How Did Michael Jordan Get So Tall? From 5’8″ to 6’6″

Michael Jordan is known worldwide as a basketball legend. But his journey from an average kid to an NBA superstar was also a really amazing physical transformation.

How did Michael Jordan get so tall?

A mix of family genes, hitting a growth spurt at the perfect time in his teens, healthy habits, hard work, and a strong mindset lifted him from 5’11” to the towering height of 6’6″. This huge change didn’t just raise his reach on the court – it launched him into basketball history as one of the greats.

Michael’s incredible growth shows how much someone can physically change, especially during the teen years. His story inspires everyone striving for new heights, both in sports and in life.

The Early Life of Michael Jordan

Growing up, Michael Jordan wasn’t always the basketball legend we know today. He was born in Brooklyn, New York to pretty average-height parents. His dad was 5’9″ and his mom was 5’5″. Even Michael was average height as a kid. When he started high school at Laney High in 1979, he was only 5’8″.

Michael really wanted to be taller so he could be better at basketball. He would hang from the pull-up bars in his backyard, hoping it would stretch him out. His mom even joked that he should put salt in his shoes and pray for a few more inches.

By 10th grade, Michael had grown to 5’11”, taller than his brothers but still shorter than his tall friend Harvest who made the varsity team. Michael only made junior varsity, which motivated him to work even harder.

Between his sophomore and junior years, Jordan shot up to 6’3″ and eventually reached 6’6″. He probably got some tall genes from his cousin who was 6’7″. His cousin would work out with Michael and his brothers on the basketball court when he lived with them in high school.

So a mix of effort, some funny growth tricks, and good genetics helped turn Michael into the basketball legend he became. Once he hit that growth spurt, everyone could tell there was something special about him on the court. His journey from an average kid to an NBA superstar started with humble beginnings.

How Did Michael Jordan Get So Tall?

Here were a few key things that helped Michael Jordan grow to his tall height of 6’6″.

First, he had the genes for height in his family. Even though his parents and brothers weren’t super tall, he had a cousin who was 6’7″. That showed the tall genes were there.

Second, Michael hit a major growth spurt in high school. He shot up from 5’11” to 6’3″ one summer before topping out at 6’6″. Growth spurts during the teen years are common.

Good nutrition likely helped too. Eating healthy foods with nutrients for growth can help teens reach their full height potential. Though we don’t know exactly what Michael ate growing up, a balanced diet supports growth.

Playing sports probably gave Michael’s growth a boost too. Activities like basketball, baseball, and football involve lots of running, jumping, and stretching. This can help release growth hormones that are key for getting taller during the teen years.

Finally, Michael was determined to grow taller. He would even hang from pull-up bars trying to stretch himself out. While that likely didn’t directly impact his height, it shows his focus on reaching his goals. This determination could have carried over into his overall physical development.

So in Michael’s case, it was a combo of family genes, hitting a growth spurt at the right time, nutrition, physical activity, and personal drive that helped him tower over the basketball court at 6’6″. His journey to great heights started with the right mix of natural gifts and healthy habits.

Did MJ put salt in his shoes to grow taller?

There’s a well-known story that when Michael Jordan was a kid, he was worried about being too short to play basketball. So his mom, Deloris Jordan, jokingly told him to put salt in his shoes and pray before bed to grow taller.

While it’s unlikely that salt in his shoes actually made Michael taller, this story shows that he was determined to succeed in basketball even from a young age. His mom was also very supportive and wanted to encourage him.

In reality, Michael probably got a lot taller thanks to genetics and hitting a growth spurt in high school. He shot up several inches in a short time which helped take his basketball skills to the next level. So while salt in his shoes makes for a fun story, Michael’s height was likely due to natural growth and good genes.

But the story does show that Michael always had big dreams of basketball greatness. And his loving mom tried to give him the motivation to reach those goals, even if her salty shoe trick was just symbolic.

What is the biggest growth spurt ever?

While Michael Jordan’s huge growth spurt was amazing, he’s not the only basketball player who shot up in height. Lots of other players have had crazy growth spurts too!

Some other players with big height changes:

• David Robinson grew a whole 16 inches, from 5’9″ in high school to 7’1″ in college. That’s one of the biggest growths ever!
• Dwight Howard went from 5’8″ to a towering 6’9″ in just one year. That’s 13 inches taller!
• Jeremy Lin zoomed up from 5’3″ to 6’3″ during 11th grade. A foot taller in one year!
• Manu Ginobili shot 10 inches from 5’8″ to 6’6″ in his late teens over 2 years.
• Dennis Rodman sprouted from 5’9″ to 6’7″ around age 20 in one year. 10 inches!
• Other players like Tim Duncan, Gordon Hayward, Scottie Pippen, LeBron James and more had growth spurts adding 7+ inches during their teen years.

David Robinson’s 16-inch spurt is one of the wildest ever seen. It really shows how much someone can physically change, especially during the teen years.

While Michael Jordan’s story of overcoming height issues is famous, lots of other basketball stars have undergone huge growth changes too. Their bodies transformed in incredible ways! It goes to show you never know how much untapped potential someone might have.

Before you go

Check out these articles below, they’ve got some cool stuff you might like:

• Michael Jordan Diet: The Fuel Behind the GOAT
• Michael Jordan Siblings: The Silent 4 Partners in Building a Legacy
• Michael Jordan Records: The Still-Standings That May Never Be Broken

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