I am only 4''11 can that decrease my chance of ever becoming a basketball player?
84793
When I was in high school, several of the best players on the varsity teams were short. My sister was one of them - she's only 5 ft 1 inch tall and she was a great player. Some of the other short players were notable for their speed and three point shots. \n\nIf I get a vote, I'd say go for it, but have a back-up plan. It's awful tough to make it as a pro-athlete, and whether or not you do, you'll still have to eat! (If you're wondering how to come up with a back-up plan, I'll tell this - the people I know who are most happy are the ones who are doing something they enjoy. Develop hobbies you love - you'll be suprised at how often they can turn into careers!)
431711
anything is possible if you try hard enough.  Set your mind to it and do it.  but for age 13 your stats are good.  Good luck in all you do.  If you are looking for a career in basketball, don't only focus on basketball, you have to focus on your other studies also.
117738
I'll be frank with you: Don't bother unless you have a lot of scouts and college coaches hounding you right now. Most future pro players in any sport are usually spectacularly good at a young age. They show so much natural ability that even if they had an off-night, it would still carry them to a great game. If you find yourself singlehandedly blowing out basketball teams at the JV and Varsity level, there's a good chance you're going to the NBA. If you make basketball look easy, you're going to the NBA. If you're not painfully exceptional at your age, don't bother! Go study, learn a skill, it will pay off more than playing basketball all day trying to fulfill a stupid dream. I know people tell you not to give up your dream, blah blah blah, but come on. If you've ever coached young kids, you're well aware that there are rare exceptional talents that are born naturals, that learn fast.\n\nMoral of the story: Just play basketball for fun, and get your friends/teammates to do so too. Too many kids spoil a fun game because of the potential to make money in the NBA. My friends had such bad attitudes about basketball, and it ended up so that none of them even played community college ball. Unless the local newspaper is going gaga over you, don't even begin to get dreams of the NBA. Hard facts, have fun man...\n\nMight I suggest investing more time into football, baseball or maybe even soccer if you're not going to be tall? Basketball is a very size-discriminatory sport!
628193
I think your chances are pretty high of being 6'4 beacuse I'm 15 and only 5'6, which is normal, and your 13 being 5'11 you'll be 6'4.
293247
DUDE IM 5'11 208 IN VARSITY I PLAY DE AND I WAS 5'9 220 IN JV WHEN I PLAYED DT/DE SO YEAH IT MATTERS YOUR AGE IF YOUR 13 14 THEN YOU WILL GROW IF YOUR 16 17 DONT COUNT ON IT. JUST BE GOOD WITH THE SIZE YOU GOT. IM A SOPHMORE IN VARSITY.
428062
You need to want it more than anyone...\n\nGet up and practice when everyone is sleeping...\n\nLift weights, run sprints, practice your free throws, focus mainly on your hamstrings and calves when you work out...\n\nPractice taking off for your leaps with your strong foot...\n\nIE explode to the hoop...Make your strongest step your last step, you will get it soon enough...I never thought I would, but it happens...\n\nPractice while you are young enough. Time flies, and then you can't play anymore...keep your head up, do your best. its worth it.
414757
your height has nothing to do with it. I'm 5'1" and believe me things work out. Libero would be a good position because of your height though. As far as drills, to work on your passing see if someone will throw you a few balls every night and just focus on that. Make sure your form is good. As for jumping, if you work your legs then your all set. Try doing 2 small jumps and the next as high as you can for about a minute at a time. It'll work your leg muscles and if you do it every day then it will help. Also  if you do squats and recently i've found if you give people piggy back rides, it improves your calf muscles. For backrow hits, work on jump serves. If you can back row hit you can jump serve. I guess that's the best I can do for ya..good luck
962173
yea I'm 5'11 and I can also dunk finally. The key to success is to do exercises like squats and leg press. They will build your legs in no time and you will be able to fly. My first dunk was at basketball practice last year. It was amazing!! have you seen the movie "like mike"?  Everyone was astonished with their mouths wide open.
1104506
You can't... height is basically genetic.  The fads out there that suggest that you can become taller or shorter through product or excersize are mainly myth.
402370
Naturally?  Then do nothing.  \n\nYou can get a little taller temporarily by doing things like hanging upside down for hours a day and stretching your back.  That's what football players do to get that extra inch for the measurements during the combine.  Not really worth the time though.\n\nBetter to just accept your height and move on.  Height means very little in the long run, and anyone who treats you differently because you're shorter, or taller, than them has their own issues to deal with.  \n\nBesides, shorter people live longer!\n\nGood luck.\n\n**late addition - calcium can't hurt, vitamins can't hurt, and seeing a doctor to examine your growth plates might not be a bad idea.  They should be able to tell you if nature has anything left in the tank for you.
907182
Thats all lies. Basketball cant stun your growth or affect your chest and shoulders. To prove to your parents, connsult your parents to a physician and check things out with him or her. If I were you, I would hold off a year and join basketball next year if in case you are not good at basketball. But hey, if you are, go ahead and give it a shot.
743414
Do you mean 170 centimeters tall?  That would put you at about 5'7" at US standards.  If so you'd need to start practicing on your jumping and jumping from the tips of your toes using a plyometric training shoe.  You still could gain a little height if you are only 16.  At 5'7 that is a little on the short side to be dunking, but there have been people much shorter such as Spud Webb (Atlanta Hawks) where their height didn't really matter.\n\nHere is the kind of training shoe I was talking about.\n\nhttp://skyflex.com/default.html
950103
IT WILL HELP! my cuz is 5'7 and can dunk wit them and im 6'4 and he dunks as good as me. TRUST ME!
790235
Sorry, but no. It will increase your leg power. In basketball, that will probably translate to better stability when it comes to boxing out for a rebound and may even give you slightly better footwork overall. To increase your vertical leap, the proven technique is to try doing depth jumps or jumping down from a height. Or even any other exercise that involves isolating your calf muscles can help even slightly.
1013981
I'm 17 I just started playing when i was 14 and I'm already pretty good. I'm addicted to basketball that's why I'm better already than some of my friends who have liked far longer than me (not that i'm bragging). I can't dunk though hehe i'm only 5'7 and I don't really get to work out my legs regularly because I have to study.
1133279
Chill dude, my mate was like shortest dude in class at 15, now he is like 6'3. He shot up at 18. Be patient, and eat lots of protein and carbs.
1108493
I play basketball all the time. I'm only about 5'5 but I still beat people that are 6 feet or taller. Strengths - good shooter, good at stealing, great defense on people my height, good at driving it in, decent ball handling.