SlamBall is a hybrid sport combining elements from basketball, American football, hockey, and gymnastics 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.

Inspired by video games,[4] Gordon sketched an idea on a napkin for a sport that combined several existing ones.

[5][6] He approached his boss, movie and television producer Mike Tollin, who liked the idea and thought Gordon was "onto something.

"[6] Tollin helped finance the construction of a prototype court in an East Los Angeles warehouse six months later.

[citation needed] Five recruits—James Willis, Sean Jackson, David Redmond, Michael Goldman, and Jeff Sheridan—trained with Gordon to produce the first games.

[citation needed] First played in Los Angeles, the game gained attention from street basketball players in the area.

Open tryouts were held and the selection of players based on athletic ability, body control and court awareness started.

Six teams (the Bouncers, Diablos, Mob, Rumble, Slashers, and Steal) played in the inaugural season.

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.

[citation needed] 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.

A training camp for the 2008 season of SlamBall was held at IMG Academy[11] in Bradenton, Florida from April to June 2008.

Some figures associated with the new season of SlamBall include: Commissioner Pat Croce and Coaches Kenny Anderson, John Starks, Raghib Ismail and Ken Carter.

[citation needed] After what appeared to be an extended courtship with the Chinese government, and community at large, new SlamBall facilities began construction in China.

Eventually, the new partnership with Chinese entities created five teams to officially expand the league to Asia.

"[14] In August 2022, Mason Gordon announced that SlamBall would be returning in July 2023 as a live sports league.

[15] The league raised a $11M Series A funding round led by Roger Ehrenberg, with participation from David Blitzer, Michael Rubin, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Blake Griffin.

The Mob, Rumble, and Slashers names were carried over from the previous seasons of SlamBall, accompanied by five new teams - the Gryphons, Ozone, Lava, Wrath, and Buzzsaw.

A coach or player displaying poor sportsmanship (such as fighting, arguing vehemently against an official) may be charged with a technical foul.

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 shock absorbent panels pair with the competition bed trampolines to create a playing surface that both launches players into the air and cushions their landing upon returning to the floor.

[citation needed] Inactive This series consisted of 4 games at a warehouse in Los Angeles, California.

The Bouncers stopper Rob Wilson was the 1st Pick of the 2002 SlamBall Draft This season took place in Los Angeles, California.