It wasn't supposed to happen. Honestly, if you looked at the betting odds back in September 2021, nobody—and I mean absolutely nobody—was putting their money on a 6'5" NBA shooting guard with zero formal dance training to take home the Mirrorball Trophy. But that’s exactly what went down. Iman Shumpert, alongside the brilliant Daniella Karagach, became the Dancing with the Stars Season 30 winner, and in doing so, he basically broke the show’s long-standing mold of who "should" win.
Most people expected JoJo Siwa to run away with it. She had the technical background, the massive fan base, and she was making history in the first same-sex pairing the U.S. version of the show had ever seen. Then you had Amanda Kloots, a literal former Broadway dancer and Rockette. The talent pool was deep. Like, really deep. Yet, when Tyra Banks announced the results on that finale night, it was the guy who used to play for the Knicks and the Cavs standing there looking genuinely shocked.
It changed the conversation around the show. For years, fans complained that "ringers"—people with previous dance experience—made the competition unfair. Shumpert’s victory felt like a return to what the show was originally meant to be: a raw journey of someone learning a skill from scratch and somehow becoming undeniable by the end.
The Moment Everything Switched: Horror Night
You can't talk about Iman Shumpert's win without talking about the Contemporary routine to "I Got 5 on It (Tethered Mix)" from the movie Us. It’s probably the most viral dance in the show’s thirty-season history. Up until that point, Shumpert was just the "tall guy who’s trying his best." He was hovering in the middle of the leaderboard, getting okay scores but not exactly threatening the frontrunners.
Then came the "Horror Night" episode.
Daniella Karagach did something risky. She leaned into the massive height difference instead of trying to hide it. She had Iman tossing her around like she was weightless, performing these gravity-defying lifts that looked more like Cirque du Soleil than ballroom. When he stood on one leg and she climbed up his body like a ladder? That was the exact second he became a contender. The judges gave them a perfect 40. The internet went into a frenzy. It wasn't just a good dance; it was a cultural moment that transcended the usual Dancing with the Stars audience.
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Suddenly, people who had never watched a single episode of ballroom dancing were sharing the clip on Twitter and TikTok. He wasn't just a basketball player anymore. He was an athlete using his strength to create art that felt fresh.
Why the Height Gap Actually Worked
Usually, being a foot taller than your partner is a death sentence in ballroom. It messes up the frame in the Waltz. It makes the Quickstep look clunky. If you’re Iman Shumpert, you’re 6'5". Daniella is about 5'3". That’s a massive logistical nightmare for a choreographer.
But Karagach is a genius. Instead of forcing Iman to shorten his stride or bend his knees constantly to match her, she used him as a literal base for some of the most complex acrobatics the show has ever seen. It turned their "weakness" into their biggest asset. It’s a lesson in playing the hand you’re dealt. You’ve got a guy who can bench press a small car? Don't make him do a dainty Foxtrot; make him throw his partner into the stratosphere.
The "Ringer" Debate and Why Fans Recoil
There’s always a lot of chatter about JoJo Siwa losing that season. To be fair, JoJo was technically superior. Her lines were cleaner, her footwork was sharper, and her energy was infinite. If the show were judged solely on technical proficiency, she wins ten times out of ten.
But Dancing with the Stars isn't a professional dance competition. It’s a reality show.
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The audience loves a "transformation arc." We like seeing someone who looks uncomfortable in sequins slowly start to find their groove. Shumpert represented the underdog. Even though he’s an NBA champion, in the world of the ballroom, he was a fish out of water. Fans felt a connection to his humility and his obvious hard work. When he cried after some of his performances, it didn't feel like "TV crying." It felt like a guy who was genuinely exhausted and proud of himself for doing something that scared him.
The Final Standings of Season 30
- Iman Shumpert & Daniella Karagach (Winners)
- JoJo Siwa & Jenna Johnson (Runners-up)
- Cody Rigsby & Cheryl Burke (Third Place)
- Amanda Kloots & Alan Bersten (Fourth Place)
It’s worth noting that Cody Rigsby making the finals was also a bit of a shocker, especially since he and Cheryl Burke had to perform virtually for a portion of the season due to COVID-19. It was a weird, high-stakes season, which probably made Iman’s steady climb even more impressive.
Impact on the NBA and Athlete Crossovers
Athletes have always done well on this show. Emmitt Smith, Hines Ward, Rashad Jennings—the list goes on. There’s a natural overlap between professional sports and dance: discipline, muscle memory, and the ability to take harsh coaching.
However, Shumpert was the first NBA player to actually win. This is actually kind of a big deal in the sports world. Basketball players are often seen as "too tall" or "too lanky" for the tight movements of ballroom. He shattered that stereotype. He proved that the body control required to cross someone over on a basketball court could be translated into a Tango or a Jive.
He also brought a certain level of "cool" to the show that it sometimes lacks. He wore his own style. He kept his personality. He didn't turn into a "ballroom robot." He remained Iman Shumpert, just an Iman Shumpert who could now do a perfect 360-degree flip with a partner attached to his waist.
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What Most People Miss About the Finale
If you go back and re-watch the finale, pay attention to the Freestyle. The Freestyle is usually where the winner is decided.
Iman and Daniella’s freestyle was a masterpiece of Chicago footwork and hip-hop blended with traditional stunts. It was high energy, it was loud, and it felt like a celebration. While other contestants were trying to be "perfect," Iman was just having a blast. That joy is infectious. You can't fake that. The viewers at home see the technical flaws, sure, but they vote for the person who makes them smile.
Also, let’s be real: Daniella Karagach deserves a massive amount of credit. She won her first Mirrorball with Iman, and she did it by being the most innovative choreographer on the floor. She didn't play it safe. She knew that to beat a powerhouse like JoJo Siwa, they had to do things that had never been seen on the show before.
What You Can Learn from Shumpert’s Run
If you're looking for the "secret sauce" of why he won, it basically boils down to a few things that apply way beyond a TV show.
- Lean into your weirdness. Iman didn't try to look like a traditional ballroom dancer. He leaned into his height and his athletic background.
- Partnership is everything. He trusted Daniella completely. When she told him to hold her by one ankle over his head, he didn't hesitate. That level of trust shows up on camera.
- The "Middling" Start doesn't matter. You don't have to be the best on Day 1. You just have to be the most improved by the final day.
Practical Steps for DWTS Fans and Aspiring Dancers
If you’re inspired by the Dancing with the Stars Season 30 winner and want to dive deeper into the world of ballroom or just understand the mechanics of what made him great, here’s how to actually break it down:
- Watch the "Us" routine side-by-side with the movie trailer. You’ll see how Iman captured the specific, eerie movements of the "Tethered" characters. It wasn't just dancing; it was character work.
- Study the "Lifts" vs. "Leads." In many dances, the male partner is just a frame. In Shumpert’s case, he was a literal apparatus. Notice how he uses his core to stabilize Daniella; that’s where his NBA training really kicked in.
- Check out Daniella Karagach’s choreography tutorials. She often posts breakdowns of how she manages the physics of dancing with much taller partners.
Iman Shumpert’s victory wasn't a fluke. It was a perfect storm of the right partner, the right attitude, and a willingness to take massive risks on national television. It reminded everyone that sometimes, the person who works the hardest to overcome their natural disadvantages is the one who deserves the trophy the most. He didn't just win a competition; he proved that a 6'5" guy from Illinois could master the art of the cha-cha, and that’s a legacy that still sticks with the show today.
Next time a "non-dancer" joins the cast, they won't be looking at the Broadway stars for inspiration. They’ll be looking at the tapes of the Season 30 finale.