Mac McClung

Five days ago, Mac McClung wasn't on an NBA roster, having played for the Philadelphia 76ers' G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, this season.

Meanwhile, Portland Trailblazers guard Damian Lillard won the three-point contest while donning his alma mater’s jersey - Weber State University. [tweeted](https://twitter.com/sixers/status/1627147378980700160). [said](https://twitter.com/sixers/status/1627158013143584770). I’m very hungry and I’m resilient so I’m gonna keep working.” [tweeted](https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30/status/1627149382981406727). I’m gonna keep working every day.

Three of McClung's four dunks earned him straight 50s by the panel of judges, and he completed all of them on his first attempt, generating a palpable buzz ...

[Trey Murphy III](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4397688/trey-murphy-iii) of the [New Orleans Pelicans](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/no/new-orleans-pelicans) in the final round. "I'm not really worried what other people think, good or bad, I'm staying the course," McClung said when asked about his breakout night. "I wasn't really thinking in the moment; it's just something that happened, to be honest with you." The NBA redesigned the dunk contest trophy this year and named it after the Sixers legend. ... If you manifest and put your mind to it, you can literally make your life and reinvent yourself every day." After his final dunk, McClung was surrounded by a euphoric group of All-Stars in attendance, stunned by what they just witnessed. "Being from a small town, Gate City, of 1,600 people, and now we're on this stage," McClung said. -- mimicking Kenny Smith's famous broadcast call during Vince Carter's legendary dunk contest win in Oakland, California, in 2000. Despite his size, McClung said watching the classic showdown between Lisa Leslie was the only judge to prevent him from opening up with two straight perfect scores. "... McClung started the final round by again taking the ball from another friend holding it over his head -- just one person this time, Skinkis -- and performed a pronounced double pump before finishing the dunk with a two-handed reverse.

Mac McClung, the man who stole the show in the NBA dunk contest, rejected an offer to sign with Fenerbahce last summer. By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.

“I still believe going to a Fenerbahce also can propel your career back here in the NBA. When it comes to career advancement, the G League is typically the better option. It was not an easy choice as the “Athletic” explains: “From a financial standpoint, it’s typically a no-brainer. But (Ervin) called me and was like, ‘Mac, you’re all or nothing, man.’ ” [he revealed to “The Athletic”](https://theathletic.com/3984363/2023/02/15/mac-mcclung-nba-dunk-contest-g-league/?fbclid=IwAR2ZCKKcoPkq3aBcUndn_LgP60GvPVbVIk69vmQ0dlbx0_63etAYf01B7w0) but he decided to stay in the G-League and chase his NBA dream. [winning the dunk contest](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1465007/mac-mcclung-makes-slam-dunk-history-llillard-wins-the-3-point-contest/), and also after saying last summer no to [Fenerbahce](https://www.eurohoops.net/basket/fenerbahce/?lang=en&lang=en) and to a million-dollar contract.

NBA Twitter went insane over Philadelphia 76ers guard Mac McClung winning the slam dunk contest.

[February 19, 2023] McClung went undrafted in 2021 after three collegiate seasons–two at Georgetown and Texas Tech– and he showed off the elite athleticism that he has become known for. He received not one, not two, but three scores of 50 as he turned some heads on who he is and what he brings to the table.

McClung, who was signed from the G-League to a two-way contract by the Philadelphia 76ers last week, won the contest by a score of 100-99 over New Orleans ...

The 6-foot-2 McClung made a statement when he received a perfect 50 score with his first attempt. Murphy recorded a 49.2 on his final dunk before watching McClung seal the victory with another perfect dunk. Mac McClung dazzled the crowd with three of his four dunks earning a perfect score of 50 to win the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday in Salt Lake City.

McClung faced this dilemma last summer. He could have made over a million dollars playing either for Fenerbahce (Turkey) or the Shanghai Sharks (China).

