NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal announced on Monday that he is launching a professional dunk league, with its inaugural season set to debut this year.

The new league, backed by TNT Sports and Authentic Brands Group, expands on last year’s DUNKMAN TV series. Its goal is to transform dunk contests from one-off showcase events into a structured professional competition.

The first season will feature 24 athletes from around the world competing in four live group-stage events. Winners will earn spots in the DUNKMAN World Championship, where the grand prize is $500,000.

“These athletes are innovators, and DUNKMAN is going to give them a global stage, real stakes, and a chance to build careers doing what they love,” O'Neal said. He will serve as the league’s commissioner.

Events will be broadcast across TNT, TBS, truTV, and HBO Max, with additional coverage shared through social media channels and digital platforms.

Craig Barry, Chief Content Officer of TNT Sports, said the league aims to engage audiences interested in both sports and culture. He added that the partnership with O'Neal will help highlight the personalities and creativity of the top dunkers.

A panel of judges will score each dunk attempt to determine which athletes advance in the competition. Details on host cities, participants, and broadcast schedules will be announced in the coming weeks. -Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters