A humanoid robot has hit the court and it’s not just dribbling, it’s dunking. The Unitree G1, developed in collaboration with researchers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), now plays basketball with an unsettling level of grace. From slick dribbles to rim-level leaps, this robot doesn’t just mimic humans, it competes with them.
Unitree G1’s basketball skills look uncannily human
In a video spreading fast online, the G1 is seen dribbling smoothly on the spot, pulling up for jump shots, and even driving toward the hoop with a full-body leap. It doesn’t just shoot, it sells the move. At one point, it tries to fake out a human defender with crossover steps before launching a shot.
The defender blocks it and celebrates the moment on X. But the fact that the robot pulled off the move in the first place is the real shocker.
Dan Houser compares AI to mad cow disease, warning it will "eat itself" and lacks the creativity needed for storytelling and games.
How the humanoid robot learned to hoop
So how did the Unitree G1 get this good at basketball?
HKUST used a training method called SkillMimic. The process starts with humans performing moves in motion-tracking suits while the system records their steps. Those movements get simulated on a virtual version of the robot until they can be performed reliably. Once polished, the behavior transfers to the real-life G1.
It’s not a plug-and-play trick. It’s staged, rigorous, data-heavy training refined to the point where the G1 can repeat those complex sequences on command.
Unitree G1 joins the humanoid robot elite
The G1 launched officially in early 2025 with a price tag of $13,000, putting it in competition with high-profile bots like Tesla’s Optimus and XPeng’s Iron. But while competitors are still chasing stable movement, G1 is already pulling off kung fu routines and alley-oop dunks.
Some viewers even questioned whether G1 was real. XPeng’s own Iron once had to be “cut open” on stage to prove it wasn’t a human in a suit. G1 may soon need the same.
This isn’t a gimmick, it’s a shift
Robots have danced, climbed stairs, and delivered food. But this? This is different. G1’s basketball moves aren’t just stunts, they’re glimpses of muscle memory powered by AI. It’s not just reacting, it’s learning, adapting, and showing coordination that was unthinkable just a few years ago.
The line between simulation and sport just got a lot blurrier.
