larger hands than my side of the family.

 

[Jer]

I've only ever been able to dunk on my son's Little Tikes hoop, even at the spry current age of 32.

 

[AdamJGray]

I'm 6'3....pushing 6'4 with bball shoes. I've never been able to dunk as I had a Georges Niang like vertical. Now my vertical at age 29 rivals that of Adam Woodbury. It's embarrassing how high (or low) I can jump.

 

[Cychl82]

I could throw it down in high school two hands. Now at 33 i can just barely dunk. If i get back into working out my legs again which Im not a fan of i could fairly easily still. Just depends on how in shape your legs really are.

 

[jbindm]

I think the last time I dunked successfully I was in my late 20s. Did the wife and kids thing, stopped playing regularly, and now at 35 I'm not sure I could anymore. If I could palm the ball I could probably get by, but I have smallish hands so I was always a two handed dunker. That requires a little more vertical than what I have at this point.

 

[Jer]

I'm 6'3....pushing 6'4 with bball shoes. I've never been able to dunk as I had a Georges Niang like vertical. Now my vertical at age 29 rivals that of Adam Woodbury. It's embarrassing how high (or low) I can jump.

I may be rare in that my vertical has increased, but only because I've lost 55 lbs in the past 5 months

 

[DurangoCy]

I'm impressed with anyone in their late 30's that can dunk, they have 35 and over hoops leagues for a reason. That said, I think Patrick is generally full of crap, so I doubt he dunked at 40.

A long time ago in a land far far away I could do lots of cool dunks when my knees had a normal amount of cartilage, now not so much. I'm about to turn 35 and my last dunk was probably at 33. It hurts just thinking about it, but it's kind of a goal of mind to get one last half *** tomahawk down in game action.