Mac McClung has inspired a couple of the NBA’s top stars to reconsider the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
McClung won a record third straight NBA Slam Dunk trophy Saturday night, putting on a creative and spectacular display in Chase Center that saw him jump over a car on one dunk and slam two basketballs on another.
The NBA world praised McClung for his achievement, but few talked about the downside of his continued dominance of this event. McClung now has almost as many NBA Slam Dunk trophies, three, as career NBA games played (five). This is no knock against the Orlando Magic G League player — he’s a good guy and spectacular dunker — but he is not one of the NBA’s marquee stars.
And that’s a problem, because this event was originally intended as a showcase for the league’s top stars. Think Michael Jordan vs. Dominique Wilkins back in the day. Of course that’s changed in recent years, as the NBA’s biggest names have opted to sit out the event.
For a league that has been dealing with declining ratings in recent years, which has become a hot topic, having your top stars skip an event specifically intended to highlight your top stars is a problem.
Yet McClung’s brilliant performance Saturday night might have inspired a solution. As McClung wrapped up his title, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant posted on X, “Mac might make me decide to dunk.”
mac might make me decide to dunk
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) February 16, 2025
Soon after, two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo responded to Morant: “If you do it. I’ll do it with you.”
If you do it. I’ll do it with you 💯 https://t.co/dsKglTiTca
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) February 16, 2025
Just like that, two of the NBA’s top stars appear on board with joining the contest. Antetokounmpo also vowed he’d join next year’s contest in a video posted on NBA’s X account.
“Next year, I’m here,” he said.
“Next year, I’m here.”
Giannis is submitting early interest for the #ATTSlamDunk Contest in 2026 👀 pic.twitter.com/rhY6zHtWN0
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
We’ve heard this before, how McClung has “saved” the dunk contest.
Reggie Miller: “Mac McClung has saved the Dunk Contest. Two years straight, a G-Leaguer has saved, he has saved the Dunk Contest” pic.twitter.com/MVkUjoMnbX
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 19, 2023
Perhaps this time, McClung’s dunktastic feats have truly inspired a new generation of NBA stars to join the competition.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.