Mac McClung solidified his place in NBA dunk contest history by winning the championship for an astonishing third time in a row on Saturday night.
McClung achieved flawless scores on all four of his dunks, captivating the crowd at the Chase Center. His ultimate victory came against Spurs rookie Stephon Castle, who executed two impressive slams, earning a score of 99.6. Meanwhile, Andre Jackson Jr. and Matas Buzelis were eliminated during the first round.
Kicking off the competition, McClung delivered an electrifying dunk, leaping over a car to pull off a behind-the-head slam. He then followed with a twisting dunk over his coach, then showcased a spectacular two-ball dunk—one ball tossed by a friend on a spinning hoverboard and the other by a man situated on a ladder. He capped off his performance by jumping over 6’11” Evan Mobley, who was positioned on a small platform, tapping the ball on the rim before executing a thunderous slam (video collection available on YouTube).
In a post-competition press conference, McClung dodged a question regarding whether his third title establishes him as the greatest dunker of all time (Twitter video link courtesy of Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic).
“I definitely don’t think that’s something for me to say,” McClung answered. “… I was just extremely honored to be part of this weekend. The most important thing is I genuinely love this contest, and I’m truly grateful to be here and feeling very appreciative.”
Currently on a two-way contract with the Magic, McClung has participated in just one brief NBA game this season. He plays for Osceola in the G League and is still working to make a lasting impact in the NBA, having appeared in only five games across four teams since 2021.
His outstanding display drew the attention of numerous league players, including some stars who suggested they might consider joining future dunk contests. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant tweeted, “mac might make me decide to dunk,” while Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo replied, “If you do it. I’ll do it with you,” adding later, “I just gotta warm up for 3 weeks prior to the contest.”
Damian Lillard saw his hopes for a third straight win dashed when he was eliminated in the opening round of the Three-Point Contest, having claimed the title in the previous two years. This year’s crown went to Tyler Herro, who narrowly beat Buddy Hield by a single point, with Darius Garland coming in third.
“I was definitely nervous going into the first round. But I felt I shot well in the second round, and then Buddy had the chance to tie it at the end,” Herro shared with reporters, including Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “It was a great competition with many excellent shooters. … Also, it felt cold in the arena during my first round. In the second round, I felt much looser right from the start.”
Mobley partnered with fellow Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell to win the Skills Challenge, which opened the night’s events.
Image Source: Mac McClung @ Instagram
