The reviews of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest being useless is likely to be 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 regularly that meme was used on Saturday evening. He could possibly be what saves the dunk contest.
For McClung’s first two victories, he by no means really acquired his flowers. As an alternative, the narrative surrounding his dominance was that the dunk contest had change into so dangerous {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 Fortress hammered residence some thrilling dunks that will’ve damaged Bleacher Report in the event that they have been performed in a recreation, however McClung’s use of props is what provides 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 neighborhood has implored younger, high-flying superstars like Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards and Zion Williamson to compete.
McClung’s efficiency on Saturday evening might need woken them up.
Memphis Grizzlies celebrity Ja Morant had social media buzzing when he declared that McClung’s heroics would possibly make him resolve to take part in subsequent yr’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.
“In the event you do it. I’ll do it with you,” he stated 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 almost doubled his recreation salaries, is keen to stroll away from the occasion.
Nevertheless, in his media availability late Saturday night, McClung was knowledgeable that Morant and Antetokounmpo have been considering the potential of competing subsequent yr, and he appeared way more open about defending his three-peat crown.
Who is aware of if Morant and Antetokounmpo will hold their phrase and take part subsequent yr? 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 all the things goes in accordance with plan, and the dunk contest is revived, we should always all be thanking McClung, the unheralded participant from the G League who persistently was wheeled out for our leisure over these final three seasons simply to vanish again into his function with the Osceola Magic.