Tag: mac mcclung

Mac McClung needs a roster spot if he is going to keep saving the NBA Dunk Contest

Let him play in the NBA or enough of this stuff.

Mac McClung will once again participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, which should be entertaining but comes with a caveat.

McClung is clearly the best thing that the contest has going for it considering he has won two seasons in a row and is looking to defend his title for a third consecutive championship.

It is starting to feel egregious, though, that McClung continues to participate without a roster spot in the NBA. Currently signed to a two-way deal for the Orlando Magic, the 26-year-old former undrafted free agent has played just five minutes in the NBA so far this season.

MAC MCCLUNG: Dunk champion makes his case for why he believes he should be in the NBA

Since he turned pro in 2021, he has played just five games total and has not played more than two NBA games in a single season.

McClung has recorded just two dunks during his combined seasons in the leaugue, per Stathead. He should at least get the opportunity to actually dunk during NBA contests if the league is going to keep asking him to help save its All-Star Weekend product.

When he actually gets playing time in the G League, he is hardly a bad player. He was named 2024 NBA G League MVP, 2023 NBA G League Champion, and 2022 NBA G League Rookie of the Year.

Last year, he also led the G League in scoring and threw down some dunks during games as well. He had 13 dunks for Orlando’s G League affiliate last season and 14 the season prior.

McClung is capable of throwing them down in an NBA game, too, and not just during garbage minutes. But if no teams feel he is a worthwhile addition to their actual NBA roster, enough with this song and dance.

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NBA fans loved Aaron Gordon’s callback joke after the 2024 dunk contest’s bizarre judging

Even dunk contest legend Aaron Gordon seemed disappointed on Saturday night.

In the history of the NBA Dunk Contest, Aaron Gordon stands out as one of the all-time premier performers. He’s never technically won the event — a controversial result against Zach LaVine in 2016 notwithstanding — but Gordon’s past performances are renowned for bringing flair and creativity to the stage. Even now, he remains one of the game’s premier dunkers for the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets.

That’s what might make Gordon’s comments about Saturday night’s dunk contest so fascinating.

The Nuggets forward took to Twitter and rattled off a few thoughts about everyone’s performance. In the end, he made a joke about how he’d somehow come in second (again) following Mac McClung’s repeat victory performance. This, of course, came after consternation over weird judging that seemed to favor the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown:

Gordon still stands as one of the more memorable performers in dunk contest history. At this rate, given some of the controversy and disappointment hovering over the event, bringing Gordon back into the fold would be a very welcome development. Whether he’ll be up to the task after getting robbed in the past is a different story.

Sixers star Joel Embiid gives thoughts on 2024 NBA dunk contest

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid gives his thoughts on the 2024 NBA dunk contest in Indiana.

The dunk contest featured another win for former Philadelphia 76ers guard Mac McClung. The dunking dynamo was on a two-way deal with the Sixers in the 2022-23 season. He signed with the Orlando Magic during the offseason and has spent the season with Orlando’s G League team, the Osceola Magic.

McClung won his second consecutive dunk contest on Saturday after he completed a big dunk over NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. He earned a score of 50 besting Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown in the process.

Afterward, Sixers star Joel Embiid chimed in on the dunk contest. Other than McClung and a big dunk by New York’s Jacob Toppin, the dunk contest was a bit underwhelming.

Embiid should probably never think about participating in the dunk contest considering his knee injury history. However, big men have competed in the it, including recent appearances by Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond. Perhaps Embiid could do so at some point in his career.

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Just a reminder that Mac McClung’s high school mixtape was electric

Mac McClung was brilliant even in high school.

On Saturday night, Mac McClung won the Slam Dunk competition as part of the NBA All-Star weekend. It marks his second straight win in the event.

But those who know…well, they know. And what they know is that McClung has been producing highlights for years, dating back to high school.

McClung was electric, producing jaw-dropping plays and showing off some impressive hops. But despite being one of the nation’s top scorers, the 6-foot-1 guard didn’t register a ton of big-time recruiting interest.

Sure, he had some offers like Boston College, Rutgers and Seton Hall, but McClung’s output on the court was not matched by any interest from college basketball’s blue bloods.

Ranked a three-star and the No. 49 point guard (by Rivals) in the nation out of Gate City (Gate City, Virginia), McClung had originally committed to Rutgers basketball in early August 2017. Three months later, he had de-committed from the Big Ten program just before his senior season.

By mid-October, he had veraballed to Patrick Ewing at Georgetown.

Watch this highlight film and it is hard to figure out why he didn’t have many other big-time offers. His athleticism alone should have made him a matter of intrigue for bigger programs.

Combine that with his scoring ability and McClung should have been a four-star recruit, easily.

Here are his highlights from his senior season at Gate City. The flair he showed on Saturday night in the NBA Slam Dunk competition was certainly not in short supply as a high school senior:

In college, he averaged 14.2 points per game in his first two seasons at Georgetown. He transferred to Texas Tech for the 2020-21 season, where in 29 games (all starts) he averaged 15.5 points per game while shooting 41.9 percent from the floor.

Currently, McClung is in the G League with the Osceola Magic where he is still looking to fully break through to the NBA. He has played in four NBA games, averaging 8.3 points per game.

Watch: Former Rutgers basketball commit Mac McClung dunks over Shaquille O’Neal, defends his Slam Dunk title

Mac McClung is going viral for his Slam Dunk competition win.

