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SCMP Sport

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.

HE DUNKED OVER SIX PEOPLE 🤯
"Dunk Chen" stuns in round 3 😳 pic.twitter.com/FTQe6ihQpL
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) July 22, 2026

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.
O’Neal serves as founder and league commissioner of Dunkman.


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NBA (National Basketball Association)

Watch China’s Chen Dengxing soar over 6 people, stun Shaq in Dunkman season opener

Chen Dengxing, here at a World Streetball Championship event, shocked the crowd and Shaquille O’Neal at the Dunkman season opener. Photo: Instagram/quai54wsc

Chinese NBA star Yao Ming retires from basketball in 2011 – from the SCMP archive

Yao Ming, then playing for the Houston Rockets, makes a free throw during an NBA China Games match against the New Jersey Nets on October 13, 2010. File photo: AFP

Yao Ming stands next to his wife Ye Li and daughter Qin Lei during a news conference to announce his retirement from basketball in Shanghai on July 20, 2011. File photo: Reuters

Yao Ming, then playing for China, reacts at the end of his team’s match against Germany at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. File photo: AP

Chinese basketball fans in disbelief as NBA star Kyrie Irving pays one a visit at his home

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving with the Shanghai fan and his family at their home. Photo: Douyin

Kyrie Irving’s home visit was part of his China tour organised by a sporting goods brand. Photo: Douyin screenshot

Kyrie Irving leaving his signature on the fan’s wall. Photo: Douyin screenshot

Sport

Basketball

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 Zhejiang native has crowd on their feet after leaping almost seven feet with between-the-legs dunk at contest’s inaugural event in Atlanta.


Shaquille O’Neal

Watch China’s Chen Dengxing soar over 6 people, stun Shaq in Dunkman season opener

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}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 Zhejiang native has crowd on their feet after leaping almost seven feet with between-the-legs dunk at contest’s inaugural event in Atlanta