We're living in backwards times when it comes to dunking. The NBA 2K series strives for realism while dudes in real life are out here are taking it back to the NBA Jam days. Jordan Kilganon—a 23-year-old 6'1" Ontario, Canada native—is one culprit.
You've probably seen it—the dunk many are calling possibly the greatest dunk of all time (according to our commenters, it's in tight competition with Vince Carter's "le dunk de la mort"). It's simply known as the "Lost and Found" dunk, a deft, in-air behind-the-back toss to himself during a 360. If you saw the dunk, you saw the reactions of the homeboys in the video. One does the obligatory cooking dance. Another collapses onto the hardwood in disbelief—is this the work of a god or act of the devil?
But contrary to the image of him screaming, "LET'S GO!" amidst an adrenaline high, Kilganon actually comes across as a humble guy just striving to turn his hoop dreams into reality. In addition to more acts of insanity on his Instagram (getting his elbow inside the rim is a minimum for him), Kilganon has embarked on a business venture called Bounce Kit, a training program designed to get your hops up.
A day after launching Bounce Kit, Kilganon spoke to us about having springs for legs, Hoopmixtape, The Dunk, and plans to do a dunk that would get you stoned back in the day.
Interview by Brian Josephs (@Bklyn_Rock).
So where the idea to start Bounce Kit come from?
Over the years, I’ve been asked a crazy amount of times where I get my vertical. When I was a kid, it was easy because I was like, “Ah man, I just jump all the time.” Now it’s like so specific. I’ve done so much research, and I’d have 10 people on Facebook messaging me. I figured I’d make it easier on them and on myself. People were asking for it and I wanted to give it to them.
Not only that, it’s something I’ve wanted to do forever. It’s a way for me to help other people. The only reason why I’m dunking is to find out how to use it to help as many people as I can.
I watched your promotional video and you said that you weren’t always this nice at jumping. When do you think you started to become good?
It’s not like there was this one point I started to become crazy good. I’ve slowly progressed the past seven years just training my ass off super consistently. But I guess the point where I started getting really good was the summer of 2013 when Hoopmixtape flew me out to L.A. Then I started dunking with all these guys I grew up watching—like Team Flight Brothers and those kind of guys. I was like on a whole other level because of adrenaline and stuff.
I got a list of hundreds of dunks on my computer that’s never been done before that I want to do.
So is your passion more so jumping or basketball?
My passion used to be basketball. Basketball, volleyball, track—you know, I did everything. I won Athlete of the Year four years in a row while I was in high school. I was into everything; my dad named me after Michael Jordan.
It was all basketball until I started seeing guys like Team Flight Brothers and those kind of guys. Professional dunking, I actually started seeing that as a real thing. And dunking is like, hands down, the coolest part about basketball. I used to dunk on little nets all the time, and I got addicted. I got hooked instantly.
I guess you could technically say you’re better than Michael Jordan at dunking.
I would say so.
What’s the favorite dunk you’ve done?
Definitely the “Lost and Found” dunk. Right now, I’ll post something and get something like 7,000 likes, but my “Lost and Found” got 25,000 likes. It was the hardest dunk I’ve ever done, and it’s my personal favorite dunk I’ve ever done. Because it’s so hard, it’s so different, it’s so creative. It’s like [you think] that something wasn’t even possible. But I got it.
A lot of sites thought it might be the greatest dunk of al time. How did that make you feel?
It’s really just amazing. I’ve just been working so hard for so long and to see so many people picking it up. Shaq, Jalen Rose—a bunch of people are just calling me and saying it might be the best dunk ever. I just never thought I’d be here. It’s basically a dream come true.
1.
Are there dunks you that you want to try like a 720…maybe a 1080?
[Laughs.] Yeah, I got a list of hundreds of dunks on my computer that’s never been done before that I want to do. Honestly, if there’s one dunk up there that I want to do, it’s the 360 between the legs twice. I don’t know why. There’s something about it—people have been trying it but are not really getting too close. For some reason, between the legs twice is something everybody wants to get done, and that’s something I want to be able to do. I got to get my hand speed up and my vert up a little bit more.
We’re approaching video game levels here.
Yeah. It will happen, though.
Do you do any other sport beside dunking?
Right now, no, because I’m too scared to get hurt. I’ve dedicated my whole life to this now, so if I get hurt, I’m screwed. I can’t make a living. I’m paranoid. I won’t even try doing anything right now. Just dunking.
What was the point did you become passionate about dunking?
Probably about 16 when I was first able to throw it down. Probably even when I did Hoopmixtape. Even a bit before that, I knew I was better than some professional dunkers, but it was just a [being undiscovered] kind of thing. So I knew I had it in me and was just waiting for somebody to pick me up.
2.
Why do you think Hoopmixtape found you out?
Well, the owner of Hoopmixtape is this crazy passionate person. All of the mixes that he does, they’re all so perfect and creative. They’re really well done. He saw that in me. Most professional dunkers are born with [natural talent], so you could tell they didn’t want it enough and wasn’t as passionate about it as me. I used to dunk three to four hours a day, and I did event dunks all the time. He noticed that. I don’t know how he found other people, but I think he went out and found me because he saw that passion in me.
Just to switch back to the Bounce Kit, I saw you doing a bit of ab twists. Growing up, many kids thought the key to jumping high was those Pumps. What are some practical tips you can give?
There are a lot of tips. One thing I’d say is to get in the weight room. You need to back your jumps up with strength; it would make your life a lot easier. The other thing is, just straight-up jump a lot. A lot of people forget. They do all these exercises when they actually have to do [more jumping]. What better way to get better at jumping than actually jumping?
Break down what exactly is the Bounce Kit.
The Bounce Kit is a three-month training program. You got your strength-building phrase. You transfer into a third phase, which is speed, so it’s a lot of plyometrics and turning strength into explosiveness.
Inside the program, you get your login and you get to see the whole program. It’s all in PDFs. You could follow on your phone, too, so you can bring it to the gym. And then, there’s a video vault where there’s a mixtape of me explaining how to do every exercise properly and effectively.
There’s also a glossary of me explaining some workout terms that people don’t understand, and me just giving a bunch of advice before they start. I give a crazy amount of information to help people get to where they want to be.
Free or paid?
It’s a paid thing. It’s $77 right now.
Well you have the results to back up the price.
It’s been doing pretty good so far, so I’m happy with it.
