DUNKMAN 2026
24 of the world's best dunkers. Four group stages. One $500,000 grand prize. Every competitor has a full profile on Dunkademics.
FROM DUNK KING TO THE DUNKMAN LEAGUE
Dunk King. Shaquille O'Neal's original televised dunk competition. It ran for a couple of years and was then retired.
The DunkMan Show. In late 2025 Shaq brought the concept back, rebranded as DunkMan, as a one-off televised competition. Jordan Kilganon won it, beating roughly 40 of the world's best dunkers.
The DunkMan League. For 2026, Shaq, TNT and others from the dunk and basketball world built the first-ever professional dunking league: 24 signed athletes across four group stages competing for a $500,000 grand prize.
HOW IT WORKS
The 24 athletes are split into four groups of six and go head-to-head. The four group winners advance to the World Championship, joined by the next four highest total scores across all groups, for eight finalists.
The World Championship on August 25, 2026 crowns the champion, who takes home $500,000. Every event tips off at 8PM ET at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, live on TNT, TBS, truTV and HBO Max.
GROUP STAGE A
July 21, 2026 · 8PM ET on TNT
GROUP STAGE B
July 28, 2026 · 8PM ET on TNT
GROUP STAGE C
August 4, 2026 · 8PM ET on TNT
GROUP STAGE D
August 11, 2026 · 8PM ET on TNT
THE ROAD TO $500,000
Four group winners advance automatically, joined by the next four highest total scores across every group. Those eight finalists meet at the World Championship on August 25, 2026 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. The winner takes home $500,000.
