Fans React to Mac McClung Making NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest History

Heading into the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend on Saturday night, Orlando Magic two-way guard Mac McClung was looking to defend his crown as a two-time champ.

He would be competing against a pair of rookie lottery picks (San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, hot off being voted the Castrol Rising Stars MVP on Friday, and Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis) and second-year Milwaukee Bucks starting shooting guard Andre Jackson Jr.

McClung, who as StatMuse scathingly notes has only had two in-game dunks in the league, was looking to make history with a third straight Slam Dunk Contest win. He has never been on a full 15-man standard roster for the duration of an NBA season, and has been angling to parlay his Dunk Contest heroics into a more stable role for a while now.

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This year, McClung made league history by winning the event for the third consecutive year, ultimately knocking out Castle in the final competition.

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NBA fans of every stripe took to social media to relay their thoughts about the big night in earnest. Here are their reactions as the competition unspooled.

Castle served up a 360-degree windmill slam with his first try.

He earned major appreciation from a talented panel of judges — including Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady, former two-time Dunk Contest champ Jason Richardson, former two-time All-Star point guard Baron Davis, and social media personality Jesser.

After he made his first dunk on his first atttempt, fans were optimistic that the athletic Castle had a shot at knocking McClung off his throne.

Buzelis valiantly attempted a between-the-legs slam from beneath the rim, but ultimately failed to complete the move. The 6-foot-10 wing was eliminated in the first round.

Hall of Fame small forward-turned-TNT commentator Vince Carter, who executed perhaps the coolest finish in Dunk Contest history at Oracle Arena way back in 2000, taped introductory hype videos for each player. He was clowned for his efforts at making Buzelis sound cool.

Jackson missed on his first four attempts, but finally completed a pretty basic two-handed flush.

103.7 The Buzz Arkansas’ Kevin Kelley called out the league at large for its crop of Slam Dunk Contest competitors in recent years, using Jackson’s disappointing run to prove his point.

Another NBA appreciator called out Jackson’s tough start, comparing him to then-Sacramento Kings sharpshooter Kevin Huerter’s dud of a showing in the 2023 3-Point Contest.

The best was saved for last, however.

McClung did Blake Griffin one better by jumping over the highest point of a Kia in a shocking display of athleticism and grit. Griffin, as you’ll recall, leapt over the hood of a Kia en route to winning the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie.

An errant hand-off made McClung scrap his first attempt, but earned a perfect 50 from the panel of judges thanks to the second.

Soon, X was loaded with excited takes following McClung’s first flush.

One famous fan, however, was less than impressed with McClung’s big opening salve. Tyreke Hill claims others have taken the leap over the top of a Kia.

For his second dunk of the first round, Buzelis finally made a bucket with a middling baseline dunk.

Jackson struggled to finish an alley-oop due to some frustrating passing from his assigned dunk coach, and eventually scratched that look to finish with a one-handed scoop. He was, understandably, trolled mercilessly.

Again, mercilessly.

Stephon Castle nabbed a solid hammer slam off an alley-oop look.

McClung nailed his second attempt instantly. He nabbed another perfect average of 50 points to advance, along with Castle. KFC of Barstool Sports is rooting for McClung to earn some additional coin thanks to his epic Dunk Contest efforts these last several years.

In the final round, a nervous Castle missed his first four dunk attempts for his first dunk of the round, before finishing with pizzaz on a between-the-legs up-and-under one-handed flush.

McClung grabbed a handoff from a spinning buddy in an Aaron Gordon jersey, leapt over that buddy, tipped in a second ball being held by a dunk coach and then slammed home the ball he grabbed from his spinning compatriot.

Castle leapt up for a behind-the-back look, nailing it instantly. He earned his first perfect score from the panel.

Castle was rightly praised all across the board for closing strong.

For his grand finale, McClung grabbed a handoff from Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star power forward Evan Mobley, tapped the rim with the ball, then slammed it home.

Understandably, McClung set the web ablaze with his gravity-defying antics

When the dust had settled, “Entourage” star Jerry Ferrara gave Castle his props for a valiant second-place effort.

During a post-Dunk Contest interview with TNT’s Allie LaForce, McClung hinted that he may be done after his three-peat. But the Chase Center faithful, at least, were rooting for his return.

League stat-head (and, perhaps, NBA salary cap-head) Keerthika Uthayakumar observed that McClung has actually made more through his Dunk Contest victories than he has while playing on an NBA floor.

It’s a stunning stat. Surely, Orlando will at least give McClung a look as a real bench piece following this glorious encore run.

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