Mac McClung has proven once again that he’s the king of the NBA Slam Dunk contest, making history with his third consecutive victory.
The 26-year-old defending champion showcased his incredible jumping ability, securing his “three-peat” with an astonishing dunk over a car in the second round of the competition.
The Battle for Dunking Supremacy
The competition was fierce, with McClung facing off against some talented players, including Matas Buzelis of the Chicago Bulls, Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs, and Andre Jackson Jr. of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The G League MVP from the Osceola Magic made an impressive start, scoring a perfect 50 in the first round.
His dunk, which saw him leap over a person and perform a 180-degree slam, wowed the judges and set the bar high for his competitors.
Perfect Scores and the Car Dunk
McClung’s opponents, Buzelis, Castle, and Jackson, gave it their all, with scores of 47.2, 40, and 43.8 in the first round.
While they improved in the second round, McClung’s performance was simply unbeatable.
To seal his victory, he pulled off a jaw-dropping dunk by leaping over a Kia Sedan, earning another perfect score of 50.
Although his foot grazed the car’s nose on the way down, he landed the dunk flawlessly, and the judges awarded him a perfect 10 across the board.
A Historic Three-Peat and Tribute to Dunking Legends
McClung’s dunk over the car immediately drew comparisons to Blake Griffin’s legendary slam from the 2011 contest, where Griffin leaped over a hood.
However, McClung’s version saw him jump completely over the parallel-parked vehicle, further elevating his place in dunking history.
After the event, McClung expressed gratitude for the people who supported him throughout the process, saying, “I had a lot of help… people were opening gyms to fit a car in, people were letting me use their car, I’m just really grateful right now.”
The Future of McClung’s Dunking Career
When asked about his future in the contest, McClung hinted that this might be his last time competing, saying, “This might be it for me but we’ll see.
If they want me back bad enough, I’ll think about it.”
Regardless of whether he returns, McClung’s back-to-back victories have cemented his legacy, joining Nate Robinson as the only other player to win the dunk contest three times.
However, McClung is the only one to achieve this feat consecutively, adding another layer to his impressive career.