The stories of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest being lifeless is perhaps over-exaggerated—and that’s all because of Mac McClung.
On Saturday evening, McClung grew to become the primary participant to ever three-peat the dunk contest. His high-flying heroics included an epic dunk over a Kia, an homage to Aaron Gordon’s well-known hoverboard dunk and a powerful leap over Cleveland Cavaliers seven-footer Evan Mobley.
McClung is greater than an “thrilling white,” regardless of how continuously that meme was used on Saturday evening. He may very well be what saves the dunk contest.
For McClung’s first two victories, he by no means actually acquired his flowers. As a substitute, the narrative surrounding his dominance was that the dunk contest had become so bad {that a} G League participant had received twice in a row.
On Saturday, it felt like McClung awoke one thing.
No different participant within the 2025 dunk contest discipline may maintain a torch to what the G League star was throwing down. San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Fort hammered residence some thrilling dunks that may’ve damaged Bleacher Report in the event that they had been finished in a sport, however McClung’s use of props is what offers the dunk contest life.
The knock on Saturday evening’s finale for nearly the final decade is that precise NBA stars don’t take part within the occasion. LeBron James has by no means participated, and now the NBA group has implored younger, high-flying superstars like Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards and Zion Williamson to compete.
McClung’s efficiency on Saturday evening may need woken them up.
Memphis Grizzlies celebrity Ja Morant had social media buzzing when he declared that McClung’s heroics may make him resolve to take part in subsequent 12 months’s contest.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was tasked with cheering on his teammate Andre Jackson Jr.’s horrific dunks, replied to Morant and had the NBA buzzing.
“When you do it. I’ll do it with you,” he mentioned in a reply.
After his three-peat, McClung threatened to retire from the dunk contest in an interview with Allie LaForce. The dunk contest has devolved to the purpose the place a G League participant, whose dunk contest earnings have nearly doubled his game salaries, is prepared to stroll away from the occasion.
Nevertheless, in his media availability late Saturday night, McClung was knowledgeable that Morant and Antetokounmpo had been considering the potential for competing subsequent 12 months, and he seemed much more open about defending his three-peat crown.
Who is aware of if Morant and Antetokounmpo will preserve their phrase and take part subsequent 12 months? Who is aware of if McClung will resolve that he’s too good for the competition, particularly after emptying the clip by leaping over a automobile?
But when every part goes in line with plan, and the dunk contest is revived, we must always all be thanking McClung, the unheralded participant from the G League who constantly was wheeled out for our leisure over these final three seasons simply to vanish again into his position with the Osceola Magic.
