Every game in the NBA starts with a jump ball and yet you can hardly find any data about it. Currently the best one is at 82games.com but it’s a half of old season so I thought it would be nice to jump start new year on this blog with a fringe and obscure statistic which most often happens in the beginning of every game.

Using play-by-play data from ESPN.com I collected all jump balls and it’s results in the last 4 years [including those in the middle of games and overtimes] so you can find answers to such important questions like:

what players were the best at winning jump balls in each of last 4 season? Which players struggled? Which were asked most often to jump for it?

According to aforementioned link it’s was a popular request back in the day so, um, you are welcome ;-)

Warning: 8 tables ahead!

Most Jump Balls

in 2010/11 [min. 20] Won Total Win% Continuation Won Total Win% Brook Lopez 55 105 52,38 Ben Wallace 36 55 65,45 Dwight Howard 63 105 60,00 Marcus Camby 42 55 76,36 Amare Stoudemire 56 102 54,90 Samuel Dalembert 28 55 50,91 Marc Gasol 58 99 58,59 Zydrunas Ilgauskas 31 55 56,36 Al Jefferson 45 96 46,88 Josh McRoberts 27 53 50,94 Spencer Hawes 44 89 49,44 Andrew Bynum 34 50 68,00 Tim Duncan 55 88 62,50 Pau Gasol 26 50 52,00 Josh Smith 42 87 48,28 J.J. Hickson 23 44 52,27 Nene Hilario 43 87 49,43 LaMarcus Aldridge 23 41 56,10 Darko Milicic 45 85 52,94 Roy Hibbert 20 41 48,78 JaVale McGee 58 85 68,24 Shaquille O’Neal 30 39 76,92 Tyson Chandler 46 84 54,76 Kurt Thomas 13 38 34,21 Andrew Bogut 41 80 51,25 Anderson Varejao 16 37 43,24 Emeka Okafor 33 79 41,77 Nazr Mohammed 11 33 33,33 DeAndre Jordan 51 73 69,86 Marcin Gortat 14 28 50,00 Andrea Bargnani 24 71 33,80 Erick Dampier 14 26 53,85 Luis Scola 14 68 20,59 Amir Johnson 11 25 44,00 Robin Lopez 34 66 51,52 Chris Wilcox 4 25 16,00 Nenad Krstic 31 64 48,44 Channing Frye 13 23 56,52 Serge Ibaka 26 63 41,27 Ryan Hollins 14 23 60,87 Joakim Noah 42 61 68,85 Chris Kaman 12 22 54,55 Kwame Brown 35 61 57,38 Andris Biedrins 8 21 38,10 David Lee 19 60 31,67 Blake Griffin 9 21 42,86 DeMarcus Cousins 30 58 51,72 Joel Anthony 8 20 40,00