– [9:47 PM](https://twitter.com/ROSGO21/status/1627137715757252608) [Keith Pompey](https://twitter.com/PompeyOnSixers)@ [PompeyOnSixers](https://twitter.com/PompeyOnSixers) [10:29 PM](https://twitter.com/EricPincus/status/1627148385181642752) [Marc J. But (Ervin) called me and was like, ‘Mac, you’re all or nothing, man.’ ” -via [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3984363/2023/02/15/mac-mcclung-nba-dunk-contest-g-league/?fbclid=IwAR2ZCKKcoPkq3aBcUndn_LgP60GvPVbVIk69vmQ0dlbx0_63etAYf01B7w0)/ February 19, 2023 [9:52 PM](https://twitter.com/MarkDeeksNBA/status/1627138912131989506) [Rosalyn Gold-Onwude](https://twitter.com/ROSGO21)@ [ROSGO21](https://twitter.com/ROSGO21) [#NBAAllstar](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NBAAllstar)Mac Mcclung told me he feels his strength in Dunk Contest is creativity. [@Rich Hoffman](https://twitter.com/rich_hofmann). Not bad for a man whose first dunk in basketball occurred as a senior in high school – [10:31 PM](https://twitter.com/Jim_Eichenhofer/status/1627148814397186054) [Omari Sanfoka II](https://twitter.com/omarisankofa)@ [omarisankofa](https://twitter.com/omarisankofa) “When you have multiple million-dollar offers, you’re like, ‘That could change my life and my family’s life forever.’](https://theathletic.com/3984363/2023/02/15/mac-mcclung-nba-dunk-contest-g-league/?fbclid=IwAR2ZCKKcoPkq3aBcUndn_LgP60GvPVbVIk69vmQ0dlbx0_63etAYf01B7w0)So I wanted to take that into consideration. He just goes straight into his dunks (and throws down fire), but seems like he’s not commanding the moment – [@Ava Wallace](https://twitter.com/avarwallace)in 2018: As a high-schooler in the small Virginia mountain town of Gate City, Mac McClung became a viral star with his dunks. [#Rockets](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Rockets)at Houston Chronicle — Mac McClung slams past the competition at NBA dunk contest; Rockets’ K.J. He could have made over a million dollars playing either for Fenerbahce (Turkey) or the Shanghai Sharks (China).](https://theathletic.com/3984363/2023/02/15/mac-mcclung-nba-dunk-contest-g-league/?fbclid=IwAR2ZCKKcoPkq3aBcUndn_LgP60GvPVbVIk69vmQ0dlbx0_63etAYf01B7w0)Fenerbahce is one of the top teams in the EuroLeague, which contains the top clubs from all of the top European domestic leagues. Mac McClung went from not in the NBA to the NBA Slam Dunk champion in the course of five days.

What a slamming performance from the Philadelphia 76ers star, and a special prop was brought in for the win.

Gate City is a nickname for the city of Bristol, Virginia. Furthermore, McClung made history as the inaugural G League player to participate in the All-Star Weekend Dunk Contest. But eyebrows were raised when he added a prop to his final slam, placing a Gate City jersey on top of what he was already wearing. As you may now know, in the 2021-22 G League season, McClung earned the title of Rookie of the Year by averaging 21.6 points, 7.6 assists, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 27 games while playing for the South Bay Lakers and Windy City Bulls. Prior to the weekend, the former G-League player was relatively unknown, but his performance, featuring four awe-inspiring dunks, turned him into a household name among NBA fans, picking up the $100,000 prize to boot. Battle High School, which have produced several college and professional players.

Mac McClung went some way to single-handedly restored the shine on a dunk contest that has been widely panned in recent years.

He played in one game last season for the Chicago Bulls, one other game for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was signed by Golden State last year but never played in a regular-season game for the Warriors, and spent a little time on USA Basketball’s World Cup qualifying team last year as well. I’m happy that I did it in my home, coming back here to Utah.” “And I’m happy that it happened here. The final score, not that it mattered, was McClung 100.0, Murphy 98.0. By the time the judges’ scores came up it was already decided.

Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal have a lot in common. They're both Los Angeles Lakers legends who won multiple titles for the franchise, they're both ...

Three of his four dunks on the night received perfect 50 scores from the judges and the one that didn't was a 49.8. In fact, he only signed a two-way deal with the "He put on a show!" McClung rose out of relative obscurity on All-Star Saturday Night to earn his place in league history with a stunning performance in the Slam Dunk Contest. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/) legends who won multiple titles for the franchise, they're both former MVPs and they're both Hall of Famers. the Lakers legend

Good morning! Could you score at least a 45 in the NBA Dunk Contest?

