How Fast Could Michael Jordan Run? A Breakdown of MJ‘s Legendary Athleticism

Initial 40-Yard Dash Time Analysis

In his athletic prime while at the University of North Carolina, Michael Jordan reportedly ran an extremely fast 4.38 second 40-yard dash. For perspective, the 40-yard dash is a 36.6 meter sprint used heavily by NFL scouts to evaluate explosive acceleration and top-end velocity of players. Wide receivers and cornerbacks average 40 yard dash times in the 4.4-4.5 second range at NFL combines. So Jordan‘s time already competes with top tier professional football athletes.

Compare Jordan‘s mark to current NBA stars. LeBron James, considered one of the most athletic basketball players ever in his own right, has run an estimated 4.6 seconds. Giannis Antetokounmpo would also test impressively and clock somewhere around 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash based on his observed functional speed. But Jordan running sub-4.4 seconds at 6‘6 is exceptionally rare for a basketball player.

Digging deeper, let‘s convert Jordan‘s 40 yard dash time into actual speed reached. 4.38 seconds over 36.6 meters (120 feet) equals an average velocity of 27.5 miles per hour. That borders on achieving track speeds for 100 meter Olympic sprinters, who average around 23 mph but can exceed 27 mph at their peak velocity. So Jordan essentially matched elite Olympic runners over this 40 yard stretch in college. Absolutely mind blowing speed and explosion for a 20 year old his size.

Table 1. Michael Jordan Athletic Measurement Comparison

Clearly Jordan‘s athletic measurements stand out even compared to other freak NBA athletes

In-Game Explosion and High-Flying Artistry

Jordan‘s legendary hang time and mid-air artistry have become iconic. His ability to gracefully contort his body and move fluidly through the air for creative finishes cemented his "Air Jordan" nickname. How did he achieve such flight and fluidity?

• A 48 inch maximum vertical leap, among the highest ever recorded in sport
• Blazing quick sprinter‘s speed attacking the rim
• Incredible strength and body control at 195 lbs to maneuver in air

When you can accelerate to nearly 28 mph from multiple directions and rise 4+ feet off the ground, the possibilities for the crafty Jordan were endless. No wonder every head fake or smooth spin move ended with a dazzling dunk or off-balance layup frozen in time.

Just watch Jordan and you‘ll notice nearly every drive sees him lifting off from outside the key before floating all the way through complex moves ending in scores. We nearly take for granted the explosion required for such sustained airborne artistry after seeing thousands of his highlights. But in his athletic prime, Jordan had unrivaled physical gifts tailor-made for basketball.

Maintaining Great Speed and Athleticism at Age 35

Jordan performed at an MVP level even later in his illustrious career, including his final 1998 championship run at age 35. By adding strength and elite conditioning to compensate for normal athletic decline, Jordan remained lightning quick and explosive versus much younger opponents.

Observe clips of his later Wizard years and Jordan still demonstrates great straight-line speed and lateral agility on perimeter defense against guards 25 years his junior. And he could rise swiftly and powerfully for posterizing dunks up to his final retirement.

Eventually Father Time diminishes every athlete. But Jordan entered rarefied air by resisting this decline well into his mid-thirties, a testament to his diligent work ethic. Had injuries not struck, Jordan likely could have produced well above-average output for a guard even at age 40 thanks to retaining speed and bounce well past an age where most NBA players have hung it up.

In summary, based on Jordan‘s observed functional athletic feats throughout his career from college onwards, he demonstrated truly rare acceleration, speed, leaping and body control abilities tailor-made for basketball success. We may never see an athletic talent quite like "His Airness" ever again in the sport of basketball.