Shaq Bets Big On New Professional Dunking League, ‘Dunkman’

Summary

Shaquille O'Neal discusses his new professional dunking league Dunkman, aiming to globalize elite dunking and offer big prizes. He criticizes the NBA dunk contest as severely declined because star players no longer participate out of fear. The interview covers the league's structure, talent scouting, and O'Neal's hopes to inspire future generations.

• Shaq launched Dunkman to bring together the world's best dunkers and treat them as professional athletes.
• He believes the dunk is the most spectacular shot and wants to revive its excitement.
• The NBA dunk contest has declined because top NBA players avoid it to escape embarrassment.
• Dunkman will feature dunks that NBA players cannot do, with prize money starting at $500k and potentially rising.
• Scoring will be done by professional dunkers, making it less subjective than the NBA contest.
• Shaq aims to create a pipeline where people see the league and aspire to compete, expanding the sport globally.