The basketball player LeBron James has a wingspan measuring 7 feet and one-fourth inch. This means that with his arms fully outstretched at his sides, the distance from fingertip to fingertip is 4 inches longer than his height of 6 feet 8 inches.
An exceptionally wide wingspan is favored for athletes playing basketball and football. By having greater arm length, these athletes have greater reach in defensive and offensive situations, allowing them to make plays that less physically gifted players are incapable of making. Increased reach also can mitigate deficiencies in leaping ability. LeBron James seems to capitalize on this advantage as he is renowned for his ability to dunk and contest his opponents' shots.
