Shaquille O’Neal is widely recognized for his incredible contributions to basketball, but one of the most memorable aspects of his career is his ability to dunk with such force that it often caused backboards to break. This unique trait has become a significant part of his legacy, and now, O’Neal is taking it to the next level.
During the men’s NCAA Tournament National Championship broadcast, O’Neal shared with his Inside the NBA colleagues, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, that he is launching the first professional dunking league. He mentioned that this idea came from a show he created eight years ago, which received over 200 million hits. That show was later rebranded as “Dunkman,” and now, O’Neal is expanding it into a full-fledged league.
“I’d like to thank my partners because we did a show about eight years ago that got over 200 million hits, so then I took that show over and called it ‘Dunkman,’” O’Neal said. “And then, I said, ‘You know what? We need a Dunkman league. Since the NBA guys don’t have enough pride to give us, the fans, what we want in the Dunk Contest, all these professional dunkers have been created.’”
Warner Bros. Discovery officially announced DUNKMAN on Tuesday. The league is a collaboration between O’Neal, Authentic Brands Group, TNT Sports, and Eli Lilly and Company. It will be available across multiple platforms, including TNT, TBS, truTV, and HBO Max.
DUNKMAN is described as “the world’s first professional league in the sport of dunking,” and it will debut this summer. The inaugural season will feature 24 of the top dunkers competing live in a new league format. The season will consist of four group stage events where athletes will battle for a spot in the DUNKMAN World Championship. Finalists will compete for the title of DUNKMAN World Champion and a grand prize of $500,000.
O’Neal will serve as the commissioner of the DUNKMAN league. In a statement, he emphasized the importance of the league: “These athletes are innovators, and DUNKMAN is going to give them a global stage, real stakes, and a chance to build careers doing what they love. We are transforming dunking from a one-night contest to the fastest growing professional sport off two feet.”
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest, once a highlight of All-Star Weekend, has faced criticism from fans who feel that the game’s biggest stars no longer participate. However, the contest has seen some recent success, with NBA G League MVP McClung winning it three consecutive years before Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson claimed the title in February.
This new league aims to bring more attention and recognition to the art of dunking, providing a platform for athletes to showcase their talents and compete in a structured environment. With O’Neal at the helm, DUNKMAN is set to become a major event in the world of sports.