Best Winning% in 2010/11 [min. 10] Won Total Win% Worst Winning% in 2010/11 [min. 10] Won Total Win% Gerald Wallace 12 15 80,00 Nikola Pekovic 1 13 7,69 Shaquille O’Neal 30 39 76,92 Shelden Williams 1 13 7,69 Marcus Camby 42 55 76,36 Chris Wilcox 4 25 16,00 Jermaine O’Neal 10 14 71,43 Luis Scola 14 68 20,59 Wilson Chandler 7 10 70,00 Danny Granger 5 16 31,25 DeAndre Jordan 51 73 69,86 David Lee 19 60 31,67 Joakim Noah 42 61 68,85 Nazr Mohammed 11 33 33,33 JaVale McGee 58 85 68,24 Andrea Bargnani 24 71 33,80 Andrew Bynum 34 50 68,00 Kurt Thomas 13 38 34,21 Ben Wallace 36 55 65,45 Dwyane Wade 4 11 36,36 Tim Duncan 55 88 62,50 Tyler Hansbrough 4 11 36,36 Al Horford 8 13 61,54 Greg Monroe 7 19 36,84 Larry Sanders 8 13 61,54 Andris Biedrins 8 21 38,10 Ryan Hollins 14 23 60,87 Brad Miller 5 13 38,46 Dwight Howard 63 105 60,00 Joel Anthony 8 20 40,00 Hakim Warrick 6 10 60,00 Serge Ibaka 26 63 41,27 Kendrick Perkins 6 10 60,00 Emeka Okafor 33 79 41,77 Marc Gasol 58 99 58,59 Blake Griffin 9 21 42,86 Rudy Gay 7 12 58,33 Elton Brand 6 14 42,86 Kwame Brown 35 61 57,38 Anderson Varejao 16 37 43,24 Channing Frye 13 23 56,52 Amir Johnson 11 25 44,00 Zydrunas Ilgauskas 31 55 56,36 Brendan Haywood 8 18 44,44 Paul Millsap 9 16 56,25 Jordan Hill 8 18 44,44 LaMarcus Aldridge 23 41 56,10 John Wall 5 11 45,45 Amare Stoudemire 56 102 54,90 Al Jefferson 45 96 46,88 Tyson Chandler 46 84 54,76 Kevin Love 8 17 47,06 Chris Kaman 12 22 54,55 Josh Smith 42 87 48,28 Andray Blatche 6 11 54,55 Nenad Krstic 31 64 48,44 Jeff Green 6 11 54,55 Roy Hibbert 20 41 48,78 Erick Dampier 14 26 53,85 Nene Hilario 43 87 49,43 Darko Milicic 45 85 52,94 Spencer Hawes 44 89 49,44 Brook Lopez 55 105 52,38 Marcin Gortat 14 28 50,00 J.J. Hickson 23 44 52,27 Timofey Mozgov 7 14 50,00 Pau Gasol 26 50 52,00 C.J. Miles 5 10 50,00 DeMarcus Cousins 30 58 51,72 Dan Gadzuric 5 10 50,00 Robin Lopez 34 66 51,52 Tiago Splitter 5 10 50,00 Andrew Bogut 41 80 51,25 Zaza Pachulia 5 10 50,00 Josh McRoberts 27 53 50,94 Samuel Dalembert 28 55 50,91

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Most Jump Balls

in 2009/10 [min. 20] Won Total Win% Continuation Won Total Win% Brook Lopez 54 108 50,00 Jared Jeffries 20 52 38,46 Josh Smith 58 100 58,00 David Lee 9 47 19,15 Luis Scola 17 94 18,09 Tyson Chandler 26 40 65,00 Dwight Howard 61 93 65,59 Robin Lopez 23 39 58,97 Jeff Green 31 93 33,33 Drew Gooden 10 37 27,03 Tim Duncan 54 93 58,06 Brad Miller 19 35 54,29 Emeka Okafor 50 92 54,35 LaMarcus Aldridge 13 35 37,14 Kendrick Perkins 53 91 58,24 J.J. Hickson 13 33 39,39 Brendan Haywood 32 90 35,56 Ryan Hollins 14 32 43,75 Marc Gasol 61 90 67,78 Theo Ratliff 16 32 50,00 Samuel Dalembert 68 90 75,56 Andris Biedrins 14 31 45,16 Andrew Bogut 52 88 59,09 Nazr Mohammed 11 31 35,48 Chris Bosh 49 84 58,33 Carl Landry 15 28 53,57 Jermaine O’Neal 42 81 51,85 Paul Millsap 12 26 46,15 Nene Hilario 48 81 59,26 Greg Oden 12 24 50,00 Ben Wallace 46 80 57,50 Pau Gasol 15 24 62,50 Marcus Camby 51 79 64,56 Danny Granger 9 22 40,91 Amare Stoudemire 54 78 69,23 Jason Maxiell 12 22 54,55 Mehmet Okur 41 77 53,25 Jason Thompson 7 22 31,82 Roy Hibbert 29 77 37,66 Joel Anthony 7 22 31,82 Andrew Bynum 58 76 76,32 Mikki Moore 8 22 36,36 Joakim Noah 48 75 64,00 Gerald Wallace 13 21 61,90 Spencer Hawes 28 72 38,89 JaVale McGee 11 21 52,38 Shaquille O’Neal 44 61 72,13 Joel Przybilla 7 21 33,33 Al Jefferson 25 58 43,10 Andray Blatche 12 20 60,00 Erick Dampier 40 52 76,92 Andrea Bargnani 11 20 55,00

