World’s First Professional Dunk League Delivers Significant Audiences Across Platforms in Year 1 with More Than 1.5 Billion Social Media Video Views, 33 Million Engagements & 5.7 Million Total Viewers on TNT

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Following a breakout inaugural season, Shaquille O’Neal, Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) and TNT Sports’ DUNKMAN, the world’s first professional dunk league, will officially return in 2027, highlighted by an expanded slate of premium events.

“The debut of DUNKMAN proved what I already knew: these athletes are superstars, and dunking is a professional sport,” said O’Neal, DUNKMAN’s founder and commissioner. “Next year we’re going bigger. More cities, more countries, team battles and a junior division for the next generation. We’re building the future of the sport.”

Leading up to next summer’s DUNKMAN World Championship, the league will stage a series of regional qualifier events, domestically and internationally, giving the next wave of dunkers from around the world the opportunity to earn a place in the professional league.

Each qualifier will feature an open-competition format in which aspiring dunkers will compete before an expert judging panel, with standout performers earning the chance to advance to the professional ranks. Planned qualifier events will be announced at a later date.

In addition, DUNKMAN will also introduce two new competitive formats:

• Team Competitions: dunkers will compete in team-based events for the first time;
• Junior Division: a new division for athletes 15-and-under on nine-foot rims, developing the next generation of professional dunkers

DUNKMAN’s inaugural season, presented by Lily, transformed dunking from a one-night contest into a fully realized professional sports league. Twenty-four of the world’s best dunkers competed across four live Group Stage events on TNT Sports, culminating in the DUNKMAN World Championship, where Dallas native Cam Hazzard was crowned the first-ever DUNKMAN World Champion and claimed the $500,000 grand prize.

• The league’s debut season garnered significant results, including 1.5 billion+ social views; 33 million+ engagements across platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X and YouTube
• DUNKMAN was #1 trending topic on China’s Douyin during Championship
• 94% of social views came from non-followers
• 5.7 million total viewers watched DUNKMAN throughout the first season on TNT Sports

Authentic Brands Group, the global brand development and licensing powerhouse, saw in Shaquille O’Neal’s DUNKMAN the foundation for something bigger than a single dunk contest: a full-fledged league built to extend across live entertainment, hospitality, retail and premium content.

“Season 1 of DUNKMAN established dunking as a professional sport. Season 2 and beyond will continue to build a global league and platform through team competitions, a junior division and a global qualifier series that puts DUNKMAN in new markets year-round. We are in the early stages of what this property will become,” said Colin Smeeton, President of Authentic Studios.

DUNKMAN is designed to elevate the sport of dunking with structure, storytelling, stakes, and world-class competition. The league’s Olympic-level scoring system sets the modern standard for professional dunking, with a panel of expert judges evaluating each dunk attempt to determine which dunkers advance through the Group Stages and who is ultimately crowned DUNKMAN World Champion. Additional content is published across DUNKMAN social channels, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and YouTube.

“In the first Championship, DUNKMAN experienced unprecedented engagement and undeniably positive sentiment – it’s a true 21^st century sports property,” said Craig Barry, Chief Content Officer, TNT Sports. “Year two, with a longer runway and more opportunities, there’s much more to come.”

TNT Sports is a co-creator and equity partner in the DUNKMAN League.

Additional future programming details, including the full schedule, athlete reveals, ticket on-sale dates and broadcast information, will be announced in the coming months. Fans can follow the league at www.dunkman.com and across DUNKMAN social channels @dunkmanofficial.

About Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the world’s most successful athletes-turned-businessmen, whose accomplishments both on and off the court have translated into a highly sought-after global brand. As an entrepreneur, sports analyst, DJ, restauranteur, brand ambassador, and producer, Shaquille O’Neal’s signature “Business of Fun” mantra resonates throughout each of his countless ventures.

The 15-time NBA All-Star’s unprecedented athletic career spanned nearly two decades and earned him countless awards and honors, including NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Rookie of the Year, four NBA Championships and a First Ballot NBA Hall of Famer. Currently, O’Neal is an Emmy-winning analyst on ESPN’s “Inside the NBA.”

O’Neal is a universally recognized figure in sports, entertainment, and pop culture. His music career began with the release of four rap albums with his first, Shaq Diesel, going platinum. Today, he is known worldwide as DJ Diesel. His DJ business has become a global enterprise, with his SHAQ’s Bass All-Stars Festival and Shaq’s Fun House, an immersive event series combining live performances, carnival rides, and celebrity appearances.

Through his multimedia company, Jersey Legends Productions, O’Neal continues to innovate by creating compelling content that spans sports, entertainment, and culture. In 2025, JLP released the Netflix series POWER MOVES and partnered with TNT Sports on DUNKMAN, a first-of-its-kind dunk competition series redefining the art of the slam.

Follow Shaquille O’Neal on TikTok, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a global brand and entertainment platform that owns and invests in iconic intellectual property and cultural assets. It accelerates brands through a set of specialized businesses that combine powerful storytelling, premium content, unforgettable live experiences and global commerce. Through a network of more than 1,700 best-in-class licensees and strategic partners across 150 countries and expansive distribution, Authentic’s brands drive more than $38 billion in annual systemwide retail sales worldwide.

Authentic’s diversified portfolio spans more than 50 brands and reaches nearly one billion social media followers. Its roster includes Reebok, Champion, Shaquille O’Neal, David Beckham, Kevin Hart, Sports Illustrated, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, Marilyn Monroe, GUESS, Care Bears, Aéropostale, Nautica, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, Nine West, Brooks Brothers, Juicy Couture, Vince Camuto, Izod, Van Heusen, Dockers, Ted Baker, Hart Schaffner Marx, Vince, OVO, Barneys New York, Judith Leiber, Quiksilver, Spyder, Billabong, Volcom, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, Prince, Sperry and Hunter.

For more information, visit corporate.authentic.com. Follow Authentic on LinkedIn, Instagram and WeChat.

About TNT Sports
TNT Sports is a global leader in the delivery of premium sports content. The TNT Sports U.S. portfolio includes expansive, multi-platform partnerships with Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, National Hockey League, United States Soccer Federation, College Football Playoff games, BIG EAST, Big 12, Unrivaled, NASCAR and Roland-Garros. TNT Sports also produces the iconic Inside the NBA studio show. Owned and operated platforms are highlighted by Bleacher Report, the #1 digital destination for young sports fans, along with House of Highlights, B/R W, Golf Digest, and a full suite of digital and social portfolio brands. Additionally, TNT Sports co-manages NCAA.com and NCAA March Madness Live. TNT Sports in Europe and the Republic of Ireland includes partnerships with the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, UEFA, Premiership Rugby, MotoGP, British and World Superbikes, UFC, Australian Open and Roland-Garros, Grand Tour Cycling, the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, every major winter sports World Championship and World Cup event, and the Olympic Games 2026-2032.

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SOURCE Authentic Brands Group