Mac McClung makes NBA history with third straight Slam Dunk title
Alona Yadav | Feb 20, 2025, 08:46 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Mac McClung made history at the NBA All-Star Weekend by winning the Slam Dunk Contest for the third consecutive year with a perfect performance. His flawless execution included a remarkable dunk involving a car and a volunteer. Despite stiff competition from Stephon Castle and others, McClung's innovation and passionate creativity secured his victory and captivated the audience.
Mac McClung cemented his place in NBA All-Star Weekend lore Saturday night, becoming the first player ever to win the Slam Dunk Contest three consecutive years while delivering a perfect performance in San Francisco.
The 26-year-old Osceola Magic guard didn't just win—he dominated with flawless execution, earning perfect 50-point scores across all rounds of the competition.
McClung set the tone immediately with his opening dunk that left the crowd speechless. After a car reversed toward the basket, McClung cleared both a volunteer and the vehicle in a single leap, snatching the ball from the volunteer's hands before finishing with an emphatic reverse dunk.
"I feel like an imposter," McClung told CNN Sport's Andy Scholes following his historic victory. "This doesn't happen without all the help of my friends, people were letting me use their cars to try to jump over them."
The innovation continued throughout the competition, culminating in a jaw-dropping third attempt where McClung managed to dunk two basketballs simultaneously.
"I think when you love something and that's your action, then you can kind of be better at it than you usually would," McClung explained, crediting his passion for dunking as the source of his creativity.
While McClung's perfection proved unbeatable, San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle kept the competition close with his own impressive display, finishing just 0.4 points behind with a score of 99.6 across the final two rounds. Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. took third place, with Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis rounding out the field in fourth.
The evening wasn't without controversy, however, as San Antonio Spurs teammates Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul found themselves disqualified from the skills challenge after attempting to game the system. The duo tried to minimize their time by deliberately throwing balls away quickly rather than taking legitimate shots at the designated stations.
"We tried a strategy that we thought could win," Paul explained to reporters afterward, noting that officials hadn't objected when Wembanyama inquired about the tactic before the event began.
In the three-point contest, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro claimed victory with 24 points in the final round, outdueling Golden State Warriors' Buddy Hield and Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland. Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard's bid for a third consecutive three-point title ended early as he was eliminated in the first round with 18 points.
The electrifying All-Star Saturday Night showcased both basketball excellence and innovation, with McClung's historic achievement standing as the evening's defining moment.
The 26-year-old Osceola Magic guard didn't just win—he dominated with flawless execution, earning perfect 50-point scores across all rounds of the competition.
McClung set the tone immediately with his opening dunk that left the crowd speechless. After a car reversed toward the basket, McClung cleared both a volunteer and the vehicle in a single leap, snatching the ball from the volunteer's hands before finishing with an emphatic reverse dunk.
"I feel like an imposter," McClung told CNN Sport's Andy Scholes following his historic victory. "This doesn't happen without all the help of my friends, people were letting me use their cars to try to jump over them."
The innovation continued throughout the competition, culminating in a jaw-dropping third attempt where McClung managed to dunk two basketballs simultaneously.
"I think when you love something and that's your action, then you can kind of be better at it than you usually would," McClung explained, crediting his passion for dunking as the source of his creativity.
While McClung's perfection proved unbeatable, San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle kept the competition close with his own impressive display, finishing just 0.4 points behind with a score of 99.6 across the final two rounds. Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. took third place, with Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis rounding out the field in fourth.
The evening wasn't without controversy, however, as San Antonio Spurs teammates Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul found themselves disqualified from the skills challenge after attempting to game the system. The duo tried to minimize their time by deliberately throwing balls away quickly rather than taking legitimate shots at the designated stations.
"We tried a strategy that we thought could win," Paul explained to reporters afterward, noting that officials hadn't objected when Wembanyama inquired about the tactic before the event began.
In the three-point contest, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro claimed victory with 24 points in the final round, outdueling Golden State Warriors' Buddy Hield and Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland. Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard's bid for a third consecutive three-point title ended early as he was eliminated in the first round with 18 points.
The electrifying All-Star Saturday Night showcased both basketball excellence and innovation, with McClung's historic achievement standing as the evening's defining moment.