NBA Slam Dunk Contest Sees New Winner Without Mac McClung

This year, for the first time in four seasons, the NBA Slam Dunk Contest will have a different champion, as last year’s winner, Mac McClung, has opted out of participating.

McClung had announced back in January that he wouldn’t take part this season, and he recently shared his feelings about missing the event. It seems there were discussions among players regarding their participation, especially if McClung had chosen to join in.

“Initially, I told everyone I was done,” McClung, who is 27, mentioned. “I left after my third year, but these guys are my friends. We chat quite a bit, and they were talking about next year. I almost said, ‘I’m not doing it.’

“Anyway, I was getting ready just in case something changed. We went back and forth a lot. Then I got a call saying, ‘I’m doing it and there are others who don’t want to.’ So I figured it was best to step back this year.”

He also highlighted that several players planning to withdraw are well-known and close to him.

“I understand they were trying to bring in some big names, and the situation was unclear. But there was no bad blood or anything, just a lot of figuring things out,” he added, reflecting on the uncertainty surrounding the event.

Interestingly, McClung has made history by winning the dunk contest three consecutive times, an unprecedented achievement.

Despite the accolades, some have expressed concerns about McClung’s win, as he has only played a handful of games in the NBA over the past few seasons. This pattern of selecting G League guards to participate in All-Star festivities has raised eyebrows.

This season, McClung has played in just four NBA games while also appearing in 15 G League games, where he’s averaged an impressive 27.7 points and 7.5 assists.

Draymond Green of the Warriors voiced his dissatisfaction with how McClung secured a 10-day contract merely to compete, stating the dunk contest has “lost its spark” due to the absence of star players.

“It feels like the atmosphere is different with non-NBA players being included. It’s wild—I’ve worked hard to be an All-Star, and now it feels like anyone can jump into the dunk contest without a contract,” Green stated during a podcast last December. “Maybe we should focus on getting players who can really bring excitement to the contest. Honestly, I’m not too thrilled about the current direction.”