Mac McClung put on a show in winning the 2023 NBA Dunk Contest.
But who is Mac McClung? There’s a reason you may be unfamiliar with the 24-year-old if you only follow the NBA: He hasn’t played a game in the NBA this season.
In fact, McClung has only appeared in two NBA games in his career, with the Chicago Bulls in December 2021 and Los Angeles Lakers in April 2022. McClung has spent this season in the Philadelphia 76ers’ organization, playing for the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats.
“I’m truly blessed and grateful for the NBA giving me this opportunity,” McClung said on the court after his victory. “I think the biggest thing is manifestation. You know, I don’t get surprised by things like this, but I’m very appreciative.”
“If you guys will have me, I’ll be back,” next year, McClung added.
Here’s everything you need to know about the NBA’s new slam dunk champ:
Who is Mac McClung?
McClung has been known as a prolific dunker since his standout career at Gate City High School (Virginia). During his time at Gate City, he toppled state scoring records held by the likes of Allen Iverson and JJ Redick and won the 2018 BallisLife All-America Game Slam Dunk Contest.
McClung attended Georgetown University for two seasons, where he averaged 14.2 points per game, before transferring to Texas Tech. He averaged 15.5 points per game in his lone season with the Red Raiders in 2020-21. He eventually declared for the NBA draft, though he went undrafted. He split 2021-22 bouncing between the Lakers and Bulls organizations, but was still named G League Rookie of the Year after averaging . 21.6 points, 7.6 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game. McClung has averaged 19.1 points in 18 games in the G League this year.
Mac McClung celebrates with the trophy after winning the Dunk Contest.
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Here’s how he won the Dunk Contest on Saturday night:
First round
The Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III got the action started and got teammate Jose Alvarado involved on his first dunk – Alvarado “stealing” the ball and throwing an alley-oop pass off the backboard to Murphy for…
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