Former Rutgers basketball commit Mac McClung won the Slam Dunk Contest at the NBA All-Star Game, marking the second straight year where the G-League player won the event. He clinched this year’s title, by dunking over Shaquille O’Neal.

McClung, had committed to Rutgers basketball in early August 2017. Three months later, he de-committed on October 6.

By the next week, he had committed to Georgetown. He spent two seasons at Georgetown before transferring to Texas Tech. He spent one year in Lubbock before going professional.

In the 2021 NBA draft, McClung was not selected. He currently plays in the G League for the Osceola Magic.

In high school, he was ranked a three-star and the No. 49 point guard in the nation by Rivals. He was projected to be a big part of head coach Steve Pikiell’s first recruiting class at Rutgers.

Last year, McClung became the first player from the G League to win the Slam Dunk competition. He did it again this year, with a dunk over Shaquille O’Neal.

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Here’s the flashback part for Rutgers…he told Rivals and Richard Schnyderite that a major reason why he wanted to play for the Scarlet Knights was a desire to help rebuild the program.

“I know people are afraid to say, but I want to win a national championship and win the Big Ten,” McClung said in a 2017 interview shortly after committing to Rutgers.

“I want to put Rutgers back where they should be.”

During the 2020-21 season, his final year at Georgetown, McClung averaged 15.7. Next year during his lone season in the Big 12 with Texas Tech, he averaged 15.5 points per game while seeing his field goal percentage improve.

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In 2022, he was named to the G League’s All-Rookie Team. The 25-year-old has played in four NBA games during his career where he has averaged 8.3 points per game.

Mac McClung won the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest (again) and these were all the best photos

Mac McClung has officially made history, winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in back-to-back seasons.

Mac McClung has officially made history, winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in back-to-back seasons.

The high-flying G League guard took home the honors after an impressive performance, which included dunking over Shaquille O’Neal, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana. McClung beat out Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, Heat rookie Jamie Jaquez Jr. and Knicks forward Jacob Toppin.

Here were the best photos of the night in which McClung was once again crowned champ:

An NBA fan hilariously failed to recognize Mac McClung despite wearing his jersey

Mac McClung made sure to still sign an autograph for the kid.

Imagine walking around wearing the jersey of an NBA player and suddenly, that player suddenly appears out of thin air and compliments your choice.

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction but somehow, that happened to a kid who was rocking a Mac McClung jersey while casually just hanging out at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania.

McClung, who earlier this year became the first-ever G League player to participate in the NBA dunk contest and was then crowned champion, spotted the jersey and was quick to provide a compliment.

Despite the kind words from the 2023 NBA G League Champion and former NBA G League Rookie of the Year, however, the fan did not appear to notice that it was actually McClung dishing out the praise.

Fortunately, however, McClung was sure to flag down the fan so that they could actually have a legitimate introduction.

The two posed together for a photo and then McClung also signed the back of his jersey.

That jersey just became an awesome piece of memorabilia for the fan but even more importantly, the moment they shared together will make for an amazing story for years to come.

These are exactly the types of athlete-fan interactions we love to see.

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Mac McClung: ‘I kind of learned to let go of destinations and achievements’

The first G League player to win the Slam Dunk Contest, Mac McClung has yet to make his impact within NBA games, but he is hoping that changes soon. The high-flying guard, who will be at Hersheypark amusement park to debut their new roller coaster, …

The first G League player to win the Slam Dunk Contest, Mac McClung has yet to make his impact within NBA games, but he is hoping that changes soon.

The high-flying guard, who will be at Hersheypark amusement park to debut their new roller coaster, recently sat down with HoopsHype to discuss the dunk contest, his confidence level, patience, and more.

2022-23 final Philadelphia 76ers player grades: Mac McClung

Here are the final thoughts and a grade for Philadelphia 76ers guard Mac McClung and his 2022-23 season.

The 2022-23 season ended for the Philadelphia 76ers with a Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs, so it’s time to reflect on the season.

The Sixers finished 54-28 and were third in the Eastern Conference behind the Milwaukee Bucks and the Celtics in the standings. Considering the 12-12 start, the season was a success despite the sour and familiar ending.

Now it’s time to grade each player on the roster for what he did throughout the season. In this installment, Sixers Wire looks at Mac McClung who only played two games for Philadelphia. He was mostly in the G League all season and on a two-way deal.

Stay or go: Predicting what Sixers will do with their 2023 free agents

Here is a prediction of what the Philadelphia 76ers will do with their crop of 2023 free agents.

As the Philadelphia 76ers navigate the offseason, there are only so many avenues the team can use to improve.

At the moment, per HoopsHype, the Sixers have:

  • Non-taxpayer mid-level exception: $12,220,000 (could lose access to this if they go over the apron)
  • Bi-annual exception: $4,448,000 (could lose access to this if they go over the apron)

There isn’t exactly a clear avenue for Philadelphia to go about improving their roster through free agency. Of course, there are sign-and-trade possibilities, but those are always hard to iron out. President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has many questions he has to answer.

Of course, the biggest question is James Harden, but one has to figure Morey and the Sixers will figure something out there.

Free agency will begin on June 30 and per Spotrac, there are nine free agents the Sixers have to decide on.

Sixers Wire will predict who stays and who goes: