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Kadour Ziani is not a dunker, he’s a legend! All things considered, his impact on this art form has probably been as important as Jordan’s or Carter’s. First of all, he’s an exceptional athlete with a vertical leap that’s been measured up to almost 59 inches. If he had chosen to dedicate himself to one sport only, he could have become a professional at soccer, basketball or athletics. As a goalie at the top amateur level in France, his former coach, Zavarov who used to play for the USSR team back in the days, was certain that he could have made it at a higher level if he had chosen to focus on it. But “Zianimal” has never been the type to slow down or to do things according to what other people may view as “being normal”. But again, that’s also how he won a National title in high jump, by jumping over a 7-1 bar… despite the fact that he had never been specifically trained for this sport.

But of course, dunking is how he earned his props. As one of the most recognizable faces of the Slam Nation crew, he’s contributed immensely to the popularization of the dunk all over the world, before finally winning the French All-Star Game Slam Dunk Contest in 2005, at 31. Now 35, he uses his worldwide fame (his dunks appear in the NBA 2K8 and NBA 2K9 video games) to organize shows and contests all over the world, and to make sure that the newest generation of dunkers remembers his philosophy: dunk or die!

Name: Kadour Ziani
Nickname: Zianimal
Age : 35 years old
Hometown: Nancy (France)
Height : 1,80 m / 5′9”
Weight: 72 kilos/158 lbs
Shoe Size: 43 EUR / 9.5 US
Position: Sitting on the rim
Playing Experience: The streets
Current Team: Slam Nation
Favorite Sneaker: Club Seleçao
I compare my game to: My shadow’s
Vertical Leap: Now it’s 90 cm / 35 inches with two feet, but it used to be more thant 1,05 m / 41 inches, and 1,47 m / 59 inches with speed
Favorite team: Chicago Bulls
Favorite Player: Michael Jordan
Favorite Court: Pépinière (Nancy) ; Vert-Bois (St-Dizier)
Go-to Move: Double windmill
Favorite TV show: Best Damned Sport Show
Favorite movie: The Shawshank Redemption
On my iPod: I don’t have one
Any other interesting fact: I own the worldwide record for the highest kick : 3,03 m / 10 ft