![]() SlamBall match showing a slam dunk | |
Characteristics | |
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Contact | Full |
Equipment | Basketball |
![]() | |
Sport | SlamBall |
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Founded | 2000 |
Inaugural season | 2002, 2007, 2012, 2016, 2023 |
Ceased | 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
No. of teams | 8 |
Countries | United States, China, Australia, Portugal, India |
Last champion(s) | Mob |
Most titles | Mob (2) |
TV partner(s) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Official website | https://www.slamballleague.com |
SlamBall is a form of basketball played with four trampolines in front of each net and boards around the court edge. While SlamBall is based on basketball, it is a contact sport, with blocks, collisions and rough physical play as part of the game, similar to elements of American football and ice hockey.
Professional SlamBall games aired on television with Spike TV for two seasons in 2002–2003, and the POWERade SlamBall Challenge was aired on CSTV, now CBS Sports Network, in 2007. SlamBall returned in August 2008,[1] airing on Versus, now NBC Sports Network, and CBS. The 2008 SlamBall season aired at one point on weekends on Cartoon Network. Slamball was shown on One HD in Australia during 2009. SlamBall held its first major international tournament in China in 2012.[2]
SlamBall was invented in 1999 by Mason Gordon, who was working at the time for Tollin/Robbins Productions and had written episodes for the television shows Kenan & Kel and Cousin Skeeter.[3] The name SlamBall is owned by Gordon's company. Inspired by video games,[4] Gordon sketched an idea on a napkin for a sport that combined several existent ones. He approached his boss, movie and television producer Mike Tollin, who liked the idea and thought Gordon was "onto something."[5] Tollin helped finance the construction of a prototype court in an East Los Angeles warehouse six months later.
Gordon then tried to convince street basketball players to test his new idea; he wanted to find skilled, strong players who could compete comfortably while launching off trampolines and crashing into each other in mid-air.
Five recruits—James Willis, Sean Jackson, David Redmond, Michael Goldman and Jeff Sheridan—trained with Gordon to produce the first games. These original six players were part of the first two teams, the Los Angeles Rumble and the Chicago Mob. These two teams played an exhibition series in 2001, which the Chicago Mob won. Soon, more players were brought in, including Stan Fletcher, Rob Wilson and Dion Mays.
First played in Los Angeles, the game gained attention from street basketball players in the area. Within a year, 400 people had been enlisted as potential players. Open tryouts were held and the selection of players based on athletic ability, body control and court awareness started. Reducing numbers to about 60 players, the first ever SlamBall combine was held where players and coaches learned safety, the game and basic strategy.
In 2002, SlamBall made its television debut, on The National Network (later Spike TV and now the Paramount Network), soon after former Philadelphia 76ers owner Pat Croce had signed on as a partner. Six teams (the Bouncers, Diablos, Mob, Rumble, Slashers, and Steal) played in the inaugural season. Former NBA All-Star Reggie Theus served as studio co-host and color commentator. ReelSports served as the event organizers for the new league. SlamBall also aired on the British television station Trouble and ESPN aired a feature on the new league.
After the second season in 2003, SlamBall creator Mason Gordon and co-producer Telepictures Productions had a disagreement.[1] The league was dissolved. Five years later the league resurfaced for one more season. The league opened its doors to open try-outs.[6]
The first SlamBall draft in 2002 saw Canadian Robert Wilson drafted as the first No. 1 pick ever in the sport. Before the second season of SlamBall debuted on the newly renamed Spike TV, two expansion teams (the Riders and Bandits) were added and a new court was built at Universal City, California. One notable player on the Bandits was Craig Skistimas, who would later go on to co-create the video game entertainment channel ScrewAttack![7]
In 2007, the "POWERADE SlamBall Challenge" took place at Hoop City, a fan interactive event, at the 2007 Final Four in Atlanta, Georgia, and aired on CSTV in April 2007.[8]
In Italy SlamBall made its debut on Italia 1 on 16 July 2007.[9]
In 2008, SlamBall began planning for a new season, to be financed by IMG. The league accepted applications through its website for new players and coaches, and tryouts were held in three U.S. cities in April, 2008. A training camp for the 2008 season of SlamBall was held at IMG Academy[10] in Bradenton, Florida from April to June 2008. Over 100 potential players participated in tryouts, eventually leaving 64 players after an 8-team draft. The league was cut to the 6 current teams. Some figures associated with the new season of SlamBall include: Commissioner Pat Croce and Coaches Kenny Anderson, John Starks, Raghib Ismail and Ken Carter. In summer 2008, SlamBall played its first season since 2003 at Universal Citywalk in Universal Studios, California. These games aired in a "Game of the Week" format on Versus beginning 31 August and led up to the finals on CBS on 2 November 2008.
