G League player Mac McClung received a perfect 50 on his final dunk Saturday night, February 17, to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest for the second straight year.
All five judges were impressed with McClung’s final effort as he jumped over NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, grabbing the ball from O’Neal’s hands and finishing with a reserve slam dunk during All-Star Saturday Night at Indianapolis.
McClung, who plays for the Osceola Magic, defeated Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown in the final round.
McClung is the first repeat winner since Zach LaVine – then of the Minnesota Timberwolves – in 2015-2016.
In the final round, Brown received a score of 48.6 on his first attempt, a 360-dunk in which he wore a jersey honoring former Kentucky player Terrence Clarke, who died at age 19 in a car accident in 2021.
McClung followed with a dunk over two people – the lower person squatting somewhat – in which he threw it down with his right hand. He scored a 48.8.
Brown’s second and final turn featured Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers serving as the prop. Brown leaped over him and dunked with his left hand to score a 49.2.
McClung then finished the competition in style with his perfect effort to earn another dunk title.
The 25-year-old McClung has not been able to stick on an NBA roster. He has played in four games – one with the Chicago Bulls and one with the Los Angeles during the 2021-2022 season and two with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2022-2023 season.
Prior to this season, McClung was released by the Orlando Magic. He has played in 14 games for the Osceola franchise and is averaging 23.7 points and 7.2 assists.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat and Jacob Toppin of the New York Knicks were eliminated in the first round.
Jaquez scored 47.4 and 46.8 on his two dunks. On the first one, he jumped over O’Neal before slamming it through the net.
Toppin received scores of 47.8 and 47.2 His older brother, Obi, the 2022 dunk champion, served as the prop on the second one as Jacob Toppin grabbed the ball from near his brother’s head, slid the ball through his legs and finished with a reverse dunk.
– Rappler.com