Best Winning% in 2009/10 [min. 10] Won Total Win% Worst Winning% in 2009/10 [min. 10] Won Total Win% Richard Jefferson 10 11 90,91 Chris Hunter 1 11 9,09 Elton Brand 13 16 81,25 Zach Randolph 1 10 10,00 Erick Dampier 40 52 76,92 Stephen Curry 2 13 15,38 Andrew Bynum 58 76 76,32 Luis Scola 17 94 18,09 Samuel Dalembert 68 90 75,56 David Lee 9 47 19,15 Stephen Jackson 9 12 75,00 Brandon Jennings 2 10 20,00 Darko Milicic 13 18 72,22 Donte Greene 3 14 21,43 Shaquille O’Neal 44 61 72,13 Ronny Turiaf 4 15 26,67 Amare Stoudemire 54 78 69,23 Drew Gooden 10 37 27,03 Marc Gasol 61 90 67,78 DeAndre Jordan 5 17 29,41 Dwight Howard 61 93 65,59 Anthony Morrow 3 10 30,00 Tyson Chandler 26 40 65,00 Tyreke Evans 3 10 30,00 Marcus Camby 51 79 64,56 Jason Thompson 7 22 31,82 Kenyon Martin 9 14 64,29 Joel Anthony 7 22 31,82 Joakim Noah 48 75 64,00 Jeff Green 31 93 33,33 Solomon Jones 7 11 63,64 Joel Przybilla 7 21 33,33 Pau Gasol 15 24 62,50 Aaron Brooks 5 15 33,33 Wilson Chandler 10 16 62,50 Johan Petro 6 17 35,29 Gerald Wallace 13 21 61,90 Nazr Mohammed 11 31 35,48 Andray Blatche 12 20 60,00 Brendan Haywood 32 90 35,56 DeJuan Blair 6 10 60,00 Chuck Hayes 5 14 35,71 Kevin Garnett 6 10 60,00 Mikki Moore 8 22 36,36 Rasheed Wallace 6 10 60,00 LaMarcus Aldridge 13 35 37,14 Nene Hilario 48 81 59,26 Roy Hibbert 29 77 37,66 Andrew Bogut 52 88 59,09 Jared Jeffries 20 52 38,46 Robin Lopez 23 39 58,97 Craig Smith 5 13 38,46 Chris Bosh 49 84 58,33 Spencer Hawes 28 72 38,89 Kendrick Perkins 53 91 58,24 J.J. Hickson 13 33 39,39 Tim Duncan 54 93 58,06 Danny Granger 9 22 40,91 Josh Smith 58 100 58,00 Al Jefferson 25 58 43,10 Ben Wallace 46 80 57,50 Ryan Hollins 14 32 43,75 Michael Beasley 9 16 56,25 Andris Biedrins 14 31 45,16 Andrea Bargnani 11 20 55,00 Paul Millsap 12 26 46,15 Jason Maxiell 12 22 54,55 Amir Johnson 8 17 47,06 Zydrunas Ilgauskas 6 11 54,55 Udonis Haslem 9 19 47,37 Emeka Okafor 50 92 54,35 Brook Lopez 54 108 50,00 Brad Miller 19 35 54,29 Theo Ratliff 16 32 50,00 Taj Gibson 7 13 53,85 Greg Oden 12 24 50,00 Carl Landry 15 28 53,57 Brandon Roy 6 12 50,00 Mehmet Okur 41 77 53,25 John Salmons 6 12 50,00 Al Horford 9 17 52,94 LeBron James 6 12 50,00 Hasheem Thabeet 10 19 52,63 Serge Ibaka 5 10 50,00 JaVale McGee 11 21 52,38 Jermaine O’Neal 42 81 51,85