Cleveland said [his jersey will hang in its rafters someday](https://links.e1.theathletic.com/a/click?_t=1d75fd3a730a463c8648bd84293b832a&_m=31e1e7bdcc6f42c2b28ceeff447f1354&_e=K5miJMs55ux1j9JrVIF3iEidMAaLx26G96_jJHZCxsZw5GdAj7JSR7sYNRfJSiMr84PeO3VgPOgjP449Jc40LEg4tqCkfW7qX7zLw--GSHh5gp6YUIYxREy8gGA14nA2BX1hZd9s0XQSZxsmS3VMBQ4_DT4raHYuZW1kwsQoo3u0MYC_OBOmAIdu2I7cm8FFzmMPzgJY4C9YMSyAwGjC29ABE5mXYVYGAFjG7q_CF-IquKuooOSa7C9FnLQkze-g5KdJVuN_9h25ysVo7BOaA4VnuHkfv5K_zpNKJt-5zMfR86aMGneuD9QQ1vzHYSdq). [Standig explains why the move isn’t just a lateral one](https://links.e1.theathletic.com/a/click?_t=1d75fd3a730a463c8648bd84293b832a&_m=31e1e7bdcc6f42c2b28ceeff447f1354&_e=K5miJMs55ux1j9JrVIF3iEidMAaLx26G96_jJHZCxsamz_dBAHRQb13GH0ZSYfY-TFzIlBIR5VLi6zPWUtbltMVEa1UIMATAnWONYjPaxmX_Mgk3E-ZACsX6vnDTLYvUa3pbMBYxKoKvB50MGBkX1qy0zlCYfVSBllk7ETBrBqZ6_B0rNx8Vd_G0El8iohtqguhs0NeZ_tfQYbZQNCqm4RkRQEKOzIz1d2uQkIEz2SR6bISW6312sry-tSSraF2l5o-OQAvip9mi68Ky165uIYUitIzVqksVUt7K_uJCoXNThSBB2vPnOVSBdgzbhtt70qWt4oZgtinfJhcjHpZgfZsOONMq6nXx15BMAUi6RCQ%3D) and gives Bieniemy a chance to get out from Andy Reid’s shadow. ](https://links.e1.theathletic.com/a/click?_t=1d75fd3a730a463c8648bd84293b832a&_m=31e1e7bdcc6f42c2b28ceeff447f1354&_e=K5miJMs55ux1j9JrVIF3iEidMAaLx26G96_jJHZCxsa3zVexd6j2AuWawKE65YDf8FbNiY9avhHOGq7L9KtYfXEyGfuGCyUAb6el7KMmWmFjkAsF8iInnso4Rrc0nqH4xn8Fz3B4GuILZlolS0rYu_9Trgu0edR8VOuNr__KL2-NWvHzPFtrulATYAfRj2kJNaO10DM2R-uBA46yqtwGugHb1eM6-k3JmYjp5r0JJuE5Ltl7QYeMOrvl4Uq5TWa_srmpoZBiXm5zLyJO27zfyrQt7nFSyJvSw0bkwKL5JtqqWr2vk_-R0g_FlbQO4Uje) [Warriors](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/warriors/) hype man Franco Finn was tabbed to emcee Friday and Saturday festivities at All-Star Weekend. [Washington](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/wizards/) would be assistant head coach/OC, and he’s expected to sign a multiyear deal with Washington. [The score marked his lowest in any PGA Tour round in 848 days](https://links.e1.theathletic.com/a/click?_t=1d75fd3a730a463c8648bd84293b832a&_m=31e1e7bdcc6f42c2b28ceeff447f1354&_e=K5miJMs55ux1j9JrVIF3iEidMAaLx26G96_jJHZCxsbSS2PcuNUpzz5LcOhZF9BrZuzdzKQ7pHQHw6x2FiL6lvBadTzr7NUL7HsnpxfUhRjI446y79nW9w0nfDCDh0sKPUiwjwLFRa9pQcHq8GFeLd0zYqMjr3x39We2oBtAKZglpXyfklKNvQ9Ytj1lFYAhmSHeYuFWk3nr3zKl66cP7v5OIWhBF70XAeVeYtnVSebgC_jRxCatKu6E3I9_JRxBz2zs7BvUeTY5vbkIxQB8qfwnrHGfrJJSCToYVJIcxMrvZAsExUO6eU5g7_bTF0CXqnpGgLml9uPUBRDBPGqzOWlHii11YKwadPwWBd2CpCw%3D). It’ll cost the Texans as [Chicago](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/bulls/)trades back one spot in this prediction and Houston snags Bryce Young. [Mac McClung](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/mac-mcclung-Uv7cDHuoagkIoeQa/), [who wasn’t even in the NBA this time last week](https://links.e1.theathletic.com/a/click?_t=1d75fd3a730a463c8648bd84293b832a&_m=31e1e7bdcc6f42c2b28ceeff447f1354&_e=K5miJMs55ux1j9JrVIF3iEidMAaLx26G96_jJHZCxsbTsooK6mspo1s7Xz6bAg6NgaHMH0pdg0C4NpBuufhprstTNzQhGCoFLV2xyDdSSC6iZJhOU1NugjRvgvyZ4itTxXJTWsoqS-4RLHUhHBbxpxEf1zQB3XBEUd3taCV-6qzz-_6UOb3VlJSqIS4oqUogj0lYzv_dxiU9fjBy9MFxhbtggTywJ7RPULAtXoQEcSIlMrU7JpQQ2Q6L1uTV8hSD8BlwlDoC4VOOeuWSIb3quXGewbneWQAlTj8yGEZrHbLytFWEa5WtYvXOIInyfoerHjLZ9v7uHndMCsUhU7m2mQ%3D%3D), leapt away with last night’s dunk contest. The reboot of the reboot finally arrived yesterday for the XFL, and now it’s Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson’s turn to run it. Notably, the 40-year-old Taurasi’s 19th season will be the first of a new multiyear deal. - And the Colts trade up to No. But it felt right that Dame finally got a W on his third try (he’s now retired from the contest, he said.)

