Mac McClung

2023 - 2 - 19

mac mcclung dunk

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Associated Press"

Mac McClung, now the NBA dunk champ, wasn't an unknown (Associated Press)

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.

Mac McClung, who has played 2 NBA games, goes from viral dunk ... (Yahoo Sports)

The newest member of the Sixers was the first G League player to compete in the Dunk Contest.

From G-leaguer to NBA Slam Dunk winner: Mac McClung steals the ... (CNN)

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.

The Pulse: Did Mac McClung save the dunk contest? Plus, bold NFL ... (The Athletic)

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.)

Who is Mac McClung? Former high school phenom breaks out as ... (CBSSports.com)

Mac McClung was regarded as a bit of an odd choice to headline the 2023 NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night. The 24-year-old guard has played in only ...

He appeared briefly with the [Golden State Warriors](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/GS/golden-state-warriors/) in the team's preseason games in Japan last October, but he didn't stick there either. No matter who he faces, McClung will enter the 2024 dunk contest a far more famous man than he was on Saturday. His scoring went down, but if he needed to prove himself as a playmaker, he's largely done so at the G League level. In April, 2022, he was signed for a single game with the [Chicago Bulls](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/CHI/chicago-bulls/). Well, in the next few days, McClung will travel back to either Delaware or Philadelphia, depending on the needs of the 76ers. He signed a Summer League deal with the But if McClung expected to become a more traditional point guard at Texas Tech, he was likely disappointed by the results. According to his agent, McClung was looking for a role that Georgetown simply wasn't giving him. He was always more than just a dunker, but his scoring numbers exploded in his final two high school seasons. as well as Shareef O'Neal, son of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, to earn the trophy. But the Hoyas went 15-17 in McClung's second season, scoring 16 points a game. McClung entered All-Star Weekend with 821,000 followers on Instagram, more than twice as many as three other competitors ( [Trey Murphy III](/nba/players/3041735/trey-murphy-iii/), [Jericho Sims](/nba/players/2893240/jericho-sims/) and [Kenyon Martin Jr.](/nba/players/3158717/kenyon-martin-jr/)) have combined.

Mac McClung becomes fan favorite at NBA All-Star Weekend — and ... (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

McClung, who only recently signed with the Sixers, took the basketball world by storm with his all-time performance in the Slam Dunk contest.

Waitresses at Salt Stone restaurant marveled at the leaping ability of “that small guy from Philadelphia.” And an Uber driver called McClung the “best dunker” he’s seen. And he was originally scheduled to compete in Sunday’s NBA G League Next Up Game at the Jon M. Now even before competing in his first Sixers practice, McClung is a fan favorite in Philly. The 24-year-old grew up in Gate City, a town with a population of 2,030 in southwest Virginia. But his in-season career has mostly consisted of NBA G League stints with the South Bay Lakers, Windy City Bulls, and Delaware Blue Coats. McClung also earned the top two spots in ESPN’s SportsCenter top 10, which could also boost his following.

Mac McClung soars to slam dunk title at All-Star Saturday (WMTV - NBC15)

Mac McClung might have single-handedly restored the shine on a dunk contest that has been widely panned in recent years.

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. I’m happy that I did it in my home, coming back here to Utah.” 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. And when he got the trophy, he had a Blazers warmup shirt on for that moment. 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.

Sixers' Mac McClung, now the NBA dunk champ, wasn't an unknown (WHYY)

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.

Mac McClung

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