In the 2008 season championship, the Slashers, led by Kevin Stapleton, defeated the Rumble.[11] The coach of the Rumble was Ken Carter, of the famed Coach Carter. The season aired on Australia's One HD and Fuel TV.[12]
In August 2022, Mason Gordon announced that SlamBall would be returning in July 2023 as a live sports league.[13] The new league had investments by David Blitzer, Michael G. Rubin, Gary Vaynerchuk, David J. Adelman, and Blake Griffin.[14] The younger generation is their target audience.[15]
The Upcoming SlamBall Season this July is taking place in Las Vegas for a six week season followed by a seventh week for playoffs with 8 teams competing. On June 5th SlamBall Mini Camp officially starts with the "Super 24", where 24 hand selected groups of elite multi-sport athletes will train for 2 weeks of intensive training, leading up to the SlamBall Draft to choose 64 players for 8 teams of 8 players.
Scoring is achieved by putting the ball into the net at the opponent's end of the court for points. Both teams simultaneously try to score points and prevent the opponent from scoring. The aim is to have outscored the opposing team when the game ends. A successful score can be worth two points if the ball is thrown through the hoop without the offensive player touching the hoop. Slam dunks are scored three points. All shots outside the three-point arc are worth three points as well. Four players from each team (out of an 8-10 player roster) may be on the court at one time. Substitutions are unlimited and can be done during play (as in the game of hockey). Each team has a coach and additional staff which includes assistant coaches, managers, statisticians, doctors, etc.
The game is controlled by two referees and the table officials. The table keeps track of the score, time, team possessions, fouls and the shot clock.
Games are played in four 5-minute quarters, unlike the NBA, which plays for four 12-minute quarters. The game commences with a "bounce-off" in which the ball is bounced at center court. The ball must reach its apex uninterrupted, at which point the players are allowed to "check" each other. Ten minutes are allowed for a half-time break; only one time-out is permitted to each team, which may only be used during the last two minutes of regulation play. A 15-second shot clock is utilized. Teams change ends for the second half. A tie score at the end of regulation time is settled by a series of "face offs" (see Fouls below).
Each team has four players on the court at any one time. There are three positions:
Teams are free to choose their own configuration, the usual formations being 1 stopper, 2 handlers, and 1 gunner OR 1 stopper, 1 handler, and 2 gunners.
Each player can commit just three personal fouls before he is removed from the match (the match is 20 minutes; a FIBA-organised 40-minute game allows five, and a 48-minute game such as the NBA is six). A coach or player displaying poor sportsmanship (such as fighting, arguing vehemently against an official) may be charged with a technical foul. Two technical fouls results in a disqualification.
When a foul is called, the player who has committed it will then take position on the baseline of the lower trampolines while the player who was offended will take up offensive position at center court. This is called a face-off. Upon a signal from the referee the offensive player will be free to mount an attack at the basket, which the defender now must endeavor to stop. The defender must enter the lower trampoline only after bouncing in from the side trampoline. If the offensive player is successful, then points will be awarded depending on the shot converted and the offensive players' team will retain possession of the ball. In the case of any tie-ups, the defensive team always gain possession, but if the shot was blocked, the offensive team retains the ball from center court.
