The basketball world is remembering Taurian Fontenette, the streetball performer who stunned fans with a dunk that required two full rotations in midair before sending the ball through the hoop. Known as “Mr. 720” and “Air Up There,” Fontenette died on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 43. His sister, Tracie, announced his death on Facebook, sharing an emotional tribute to the man whose performances helped make him one of streetball’s most recognizable names.
Fontenette’s rise to fame began with a talent he had been developing since childhood. Growing up in Hitchcock, Texas, he spent countless hours working on his jumping ability and experimenting with different ways to dunk. His father once bought him a portable basketball goal that could be lowered to make it easier to practice. What started as an ordinary childhood interest eventually turned into a skill that would attract attention far beyond his hometown.
After graduating from Hitchcock High School in 2000, Fontenette continued playing basketball at several colleges, including the University of Texas at El Paso, Richland College, and Paul Quinn College. Injuries affected his progress, and he eventually returned to Hitchcock, where he worked as a security guard at a chemical plant. But he had not given up on his basketball ambitions.
In 2005, he asked his employer for time off so he could attend an AND1 Mixtape Tour tryout in Houston. He got his chance to perform against established streetball players and quickly made an impression. His extraordinary vertical leap and unusual dunking style earned him a place on the AND1 roster. Before long, fans were paying attention to the player who could seemingly spend an extra moment in the air.
His defining performance came in 2006 at Houston’s Toyota Center. During an AND1 Mixtape Tour game, Fontenette jumped, spun through two full rotations, and completed a dunk in front of the crowd. The move became widely known as the 720 dunk. Footage of the performance appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter and spread across the internet, introducing his incredible ability to basketball fans across the country.
That was not the only move that made him famous. Fontenette also became known for the Axle-Rider, a 360-degree spinning dunk finished between the legs. His performances helped push streetball dunking to another level, and his influence reached players who later became professional basketball stars. His name became closely associated with the kind of athletic creativity that made the AND1 era memorable.
Fontenette continued his career beyond AND1. In 2007, he joined the Ball4Real Streetball World Tour, and in 2009, he signed with the Dallas Generals of the American Basketball Association. He also won the first Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown during NBA All-Star weekend in 2010. Even as his career developed, the famous Houston dunk remained one of the performances most closely associated with his name.
But the man remembered by his family was not simply the performer fans saw on basketball courts. In her tribute, his sister Tracie described him as a loving father, a devoted brother, and a generous person who never hesitated to help others. She remembered his laughter, his personality, and the special bond they shared. She also spoke about the pain of knowing that there would be no more conversations or opportunities to create new memories together.
Fontenette leaves behind his children, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and extended family. His cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, and details about where he died have not been released. His sister’s announcement has brought renewed attention to a career that helped shape the streetball scene during the height of the AND1 Mixtape Tour.
For years, fans have watched the footage of his famous dunk, trying to appreciate how he managed to complete such a move during a live basketball game. That moment secured his place in streetball history. Yet the people who knew him personally remember more than the dunks, the tours, and the applause. They remember a father, brother, and friend whose life meant much more than his basketball fame.
Taurian Fontenette was 43. His name will remain tied to one of streetball’s most memorable dunks, and his family will remember him for the person he was long after the final highlights have been watched.