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Most Jump Balls

in 2008/09 [min. 20] Won Total Win% Continuation Won Total Win% Tim Duncan 54 111 48,65 Greg Oden 25 43 58,14 Yao Ming 41 99 41,41 Pau Gasol 28 39 71,79 Emeka Okafor 54 97 55,67 Andray Blatche 12 38 31,58 Dwight Howard 68 95 71,58 Andrew Bogut 20 38 52,63 Samuel Dalembert 65 95 68,42 Hilton Armstrong 10 36 27,78 Brook Lopez 47 93 50,54 Jermaine O’Neal 21 36 58,33 Marc Gasol 48 87 55,17 Joel Anthony 13 34 38,24 Chris Bosh 52 85 61,18 Rasheed Wallace 10 34 29,41 Erick Dampier 45 84 53,57 Amir Johnson 13 32 40,63 Shaquille O’Neal 59 84 70,24 Dan Gadzuric 20 31 64,52 Nene Hilario 46 82 56,10 Wilson Chandler 10 31 32,26 Kendrick Perkins 34 81 41,98 Drew Gooden 12 29 41,38 Josh Smith 52 80 65,00 Jeff Foster 17 29 58,62 Mehmet Okur 37 80 46,25 Kwame Brown 17 29 58,62 Jeff Green 38 70 54,29 David Lee 5 28 17,86 Zydrunas Ilgauskas 47 67 70,15 Francisco Elson 11 28 39,29 Andris Biedrins 29 61 47,54 Kevin Love 6 26 23,08 Brad Miller 27 60 45,00 Rasho Nesterovic 8 26 30,77 Joakim Noah 36 60 60,00 Al Horford 9 24 37,50 Al Jefferson 29 59 49,15 Chris Kaman 10 24 41,67 Andrew Bynum 34 57 59,65 Jason Collins 9 24 37,50 Joel Przybilla 34 54 62,96 Johan Petro 14 24 58,33 Marcus Camby 35 53 66,04 Anthony Randolph 13 23 56,52 Spencer Hawes 20 50 40,00 Dominic McGuire 10 23 43,48 Tyson Chandler 30 48 62,50 Udonis Haslem 2 23 8,70 Roy Hibbert 28 47 59,57 Ben Wallace 16 22 72,73 Jared Jeffries 15 44 34,09 Darko Milicic 9 20 45,00

