Throwing down your first dunk is one of the craziest feelings ever. I still remember the exact moment it happened—5’8″, 13 years old, loud gym, and then bang—my first real dunk. It felt surreal. But what made that moment even more special was the journey behind it.
If you’re a young basketball player, a jump-obsessed athlete, or just someone who wants to know how it’s actually possible to dunk at that height and age, this post is for you.
Falling in Love with Dunking, Not Just Basketball
I played a ton of sports growing up—soccer, baseball, basketball, etc. But by fifth grade, basketball took over. The twist? It wasn’t just the game I loved. It was dunking.
I’d lower the rim to 7.5 feet, grab a mini ball, and spend hours copying NBA dunks I saw on YouTube. Windmills, backscratchers, eastbays—whatever I saw online, I tried. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that obsession laid the foundation for everything that came later.
What I was doing, without knowing it, was applying the law of specificity. The more you do something, the better you get at that exact thing.
Want to shoot better? Shoot more.
Want to jump higher and dunk? Dunk more.
Low Rim Dunking Changed Everything
People love to talk about vertical jump programs and lifting schedules, but low rim dunking was my real secret.
I’d go outside and just jump for hours. I kept raising the rim as I improved: from 7.5 to 8 feet, then to 8’6″, then 9. Every time I raised the rim, it pushed my body to adapt.
I wasn’t training to jump higher. I was just trying to hit new dunks and PRs. That mindset—chasing creativity and difficulty—made me better without me even thinking about it.
Some dunks came quickly. Others took hours of attempts. That “go until you make it” mindset made a huge difference. After one make, the technique was generally locked in. Trick dunks weren’t just fun—they trained my coordination, timing, and body control better than anything else.
Touching the Backboard & Strength Training
In 7th grade, I touched the backboard for the first time. That moment flipped a switch.
At the time, I’d done a little lifting—basic movements with light weight—but now I wanted more. I wasn’t following a strict plan, but I had a coach who taught me how to lift safely. I learned how to squat, power clean, and simply how to lift with proper technique. That early lifting base was key.
Even now, I train heavier, but those same lifts—done correctly—still power my results.
The Moment That Changed Everything: Meeting Jordan Kilganon
That same summer, I messaged Jordan Kilganon (the GOAT of pro dunking) on Instagram. Not only did he reply, but he also gave me feedback, shared his training program (now JumpMasterX), and eventually became my coach.
Jordan helped me fix my approach, improve my take-off angle, and start landing harder dunks. I’ll never forget the day I hit a dunk on a 9’6″ rim—the same day I touched 10 feet for the first time on video. That was the breakthrough moment that made 10 feet feel within reach.
Going for 10 Feet
Once I grabbed the rim on 10 feet, I started trying for real dunks. Although I was pretty far away, I believed I was close. That belief mattered.
I started mixing in more max-effort attempts on 10 feet instead of just messing around on lower rims. I didn’t hit it right away. I missed a lot. But my technique kept improving, and I could feel the gap closing.
Every session I came in thinking, “I’m going to dunk today.” I’d said it dozens of times before.
But one day, it was different.
The Day I Dunked
Before heading to the gym, I looked at my dad and told him: “I’m going to dunk today.” He’d heard it before, but he’d also seen how close I was getting.
That session started slow. I did a real warm up—something I hadn’t really done before—and missed my first few attempts off of a self-lob.
Then Adam, a guy I didn’t know, saw me trying. He offered to toss me a lob. After a few tries, he threw a perfect one.
And I dunked.
I didn’t really celebrate much (the gym was packed), but that moment was everything. All the hours. All the failed dunks. All the progress I’d made. It all finally clicked.
What I Learned from Getting My First Dunk
- Low Rim is KING.
If you’re not dunking on a low rim, you’re missing out. There are rims everywhere—parks, schools, churches. I know tons in my area alone. Go find one. - The Plan Doesn’t Matter If You Don’t Jump
You can have the best plan in the weight room, but it won’t matter if you’re not putting in enough jumping reps. I jumped every day while my knees could handle it. That consistency is what changed things. - Get a Coach.
Although I started out alone, everything changed once I joined JumpMasterX. Jordan Kilganon, Tom Barnes, and Austen Young have all played a huge role in helping me level up—through their feedback, coaching, and constant accountability. Looking back, if I had started with their guidance from the beginning, I would’ve made progress way faster. If you’re serious about improving, find someone who’s been where you want to go. A good mentor can save you years of trial and error. - Trick Dunks Build Real Skill.
They’re not just flashy. Trick dunks taught me more than anything else—about ball handling, body control, and coordination. They made regular dunks feel easy. - Belief Fuels Progress.
You have to believe it’s possible—before it actually is. The mental reps matter just as much as the physical ones.
Want to Dunk? Start Now.
If you’re 13, 23, or 53 and you want to dunk, start today. You don’t need perfect genetics. You need consistency.
Dunk on low rims. Watch dunk videos. Learn lifting technique. Do everything with intent. And fall in love with the process.
I share my full dunk sessions, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content on YouTube. I also host The Dunk Talk, where I interview the best dunkers in the world about their journeys.
👉 Follow me on Instagram
👉 Check out JumpMasterX
👉 Watch what I’d do if I had to restart my Dunk Journey
Thanks for reading—and if you’re chasing your first dunk, keep going!
About The Author
