INDIANAPOLIS — Mac McClung is as soon as once more the winner of the NBA Dunk Contest. After placing on a present final 12 months in Salt Lake Metropolis, McClung returned to defend his crown and managed to do what he does finest: soar by the air and placed on a present.
Regardless of some remarkably harsh judges and a crowd that made booing Jaylen Brown its prime precedence, McClung was nonetheless in a position to entertain. He was the highest dunker within the first spherical, earned a showdown with Brown within the finals, and as soon as once more earned a win. And now, one query stays: Will McClung return in 2025 and be the primary individual in NBA historical past to efficiently three-peat in All-Star Saturday Night time’s most important occasion?
First Spherical
Jaime Jaquez Jr. acquired issues began within the occasion. He began issues off in a really literal massive approach, as he introduced Shaquille O’Neal out onto the ground. With Shaq recording issues on his mobile phone, Jaquez propelled himself over the massive man whereas doing a one-handed windmill. It didn’t fairly get him a 50, although, as he set the bar at a 47.4.
Subsequent up was Jacob Toppin, who enlisted the providers of his brother, Indiana Pacers ahead Obi Toppin. With Obi holding the ball over his head, Jacob went up and did a two-handed reverse for a 47.8.
The most important title within the competitors went third, with Jaylen Brown stepping out onto the ground. He grew to become the third straight competitor to get some assist, though he had somebody in a full Dominique Wilkins uniform and provides him some directions. Brown pulled off an ultra-athletic windmill with a bit of hesitation on the very prime of the dunk, which acquired him a 48.8 that really acquired some boos from the group.
With the primary three dunkers down, defending champion Mac McClung stepped onto the ground. The G League standout had a helper stand below the time, and whereas he missed his first try, he cleared the individual holding the ball, grabbed it, let it go in midair, and did a reverse with two arms for a 48 that when once more acquired the group booing.
Jaquez got here again out for the second spherical of dunks. He couldn’t fairly make his first try, however tossed the ball from the wing did a 360 with one pump in midair that acquired him a 46.8. With each of his dunks down, Jaquez registered a 94.2 within the opening spherical.
For Toppin’s second dunk, he made his option to the wing and missed his first try. However he greater than made up with it on his second strive, as he did a 360, put the ball by his legs, and completed with two arms. The 47.2 he earned gave him a 95 between his two dunks, however the rating on the dunk as soon as once more acquired some boos from the group.
McClung stepped onto the ground subsequent and headed over to a nook. He cocked the ball behind his head, did a two-handed windmill, and threw down a reverse. His 49.4 was the best rating of the spherical, and his rating of 97.4 between each dunks earned him a spot within the last and formally eradicated Jaquez.
Brown acquired an opportunity to go final and wanted solely a 46.2 to remove Toppin and transfer into the ultimate. He enlisted the assistance of Jayson Tatum and Kai Cenat, with the previous throwing him a lob over the latter, who was seated in a chair. Brown caught the lob, dunked with one hand, and earned a rating of 47.6, giving him a 96.4 and a spot within the last spherical.
Mac McClung: 97.4 (48 + 49.4)
Jaylen Brown: 96.4 (48.8 + 47.6)
Jacob Toppin: 95 (47.8 + 47.2)
Jaime Jaquez Jr.: 94.2 (47.4 + 46.8)
Remaining Spherical
Brown acquired the possibility to go first within the last spherical, and paid tribute to the late Terrence Clarke by throwing on his highschool jersey. His effort was a windmill with a 180 that acquired him a rating of 48.6 — which was, as soon as once more, a rating that earned boos from the group.
For McClung’s first dunk of the ultimate spherical, he had somebody sit on another person’s shoulder and take the ball. He missed his first strive, however on his second try, McClung cleared them each, grabbed the ball, and did a strong windmill that injected some life into the group. It did simply sufficient to maneuver him into first place, as he picked up a 48.8.
To try to decide up a monster last rating, Brown pulled Donovan Mitchell out from the group and put a glove on his left hand. Mitchell propped the ball up on prime of his head, and Brown jumped over his fellow All-Star and did a windmill that he put residence along with his weaker hand. The judges gave him a 49.2 — sufficient for a 97.8 within the last spherical that, you can be shocked to be taught, the group didn’t like.
McClung needed to save his finest for final, as he wanted a 49.1 to win the competitors. He as soon as once more pulled Shaq out from the group and made the Corridor of Fame inductee placed on his highschool jersey. With the massive fella holding the ball above his head, McClung ran in from the nook and jumped proper over him en path to a strong reverse. This earned the one excellent rating of the evening, and along with his 50, McClung formally went back-to-back.
Mac McClung: 98.8 (48.8 + 50)
Jaylen Brown: 97.8 (48.6 + 49.2)
The win made McClung the primary individual to win two Dunk Contests in a row since Zach LaVine in 2015 and 2016. He joins LaVine, Nate Robinson, Jason Richardson, and Michael Jordan to perform that feat.