With the resurgence of the XFL and the ascendency of the Pro Tour of Pickleball, it was only a matter of time before a sports cult classic returned to the court and canvas. Following a 20-plus-year absence, the trampolines, big dunks and bigger hits are back as SlamBall returned to action in late July.
The Playoffs are Set
The eight teams played anywhere from nine to 16 regular-season games over the past four weeks, and the SlamBall playoffs are officially set. There are two-game quarterfinals Tuesday (11 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN App) followed by a slam dunk contest, and the semifinals are on Thursday (11 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN App). The SlamBall championship game will follow the two semifinal matchups, with all games taking place at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas.
MOB was the team to beat during the regular season, finishing 16-0 with three wins over Buzzsaw. The lowest margin of victory for MOB was 13 — which happened three times during the season — so it’s hard to imagine any other team being the favorite. Buzzsaw finished 9-6 on the season and will play the winner of No. 3 seed Slashers and No. 6 seed Gryphons.
On the other side of the bracket, the No. 4 Wrath will face No. 5-seeded Lava for a chance to try to upset MOB on Thursday.
Players to Watch
Darius Clark of MOB led the team with 257 points while going 77-for-100 on dunk attempts in the regular season. He also led the league in regular-season scoring. Tony Crosby II, captain of the Slashers, led the regular season with 48 hits, doubling the next closest player’s totals. Gage Smith of MOB leads SlamBall in steals (28), loose ball recovery (156), and stops (146). Ty McGee of Wrath finished with 28.4 points per game over nine contests, which edges Clark by nearly eight points a game. Tyquan Scott of Buzzsaw also put up big defensive numbers, finishing second in loose ball recoveries (113) and stops (116) while ending up fourth in steals (11).
Gameplay and Rules
SlamBall games are 20 minutes long with four five-minute quarters. The court is 96 feet long by 64 feet wide with three identical “springbeds” on each side. Players wear protective equipment and the standard positions are handler, gunner, and stopper.
During the regular season, SlamBall delivered some incredible highlights. Greg Helt of the Wrath tossed a between-the-legs pass off the backboard to himself for a thunderous one-handed dunk. Nathan Karsjens of the Slashers blocked Ty McGee’s attempt at a game-tying dunk with time running out. Jordan Jones called game with an incredible windmill dunk and stuck his arm in the rim. Paxton Henry soared through the air and jammed on a defender for a huge dunk.
Exciting Announcing Booth Addition
It was announced on Monday that five-time NFL Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch would be in the announcing booth for all six Series 6 playoff games. “Marshawn Lynch stands out as one of the sports world’s most distinctive personalities, making him a perfect addition to the SlamBall broadcast booth,” SlamBall co-founder Mason Gordon said. Lynch couldn’t contain his excitement to be part of the team.
As SlamBall heads into its playoffs, fans can expect high-flying dunks, intense competition, and thrilling gameplay. With MOB as the team to beat and standout players like Darius Clark, Tony Crosby II, and Gage Smith, the SlamBall playoffs are sure to deliver excitement and entertainment. So get ready for the trampolines, big dunks, and bigger hits as SlamBall takes center stage once again.
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