Courtesy: Authentic Brands Group
Think you can dunk your way into a professional sports league? Shaquille O’Neal is giving aspiring athletes a chance to prove their skills through DUNKMAN, his professional dunking league.
Following its debut season, the league is launching a global talent search for its next group of competitors. The search begins with a regional qualifier on November 14, 2026, at Indiana University Indianapolis, in partnership with Lilly.
DUNKMAN wants to discover athletes who can compete at the professional level. The opportunity is open to experienced dunkers, basketball players, streetballers and emerging talent who believe they have what it takes to stand out.
Athletes compete for $10,000 and a professional contract
The Indianapolis qualifier will give selected applicants an opportunity to showcase their dunking skills. DUNKMAN plans to choose up to 50 applicants for an open dunk session.
The league’s team will evaluate each athlete’s talent, performance and potential. Top performers will then receive individual tryouts in front of O’Neal, DUNKMAN’s founder and commissioner.
From there, selected competitors can advance to the qualifier final. One athlete will receive a $10,000 prize and a professional DUNKMAN contract, according to the announcement.
The winner will also have a chance to compete for the $1 million grand prize at the 2027 DUNKMAN World Championship. The competition offers aspiring dunkers a potential route from local tryouts to a professional stage.
O’Neal has encouraged athletes who believe they can outperform the league’s current competitors to apply. The search aims to find talent that has yet to receive a major platform.
DUNKMAN builds on a successful debut season
DUNKMAN reported more than 1.5 billion social video views during its inaugural season. The league also recorded 5.7 million viewers on TNT, according to its announcement.
Those figures provide the foundation for its plans to expand the competition in 2027. The league expects to return in summer 2027 with an expanded calendar, additional regional qualifiers and the $1 million World Championship prize.
The inaugural championship also produced a standout winner. Cam Hazzard claimed the title and its $500,000 grand prize.
Hazzard will return for a live dunk exhibition in Indianapolis alongside Jonathan Clark, Doug Anderson, Darius Clark, Tyler Currie and Dillan McCarthy. The exhibition will be open to the public, with tickets promoted through the event announcement.
Shaq’s league partners with Lilly for Indianapolis event
The Indianapolis qualifier will also feature a girls’ basketball clinic connected to Lilly’s The Court Is Hers initiative. The program aims to increase girls’ participation in local basketball and create more opportunities for young athletes.
Lilly’s partnership highlights the training, conditioning and recovery required for high-level athletic performance. It also connects the professional competition with efforts to support youth basketball.
For aspiring dunkers, however, the main opportunity is the chance to showcase their skills before O’Neal and the DUNKMAN team.
How to apply for the DUNKMAN qualifier
Athletes interested in competing must be at least 18 years old and legal U.S. residents. Applications close at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 2, 2026.
The first regional qualifier will take place on November 14 at Indiana University Indianapolis. Applicants can review the requirements and submit their entries through the official application page.
DUNKMAN is searching for athletes ready to turn their dunking ability into a professional opportunity. With a $10,000 prize, a contract opportunity and a path toward the $1 million championship, the tryout could be a major step for the next standout dunker.
According to the league’s announcement, applications are open through November 2, 2026. Eligible athletes can apply through the official DUNKMAN regional qualifier website.
Source: DUNKMAN and RMG press release, October 2026.
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