SAN FRANCISCO — Mac McClung will leave it up to others to decide where he ranks among the best dunkers ever. When it comes to the dunk contest, there is no doubt.
The G League star and dunk maven put on a remarkable show at NBA All-Star Saturday night by recording perfect scores of 50 on all four of his jaw-dropping, creative dunks to become the first player to win three straight dunk contests.
“It kind of feels like a blur,” he said. “It’s something I love doing. That’s where my creativity comes is I genuinely love this contest and I love to dunk.”
Nate Robinson is the only other player to win the dunk contest three times, taking it in 2006 and then repeating in 2009-10.
McClung needed to be nearly perfect to top San Antonio's Stephon Castle in the final round after Castle followed up a 49.6 with his first dunk with a 50 on his second when he went behind his back to switch from his right hand to left before the slam.
But McClung was up to the task and now has as many dunk contest wins in his career as he does dunks in NBA games, according to Sportradar, as he has only played five games in the NBA.
For his final dunk, McClung stationed six-foot-11 Evan Mobley on a platform in front of the basket. With Mobley holding the ball behind his head, the six-foot-two McClung jumped over him, tapped the rim with the ball before slamming it home to the delight of the crowd and judges.
His performance got NBA stars like Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo to talk about getting into the contest to go up against McClung.
“I think the contest is a beautiful thing,” McClung said. “I know people probably want bigger stars in it and I would love to see that. I think it’s important for the people in it to want to do it. … This contest is a special thing. We all love it.”
McClung's first dunk in the final round featured him taking one ball in midair for a windmill dunk with his right hand while slamming home another stationed near the rim with his left.
McClung also received two perfect scores in the opening round. On the first, a car was parked in the lane with a person standing through the sun roof with a ball. McClung jumped over the car, took the ball and did a reverse, behind-the-head dunk drawing gasps from the crowd and a 50.
McClung didn't disappoint on his next try despite having already clinched a spot in the final. He jumped over a person holding the ball and did a twisting, no-look dunk, getting baseball star Barry Bonds to jump out if his seat for another 50.
McClung said he spent eight or nine months preparing for this contest and isn't sure if he will go for a fourth straight title.
“I never want to say never but this one took a lot out of me.” he said.
Castle advanced with more traditional dunks that earned him a total score of 95.
Chicago’s Matas Buzelis and Milwaukee's Andre Jackson Jr. were eliminated in the first round.
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