Legendary alternative sport SlamBall to return to TV in 2023

SlamBall gave hope to those of us who felt like we could be NBA stars but didn't have the hops or height. Having a trampoline in front of the hoop makes it possible for those without LeBron James' athletic ability to actually pretend to be able to dunk like "The King."

Throw in the physical nature of the game — the tackling, the mid-air collisions, the pads — and SlamBall was the perfect activity to watch for all kinds of sports fans. It combined basketball with a bit of football and hockey.

Alas, SlamBall hasn't graced our television sets in years now, but according to TMZ, that's going to soon change.

"SlamBall is back, baby!" SlamBall founder Mason Gordon told TMZ in a video.

He announced that the adrenaline-heavy sport will be back on television next summer, in 2023.

"My partners and I have always looked at it and said, 'We're not gonna come back until the market conditions are like really optimal,' and the alternate sports marketplace is on fire," Gordon said.

SlamBall may have been ahead of its time, but it will fit right in with the social media-obsessed sports culture of 2023 and beyond. The highlight-reel worthiness of the game is one of the reasons Gordon believes the return of SlamBall will be a smash hit.

"SlamBall just kind of fits the bill. They're 20-minute games. Television half hours. People obviously have really gravitated to the action, and it's this incredible mash-up between basketball, football, hockey, little bit of gymnastics, little bit of video games, that's just SlamBall," he said.

Notably, Mike Tollin, the producer of the legendary documentary, "The Last Dance," is one of Gordon's partners for the relaunch.

It's going to be...slamtastic.