Gustavo Haakin Oliveira da Costa

Gustavo Haakin Oliveira da Costa, better known simply as Haakin, has spent the last seven years building a name for himself as one of South America’s top dunkers. Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil, Haakin joins Dunkman with a mission that extends beyond personal success. He wants to elevate the sport throughout Brazil and prove that world-class dunking exists far beyond North America.

Haakin first dunked at 17 years old in São Paulo, and his passion quickly evolved into competitive dunking. Standing 6-foot-3 with a 46-inch vertical leap, he has developed a style built around fluid movement, clean execution, and effortless cuff finishes. His signature dunks include the Zianimill Eastbay and the One-Hand Cuff Tetris, while his ultimate goal is to complete a double-up, under-both-legs dunk over a motorcycle.

Inspired by Jordan Kilganon, Haakin believes what separates him from other elite dunkers is his smooth cuff style and his ability to generate explosive elevation without relying on a push-off. His résumé already includes two Reto Tour 3x3 championships, four runner-up finishes on the FIBA World Tour circuit, and a third-place finish at DKB, accomplishments that have established him as one of Brazil’s premier dunk athletes.

Despite his success, Haakin believes competitive dunking still has room to grow, particularly in Brazil. He says one of his biggest frustrations is the lack of contests in his home country, making it difficult to continue developing his skills through regular competition. He also feels judges often place too much emphasis on crowd reaction rather than the true difficulty of a dunk. For Haakin, fans should pay closer attention to the complete movement of a dunk, while great dunks are defined by the perfect combination of jump, style, and power.

Much of Haakin’s motivation comes from representing his country on the world stage. His goal is to become a reference point for Brazilian dunking and help build a stronger dunk culture throughout South America. Away from dunking, he’s equally competitive in nearly every sport, including American football, and lives by Tupac Shakur’s famous quote, “It’s me against the world.” His athletic influences include both Ronaldinho and Michael Jordan, two icons who inspired him to dream big.

Now, Haakin enters Dunkman with an opportunity to compete against the world’s best while carrying the hopes of Brazilian dunking with him. He sees the league as a chance to prove he belongs among the elite, reach the finals, and continue writing history for both himself and his country.

When his career is over, Haakin wants to be remembered as “The Brazilian GOAT.” More importantly, he hopes fans remember the sacrifices he made to chase his dream—from humble beginnings dunking on trash cans at school to traveling the world with little money in pursuit of opportunity. His goal is for his story to inspire the next generation of athletes in Brazil to believe they can reach the highest level of the sport.