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mac McClung, now of the Philadelphia 76ers, competes in the Slam Dunk competition as part of NBA All-Star Weekend, in ...

He proceeded to beat the field of Houston Rocket KJ Martin, New York Knick Jericho Sims and New Orleans Pelican Trey Murphy III. And it wasn’t like he was oblivious to the fact that Shaquille O’Neal and Michael B. It was something McClung couldn’t complete successfully in his practices the day before. Maybe saving the dunk contest is a reach, but at least for one night, McClung gave a new vibrancy to the NBA’s marquee All-Star Saturday Night event. He jumped over his two friends, Chase Skinkis and Bradley Deen, on his way to a dunk off the backboard. It wasn’t that he didn’t notice Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union waiting by the tunnel just to get a glimpse of him.

It took a pretty committed NBA fan to know beforehand — while he had a standout run for the Lakers at Summer League, he played in two NBA games and the 76ers ...

Yet it all seems different now, after this 6-foot-2 boyish-looking guard from a small town in Virginia with trampolines for legs and only two NBA games on his ...

My goal is to make an impact in the NBA, and I’m just going to keep working until that happens.” [Golden State’s Stephen Curry](https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30/status/1627149382981406727?s=20) said on Twitter: “Man was a viral (House of Highlights) high school dunk phenom, still working his way to the League, but lemme go get that dunk contest trophy right quick and bring it back to life!!! He had the final basket of the 2021-22 NBA season, breaking free for an uncontested reverse dunk to cap the Los Angeles Lakers’ overtime win over the Denver Nuggets last April. But, even if he hasn’t gotten to establish himself at the NBA level yet, there’s no question that he can play. “One thing with this game is you have to learn how to adapt,” McClung told The Associated Press last year. And now, he’s a dunk champion. [Giannis Antetokounmpo — with his mouth open in disbelief](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEbJltN0Iog) — filmed the action on their phones. He broke records held by Allen Iverson and J.J. Literally, if you manifest and put your mind to it, you can literally make your life and reinvent yourself every day.” McClung knows he is an underdog story. if you are a young kid, and someone who is an inspiration to you, someone that you respect so much tells you that you can’t do it, it doesn’t matter. [Michael Jordan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v5dSyYNRbE) taking off from the foul line, [Vince Carter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OJMLCF5oK4) saying “it’s over” after a dunk, [Aaron Gordon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q6n5NE6Cb4) jumping over the Orlando Magic mascot, [Dwight Howard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8qtf8uZz4A) donning the Superman cape — got a massive shot in the arm from a guy who now has more dunks in the contest (four) than he does in actual NBA games (one).“It’s a cliche, but you can really do whatever you want to do,” said McClung, who is on a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and playing in the G League.

McClung — the 6-foot-2 Philadelphia guard — defeated New Orleans' Trey Murphy III in the finals of the dunk contest.

So being a part of it was great.” “It was really fun getting out there in front of the fans. “I had a lot of fun just doing that even though we took the L,” said Banchero, who was part of the winning squad in Friday’s Rising Stars games. He was signed by Golden State last year but never played in a regular-season game for the Warriors, and spent a little time on USA Basketball’s World Cup qualifying team last year as well. And when he got the trophy, he had a Blazers warmup shirt on for that moment. I’m happy that I did it in my home, coming back here to Utah.” “And I’m happy that it happened here. Philadelphia would become his third NBA team, and he hasn’t even played for the 76ers yet. No judge agreed, and his two-dunk score of 95.4 wasn’t good enough to make the final round. Weber State is his college; he performs music under the name Dame D.O.L.L.A. “Proving others right instead of others wrong brings a little more satisfaction.” By the time the judges’ scores came up it was already decided.