List of common fouls:[16]
The spring floor lies adjacent to two sets of four trampoline or spring bed 'quads' which dominate each end of the court. Each trampoline surface measures 7 by 14 ft (2.1 by 4.3 m).) The shock absorbent panels pair with the competition bed trampolines to create a unique playing surface that both launches players to inhuman heights and cushions their landing upon returning to the floor. Specifically engineered pads are designed to cover the frame rails and their tapered design allows for maximum safety for on-court play. This entire playing surface will be surrounded with an 8 ft (2.4 m) Plexiglass wall much like in a hockey rink. Players wear protective cups and special equipment to protect various areas of the body. This consists of knee and elbow pads, and an optional SlamBall-specific helmet.
In 2015 Slamball resurfaced in China. After what appeared to be an extended courtship with the Chinese government, and community at large, new Slamball facilities began construction throughout China. Eventually, the new partnership with Chinese entities created five teams to officially expand the league to Asia. Slamball creator Mason Gordon did exhaustive leg work advancing the process. In 2015 all Gordon's hard work would pay off as Slamball started capturing the attention of the Chinese public.
According to a report published by Vice Sports, Mason Gordon was quoted as saying, "We never left, we just needed to take the best path for us." There were even talks of Slamball college teams in the coming years.[17]
On television, the sport has been seen on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, One Tree Hill, CBS's King of Queens, Method & Red, ESPN's SportsCenter, The Best Damn Sports Show Period and Fuel TV. In print, SlamBall has been featured in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Time and European editions of Maxim, GQ and FHM.
Because of the nature of SlamBall, a broad scope is considered in the recruitment of the players. New players for the League have come from various areas. SlamBall has recruited players directly from college and pro basketball programs across the country. Football players are used to the full-contact, up-tempo style of play, and many of the better players of SlamBall found their origins on the gridiron.[citation needed]
Team Name | Team Name Founded | Championships | One Off Tournament Wins |
---|---|---|---|
Mob | 2002 | 2012, 2016 | 2001, 2007 |
Rumble | 2002 | 2002 | |
Slashers | 2002 | 2008 | |
Buzzsaw | 2023 | ||
Ozone | 2023 | ||
Lava | 2023 | ||
Wrath | 2023 | ||
Gryphons | 2023 |
Inactive
Team Name | Team Name Founded | Last Active | Championships | One Off Tournament Wins |
---|---|---|---|---|
Diablos | 2002 | 2007 | ||
Steal | 2002 | 2003 | ||
Bouncers | 2002 | 2008 | ||
Bandits | 2003 | 2003 | ||
Riders | 2003 | 2003, (2008 Never Played) | 2003 | |
Rousties | 2008 | Never Played | ||
Hombres | 2008 | 2008 | ||
Maulers | 2008 | 2016 |
2001 | Playoffs | ||
---|---|---|---|
Team | Won | Lost | Result |
Chicago Mob | 3 | 1 | Champions |
Los Angeles Rumble | 1 | 3 | Runner-Up |
This series consisted of 4 games at a warehouse in Los Angeles, California.
2002 | Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Coach | Won | Lost | win-rate | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |
Rumble | Ken Carter | 7 | 2 | .778 | 1st | 2 | 0 | Champions | |
Diablos | Mark Ellis | 5 | 4 | .556 | 2nd | 1 | 1 | Runner-Up | |
Bouncers | Hernando Planells | 5 | 4 | .556 | 3rd | 0 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals | |
Steal | Brian Taylor | 4 | 5 | .444 | 4th | 0 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals | |
Mob | Brendan Kirsch | 4 | 5 | .444 | 5th | – | – | Did not qualify | |
Slashers | Kevin Stapleton | 2 | 7 | .222 | 6th | – | – | Did not qualify |
This season took place at a warehouse in Los Angeles, California.
