Basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal revealed Monday his plans to create a new professional dunking competition, with the first season scheduled to begin later this year.
The venture has secured support from TNT Sports and Authentic Brands Group, expanding upon last year’s DUNKMAN TV series. O’Neal’s vision transforms traditional slam dunk showcases into an organized professional sporting league.
Twenty-four competitors from across the globe will participate in the inaugural season, which features four live preliminary rounds leading up to the DUNKMAN World Championship. The ultimate champion will take home a grand prize worth $500,000.
“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,” stated O’Neal, who will oversee the league as commissioner.
The competition will broadcast on TNT, TBS, truTV and HBO Max, with supplementary content shared through social media platforms and digital channels.
Craig Barry, TNT Sports Chief Content Officer, explained the league will appeal to fans of both athletics and entertainment culture. He emphasized that collaborating with O’Neal will help develop programming centered on the distinct personalities and artistic abilities of elite dunkers.
A judging panel will assess each dunking performance to determine which competitors move forward in the tournament. Officials plan to reveal additional information about venue locations, participant rosters and broadcast schedules in upcoming weeks.