Long before Mac McClung won the dunk contest at NBA All-Star Saturday, he was a YouTube phenomenon. It's impossible to add up all the views that videos of ...

My goal is to make an impact in the NBA, and I'm just going to keep working until that happens.'' He had the final basket of the 2021-22 NBA season, breaking free for an uncontested reverse dunk to cap the Los Angeles Lakers' overtime win over the Denver Nuggets last April. It's a cliche, but you can really do whatever you want to do,'' said McClung, who is on a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and playing in the G League. "One thing with this game is you have to learn how to adapt,'' McClung told The Associated Press last year. if you are a young kid, and someone who is an inspiration to you, someone that you respect so much tells you that you can't do it, it doesn't matter. Long before he won the dunk contest at NBA All-Star Saturday, he was a YouTube phenomenon.

Long before he won the dunk contest at NBA All-Star Saturday, he was a YouTube phenomenon.

My goal is to make an impact in the NBA, and I’m just going to keep working until that happens.” He had the final basket of the 2021-22 NBA season, breaking free for an uncontested reverse dunk to cap the Los Angeles Lakers’ overtime win over the Denver Nuggets last April. [Golden State’s Stephen Curry](https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30/status/1627149382981406727?s=20) said on Twitter: “Man was a viral (House of Highlights) high school dunk phenom, still working his way to the League, but lemme go get that dunk contest trophy right quick and bring it back to life!!! But, even if he hasn’t gotten to establish himself at the NBA level yet, there’s no question that he can play. “One thing with this game is you have to learn how to adapt,” McClung told The Associated Press last year. [Giannis Antetokounmpo — with his mouth open in disbelief](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEbJltN0Iog) — filmed the action on their phones.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Mac McClung was not exactly an unknown. Long before he won the dunk contest at NBA All-Star Saturday, he was a YouTube phenomenon.

My goal is to make an impact in the NBA, and I’m just going to keep working until that happens.” [Golden State’s Stephen Curry](https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30/status/1627149382981406727?s=20) said on Twitter: “Man was a viral (House of Highlights) high school dunk phenom, still working his way to the League, but lemme go get that dunk contest trophy right quick and bring it back to life!!! He had the final basket of the 2021-22 NBA season, breaking free for an uncontested reverse dunk to cap the Los Angeles Lakers’ overtime win over the Denver Nuggets last April. And now, he’s a dunk champion. But, even if he hasn’t gotten to establish himself at the NBA level yet, there’s no question that he can play. “One thing with this game is you have to learn how to adapt,” McClung told The Associated Press last year. [Giannis Antetokounmpo — with his mouth open in disbelief](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEbJltN0Iog) — filmed the action on their phones. He broke records held by Allen Iverson and J.J. McClung knows he is an underdog story. Literally, if you manifest and put your mind to it, you can literally make your life and reinvent yourself every day.” if you are a young kid, and someone who is an inspiration to you, someone that you respect so much tells you that you can’t do it, it doesn’t matter. [Michael Jordan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v5dSyYNRbE) taking off from the foul line, [Vince Carter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OJMLCF5oK4) saying “it’s over” after a dunk, [Aaron Gordon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q6n5NE6Cb4) jumping over the Orlando Magic mascot, [Dwight Howard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8qtf8uZz4A) donning the Superman cape — got a massive shot in the arm from a guy who now has more dunks in the contest (four) than he does in actual NBA games (one).“It’s a cliche, but you can really do whatever you want to do,” said McClung, who is on a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and playing in the G League.

McClung has played mostly in the G League, where he ranks 36th in scoring this season at 19 points per game.

“It feels good, especially to do it in front of the home team,” Sexton said. And the historic ramification of finally getting a 3-point title wasn’t lost on him. I’m happy that I did it in my home, coming back here to Utah.” Lillard won the final round with 26 points. “We did it for Utah, man,” Clarkson said. He played in one game last season for the Chicago Bulls, one other game for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was signed by Golden State last year but never played in a regular-season game for the Warriors, and spent a little time on USA Basketball’s World Cup qualifying team last year as well. “And I’m happy that it happened here. “They say the third time’s the charm,” said Lillard, who got his first 3-point title in his third try at the event. And when he got the trophy, he had a Blazers warmup shirt on for that moment. No judge agreed, and his two-dunk score of 95.4 wasn’t good enough to make the final round. Mac McClung might have single-handedly restored the shine on a dunk contest that has been widely panned in recent years. By the time the judges’ scores came up it was already decided.