The Bouncers stopper Rob Wilson was the 1st Pick of the 2002 SlamBall Draft
2003 | Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Coach | Won | Lost | win-rate | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |
Rumble | Ken Carter | 9 | 1 | .900 | 1st | 0 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals | |
Mob | Brendan Kirsch | 7 | 3 | .700 | 2nd | 0 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals | |
Riders | Xavier McDaniel | 6 | 4 | .600 | 3rd | 2 | 0 | Champions | |
Slashers | Kevin Stapleton | 6 | 4 | .600 | 4th | 1 | 1 | Runner-Up | |
Diablos | Joe Bryant | 4 | 6 | .400 | 5th | – | – | Did not qualify | |
Bouncers | Hernando Planells | 4 | 6 | .400 | 6th | – | – | Did not qualify | |
Steal | Brian Taylor | 2 | 8 | .200 | 7th | – | – | Did not qualify | |
Bandits | Mark Berekoff | 2 | 8 | .200 | 8th | – | – | Did not qualify |
This season took place in Los Angeles, California.
2007 | Playoffs | ||
---|---|---|---|
Team | Won | Lost | Result |
Mob | 2 | 0 | Champions |
Bouncers | 1 | 1 | Runner-Up |
Rumble | 0 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals |
Diablos | 0 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals |
This tournament took place in Hoops City in Atlanta, Georgia.
2008 | Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Coach | Won | Lost | win-rate | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |
Rumble | Ken Carter | 9 | 3 | .750 | 1st | 1 | 1 | Runner-Up | |
Slashers | Kevin Stapleton | 7 | 5 | .583 | 2nd | 2 | 0 | Champions | |
Mob | Brendan Kirsch | 7 | 5 | .583 | 3rd | 0 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals | |
Hombres | Kenny Anderson | 6 | 6 | .500 | 4th | 0 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals | |
Maulers | John Starks | 5 | 7 | .417 | 5th | – | – | Did not qualify | |
Bouncers | Rocket Ismail | 2 | 10 | .167 | 6th | – | – | Did not qualify |
This season took place at Universal Citywalk (within Universal Studios) in Los Angeles, California.
2012 | Playoffs | ||
---|---|---|---|
Team | Won | Lost | Result |
Mob | 2 | 0 | Champions |
Slashers | 1 | 1 | Runner-Up |
Maulers | 1 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals |
Rumble | 0 | 2 | Lost in semi-finals |
This season took place in the Dragon Center in Hangzhou, China.
2016 | Group Stage | Playoffs | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Won | Lost | win-rate | Finish | Won | Lost | Result |
Rumble | 6 | 0 | 1.000 | 1st | 1 | 1 | Runner-Up |
Mob | 3 | 3 | .500 | 2nd | 2 | 0 | Champions |
Slashers | 2 | 4 | .333 | 3rd | 0 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals |
Maulers | 1 | 5 | .167 | 4th | 0 | 1 | Lost in semi-finals |
This season took place in the Wuhan Sports University Area in Wuhan, China; and in the China Renming University Arena in Beijing, China.
2023 | Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Coach | Won | Lost | win-rate | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |
Rumble | Ken Carter | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
Slashers | Stan Fletcher | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
Mob | Brendan Kirsch | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
Buzzsaw | Hernando Planells Jr | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
Ozone | Trevor Anderson | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
Lava | Josh Carlson | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
Wrath | James Willis | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
Gryphons | Jelani Janisse | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
This season will take place at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Year | Champion | Result | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|
2001 Original Series* | Chicago Mob | 3 Games – 1 Game | Los Angeles Rumble |
2002 SlamBall Series 1 | Rumble | 46–41 | Diablos |
2003 SlamBall Series 2 | Riders | 66–60 | Slashers |
2007 Powerade Slamball Challenge* | Mob | 48–38 | Bouncers |
2008 Slamball Series 3 | Slashers | 48–46 | Rumble |
2012 MSAA Slamball China Championship Series 4 | Mob | 55–40 | Slashers |
2016 MSAA Slamball China Championship Series 5 | Mob | 32–15 | Rumble |
2023 Slamball Series 6 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
One Off Tournament*