Former 76ers Dunk Champion Defends Title vs. Celtics Star
One year after being crowned the first player in Philadelphia 76ers history to win the NBA Dunk Contest, Mac McClung returned to the stage in Indiana and defended his title.
Not long after Tyrese Maxey participated in the Skills Challenge alongside Toronto’s Scottie Barnes and Atlanta’s Trae Young, McClung laced up his sneakers while donning his Osceola Magic uniform, representing the Orlando Magic’s G League squad.
Last year, many basketball fans weren’t too familiar with McClung’s dunking abilities. This year, everybody tuned in and expected fireworks, as he was crowned champion and savior last season.
McClung competed against New York Knicks forward Jacob Toppin, Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez, and Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown.
While the dunk contest has been typically reserved for younger guys, who haven’t quite made a name for themselves in the NBA in recent years, Brown was applauded for being a seven-year veteran who has multiple All-Star nods on his resume and is willing to participate.
The Boston forward received favorable voting from the judges, as he scored 48.8 and 47.6 in the first round, which edged out Toppin and Jaquez. Meanwhile, McClung landed first place in round one by scoring 48, along with a near-50. The former Sixer finished the round with 97.4 points, which punched his ticket to the final.
Viewers didn’t believe the final round should’ve been as close, but the judges kept it interesting. After the first dunk, McClung scored 0.02 more than Brown, giving the Celtics star an opportunity to dethrone the champ.
While Brown’s left-handed dunk scored him a solid 49.2 score, McClung made the competition his once again. With a little help from the legendary big man, Shaquille O’Neal, a six-two-sized McClung hopped over the seven-one Hall of Famer before throwing his final dunk down.
When it was all said and done, McClung saw a perfect score across the board. With a final score of 98.8, McClung defeated Brown 97.8 to win the trophy for the second season in a row.
Last season, McClung’s victory earned him the spotlight for the remainder of the 2022-2023 season. He found success at the G League level with the Delaware Blue Coats, helping the Sixers’ developmental squad win its first G League Finals.
Then, when the regular season reached the final few games, McClung had an opportunity to debut with the Sixers. He made two appearances, averaging 13 points and five assists, while draining 36 percent of his threes.
McClung hasn’t had an opportunity to stick with an NBA squad since he made some appearances with the Sixers last year, but perhaps his dunking will bring more eyes to his game at the G League level, allowing him to find a fit on somebody’s bench.
