DUNKMAN begins filming at OTE Arena

Shaquille O’Neal, the former NBA All-Star, four-time champion, and basketball hall of famer known for his 7-foot-1 frame and powerful dunks that once ripped down backboards, is on a mission to prove fans still want to watch high-level dunking.

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has faced criticism in recent years for its lack of star power, with the event often featuring first- or second-year players or journeymen rather than the league’s biggest names. Fans have also expressed disappointment with the creativity and difficulty of the dunks.

When O’Neal launched DUNKMAN, a professional dunk league, his goal was to showcase the world’s best dunkers — even if that meant looking beyond the NBA.

“These guys do things that NBA players can’t and won’t do,” O’Neal said of why he created the league.

O’Neal also wanted to make the league accessible to fans, offering free admission on a first-come, first-served basis.

That approach paid off, as a packed house filled Overtime Elite Arena on Tuesday night for DUNKMAN’s inaugural event.

Group A featured Joel Henry, Doug Anderson, Dengxing Chen, Cam Hazzard, Jonathan Edwards, and Shelby McEwen. O’Neal spent much of the night on the sideline congratulating competitors after their performances, while Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and TNT Sports’ Adam Lefkoe called the action on TNT and Max.

Cam Hazzard, a 21-year-old from Little Elm, Texas, won the Group A title with an average score of 9.55. He also earned a $35,000 prize after recording the highest-scoring dunk of the night with a signature 360 slam. Hazzard edged finalists Chen and Henry, both of whom successfully jumped over cars during the championship round.

Hazzard, who said classmates used to tease him in high school for calling himself “Hazzardous Dunks,” only began consistently posting his dunks online in recent years. After winning the title, he was still taking it all in.

“It is crazy,” Hazzard said. “This is the toughest group out of them. You have two people jumping over cars and Joel jumping over someone stacked on another person’s shoulders.”

After his interviews, Hazzard stayed to take photos, sign autographs, and interact with fans. He also hinted that he has even more spectacular dunks planned for his next appearance.

“There are things that I had to reserve because I was first, so I couldn’t really show out,” Hazzard said. “You’re going to see some crazy stuff in the championship for sure.”

Hazzard, Chen, and Henry currently rank among the top eight in the World Championship standings. The DUNKMAN World Champion will earn a $500,000 grand prize.

Next week, Tyler Curry, Jonathan Clark, Gustavo Kaakin, Mason Baker, Avante Nichols, and Dillan McCarthy will compete in Group B.

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