Mac McClung recently broke headlines as the 2023 NBA Dunk Contest champion. The 6 foot 2 point guard shined bright on Saturday February 18th. He outlasted the likes of Kenyon Martin Jr., Trey Murphy III, and Jericho Sims.
McClung is currently on the Philadelphia 76ers roster on a two-way contract with their G-League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats. He has always been known for his hops, dating back to his high school days. Mac has gone viral on the internet on several occasions over the last few years for his impressive slams.
Aside from his dunking prowess, Mac is a solid all-around basketball player. While he hasn’t quite proven himself in the Association, he has the chance to do just that with the recent two-way contract he signed with the 76ers.
Mac’s College Days
Coming out of high school, Mac McClung was a consensus three star recruit and also considered to be one of the best high school players in Virginia that year. He started his college career with the Georgetown Hoyas under coach Patrick Ewing. It didn’t take Mac long to make a difference on this team.
In his two seasons with the Hoyas, McClung averaged around 14 points per game. However, the Hoyas struggled to be competitive in the Big East. Ultimately, Mac McClung made a decision that was best for him and his journey to the NBA.
Mac transferred to Texas Tech University after the 2019-2020 campaign. In his third year of college hoops and his first with TTU, McClung was an impact player for the Red Raiders from the get-go. He averaged just over 15 points a game, which included a handful of stellar performances for the guard.
His college career may not jump out to anyone on paper, but he truly was a solid player for both the Hoyas and Red Raiders. His ability to not only hit the three, but also to slash to the rim and finish would be great assets for him at the next level.
Did McClung Save the Dunk Contest?
Mac McClung stunned the NBA world with the masterclass he put on in the 2023 Dunk Contest during All-Star weekend. Not only did he perform the acrobatic and unseen-before dunks, but he completed them all on the FIRST attempt. This was something that was hardly seen in previous dunk contests.
The Dunk Contest and the All-Star weekend in general for the NBA has been losing interest as of late. Many fans have decided to not even watch any of the activities. The last few dunk contests were even considered to be “flops” according to fans.
Enter: Mac McClung. The young guard was given the opportunity to participate in this year’s dunk contest even after he only competed in G-League games this year. His media presence and viral videos made it an easy choice for the NBA to give him this opportunity.
Shaquille O’Neal came out and said some strong words after Mac put on this performance. According to Shaq, “He (Mac McClung) saved the dunk contest.” Those are some strong words to say for a young man who may have been unheard of to some prior to this year’s dunk contest.
Life-Changing Money
Mac McClung didn’t just win the dunk contest and trophy, he also won the monetary prize that came with it. To the average NBA player, this money may not seem to be life-changing. But for McClung, it truly was.
To this point in Mac’s career, his earnings totaled just over $100,000. By winning the dunk contest, he earned a prize of $100,000, and he truly did earn that paycheck. After watching his acrobatic dunks, how can you not root for this guy?
