After dazzling fans by winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend, Mac McClung is starting to drive ticket sales in the G-League.
He returned to action with the Delaware Blue Coats, the Philadelphia 76ers’ G-League affiliate, on Wednesday night.
And it was a hero’s welcome.
The Blue Coats announced 1,697 fans were in attendance for their home matchup against the Motor City Cruise. The crowd came to see McClung and celebrate his outstanding All-Star weekend performance.
According to Front Office Sports, the Blue Coats have seen an uptick in ticket sales. The rate of sales has increased five times the daily average. Ticket prices ranged from $11 to $64 in some areas of Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware.
Fans in attendance showed their support with special signs. Some of the best signs read “McClung for President 2023” or simply had a photo of a goat (in reference to Greatest of All Time).
“He put in a lot of work,” Blue Coats coach Coby Karl told told Delaware Online, part of the USA TODAY Network. “He mentally stayed engaged to compete in the one game that he played in. And obviously just the emotions and the energy and this whole process that he’s going through with kinda coming out to the world. It’s taxing.”
NBA slam dunk contest winner Mac McClung drops back on defense as he returns to the Blue Coats in a G League game at the Chase Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.
McClung will be eligible to join the 76ers at any point due to his two-way contract. He can spend 45 days with the 76ers while playing the bulk of the season with the Blue Coats.
“I wanna be in the NBA,” McClung said. “I want to make an impact. Can’t have nights like tonight but I’m just waiting my turn.”
The Blue Coats’ next game will be on Friday against Motor Cruise. McClung is averaging 18.4 points on 56.2% shooting this season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA dunk contest champ Mac McClung drives G-League team ticket sales
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