How Mac McClung Might Just Save NBA Slam Dunk Contest

The reports of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest being dead might be over-exaggerated—and that’s all thanks to Mac McClung.

On Saturday night, McClung became the first player to ever three-peat the dunk contest. His high-flying heroics included an epic dunk over a Kia, an homage to Aaron Gordon’s famous hoverboard dunk and an impressive leap over Cleveland Cavaliers seven-footer Evan Mobley.

McClung is more than an “exciting white,” despite how frequently that meme was used on Saturday night. He could be what saves the dunk contest.

For McClung’s first two victories, he never truly received his flowers. Instead, the narrative surrounding his dominance was that the dunk contest had become so bad that a G League player had won twice in a row.

On Saturday, it felt like McClung awoke something. 

No other player in the 2025 dunk contest field could hold a torch to what the G League star was throwing down. San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle hammered home some exciting dunks that would’ve broken Bleacher Report if they were done in a game, but McClung’s use of props is what gives the dunk contest life.

The knock on Saturday night’s finale for almost the last decade is that actual NBA stars do not participate in the event. LeBron James has never participated, and now the NBA community has implored young, high-flying superstars like Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards and Zion Williamson to compete.

McClung’s performance on Saturday night might have woken them up.

Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant had social media buzzing when he declared that McClung’s heroics might make him decide to participate in next year’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.

“If you do it. I’ll do it with you,” he said 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 point where a G League player, whose dunk contest earnings have nearly doubled his game salaries, is willing to walk away from the event.

However, in his media availability late Saturday evening, McClung was informed that Morant and Antetokounmpo were contemplating the possibility of competing next year, and he seemed much more open about defending his three-peat crown.

Who knows if Morant and Antetokounmpo will keep their word and participate next year? Who knows if McClung will decide that he’s too good for the contest, especially after emptying the clip by jumping over a car? 

But if everything goes according to plan, and the dunk contest is revived, we should all be thanking McClung, the unheralded player from the G League who consistently was wheeled out for our entertainment over these last three seasons just to disappear back into his role with the Osceola Magic.