Watch China’s Chen Dengxing soar over 6 people, stun Shaq in Dunkman season opener
The Zhejiang native has crowd on their feet after leaping almost seven feet with between-the-legs dunk at contest’s inaugural event in Atlanta
The inaugural season of Shaquille O’Neal’s professional dunking league got under way in Atlanta on Wednesday, and one Chinese star has already made a big impression.
Chen Dengxing shocked the crowd and O’Neal at the Dunkman season opener with a between-the-legs dunk over six people that covered 6ft 10in (about 2 metres) in distance.
What makes the feat of the 45-inch vertical leap even more impressive is Chen is 39 years old and a diminutive by basketball standards 5ft 9in inches tall.
The Zhejiang native is a well-known name on the dunking circuit, with various titles under his belt, such as the Quai 54 World Dunk Contest champion, CBA Dunk Contest champion and China Dunk League champion, while also finishing as runner-up at the Fiba World Cup Dunk Contest.
Dunkman is the first league dedicated exclusively to competitive dunking, featuring multiple group stage events followed by a World Championship, with 24 elite dunkers competing for a US$500,000 grand prize and the title of Dunkman World Champion.