Best Winning% in 2008/09 [min. 10] Won Total Win% Worst Winning% in 2008/09 [min. 10] Won Total Win% Raymond Felton 8 10 80,00 Udonis Haslem 2 23 8,70 Kevin Garnett 11 14 78,57 Chris Paul 2 13 15,38 Ben Wallace 16 22 72,73 David Lee 5 28 17,86 Pau Gasol 28 39 71,79 Kevin Love 6 26 23,08 Dwight Howard 68 95 71,58 Al Harrington 3 13 23,08 Gerald Wallace 10 14 71,43 Brandan Wright 3 11 27,27 Shaquille O’Neal 59 84 70,24 Nick Collison 3 11 27,27 Zydrunas Ilgauskas 47 67 70,15 Robin Lopez 3 11 27,27 Glen Davis 7 10 70,00 Hilton Armstrong 10 36 27,78 Samuel Dalembert 65 95 68,42 Rasheed Wallace 10 34 29,41 Paul Millsap 12 18 66,67 Rasho Nesterovic 8 26 30,77 Josh Boone 8 12 66,67 Andray Blatche 12 38 31,58 Kenyon Martin 8 12 66,67 Wilson Chandler 10 31 32,26 Marcus Camby 35 53 66,04 Michael Beasley 4 12 33,33 Josh Smith 52 80 65,00 Jared Jeffries 15 44 34,09 Dan Gadzuric 20 31 64,52 Al Horford 9 24 37,50 Joel Przybilla 34 54 62,96 Jason Collins 9 24 37,50 Tyson Chandler 30 48 62,50 Joel Anthony 13 34 38,24 LeBron James 10 16 62,50 Sean Marks 5 13 38,46 Chris Bosh 52 85 61,18 Francisco Elson 11 28 39,29 Joakim Noah 36 60 60,00 Spencer Hawes 20 50 40,00 Carl Landry 9 15 60,00 Deron Williams 4 10 40,00 Lamar Odom 9 15 60,00 Amir Johnson 13 32 40,63 Jason Maxiell 6 10 60,00 Drew Gooden 12 29 41,38 Rudy Gay 6 10 60,00 Yao Ming 41 99 41,41 Andrew Bynum 34 57 59,65 Chris Kaman 10 24 41,67 Roy Hibbert 28 47 59,57 Robert Swift 5 12 41,67 Jeff Foster 17 29 58,62 Kendrick Perkins 34 81 41,98 Kwame Brown 17 29 58,62 Aaron Gray 6 14 42,86 Jermaine O’Neal 21 36 58,33 Dominic McGuire 10 23 43,48 Johan Petro 14 24 58,33 Brad Miller 27 60 45,00 Greg Oden 25 43 58,14 Darko Milicic 9 20 45,00 Anthony Randolph 13 23 56,52 Mehmet Okur 37 80 46,25 Dwyane Wade 9 16 56,25 DeAndre Jordan 7 15 46,67 Ronny Turiaf 9 16 56,25 Jamaal Magloire 8 17 47,06 Nene Hilario 46 82 56,10 Andris Biedrins 29 61 47,54 Emeka Okafor 54 97 55,67 Tim Duncan 54 111 48,65 Marc Gasol 48 87 55,17 Al Jefferson 29 59 49,15 Jeff Green 38 70 54,29 Brandon Bass 5 10 50,00 Erick Dampier 45 84 53,57 Kosta Koufos 5 10 50,00 JaVale McGee 8 15 53,33 Brook Lopez 47 93 50,54 Andrew Bogut 20 38 52,63 Brook Lopez 47 93 50,54

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Most Jump Balls

in 2007/08 [min. 20] Won Total Win% Continuation Won Total Win% Tim Duncan 60 100 60,00 Amare Stoudemire 42 65 64,62 Emeka Okafor 38 96 39,58 Yao Ming 31 64 48,44 Josh Smith 60 95 63,16 Chris Kaman 34 63 53,97 Samuel Dalembert 61 95 64,21 Eddy Curry 27 62 43,55 Brad Miller 46 94 48,94 Jeff Foster 28 52 53,85 Brendan Haywood 40 94 42,55 Mark Blount 17 49 34,69 Andrew Bogut 56 91 61,54 Chris Wilcox 19 47 40,43 Dwight Howard 63 91 69,23 Darko Milicic 18 41 43,90 Marcus Camby 52 89 58,43 Sean Williams 14 39 35,90 Tyson Chandler 48 87 55,17 Jermaine O’Neal 26 37 70,27 Zydrunas Ilgauskas 52 85 61,18 Joakim Noah 18 36 50,00 Pau Gasol 50 80 62,50 Josh Boone 14 33 42,42 Rasheed Wallace 25 80 31,25 LaMarcus Aldridge 17 32 53,13 Joel Przybilla 43 79 54,43 Johan Petro 12 29 41,38 Kendrick Perkins 31 79 39,24 Andrew Bynum 14 28 50,00 Al Jefferson 37 78 47,44 DeSagana Diop 15 28 53,57 Chris Bosh 46 78 58,97 Jason Collins 11 28 39,29 Mehmet Okur 34 75 45,33 Josh Powell 13 28 46,43 Shaquille O’Neal 53 75 70,67 Dikembe Mutombo 17 27 62,96 Erick Dampier 40 72 55,56 Nick Collison 13 24 54,17 Andris Biedrins 26 70 37,14 Joe Smith 14 20 70,00 Ben Wallace 46 69 66,67 Kwame Brown 11 20 55,00