The 2025 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest was over soon after it began.
Mac McClung became the first player in NBA history to be crowned the slam dunk champion in three consecutive years after putting together four impressive dunks during the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.
McClung’s first dunk paid homage to 2011 Slam Dunk champion Blake Griffin, who won the crown after jumping over a silver KIA. McClung jumped over the same car and upped the ante by having someone hang out of the sunroof with the ball. McClung jumped over the highest part of the vehicle, grabbed the ball and completed a reverse dunk to start the competition off with a perfect score. He earned a perfect 50 on his next three dunks.
‘Stuff like this doesn’t happen without sitting on the shoulders of a lot of people,’ McClung, the reigning G League MVP, said after his win. ‘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.’
Although it’s not clear if McClung will return to defend his title again — ‘This might be it for me, but we’ll see’ — his name will forever be etched into the NBA All-Star Weekend record books.
Here’s what you need to know about McClung:
Where did Mac McClung go to college?
Georgetown (2018-2020)
McClung started his collegiate basketball career at Georgetown in 2018, where he led all Big East freshmen in scoring with an average of 13.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and two assists per game in 29 games. He scored a career-high 38 points vs. Little Rock on Dec. 18, 2022 and earned a spot of the Big East All-Freshman Team. McClung was limited to 20 games during his sophomore campaign due to a foot injury, but still averaged 15.7 points, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 27 minutes per game.
Texas Tech (2020-2021)
McClung transferred to Texas Tech in May 2020 for his junior year and averaged 15.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 29 games. He declared for the 2021 NBA draft following his junior season.
Was Mac McClung drafted?
McClung went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft.
What teams has Mac McClung played for?
McClung has played a majority of his career in the G League:
South Bay Lakers (2021-22)
McClung signed with the South Bay Lakers, the G League affiliate team of the Los Angeles Lakers, in October 2021. He averaged 21.7 points, 7.6 assists, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 27 regular-season games, earning the G League Rookie of the Year award and a G League All-Rookie Team nod. McClung was called up during the season and played 10-day contracts with both the Chicago Bulls and Lakers before returning to South Bay.
Delaware Blue Coats (2022–23)
McClung joined the Delaware Blue Coats, the G League affiliate team of the Philadelphia 76ers, in October 2022. McClung won the NBA G League championship with the Blue Coats. He was called up to the 76ers several times throughout the season, including Philadelphia’s regular-season finale, where McClung recorded 20 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists in a win over the Brooklyn Nets. That year, he also became the first G League player to compete in the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest and win it.
Osceola Magic (2023–present)
McClung signed with the Osceola Magic, the G League affiliate team of the Orlando Magic, in November 2023 after a short stint with Orlando. He led the G League in scoring with 25.7 points per game, shooting 50.9% from the field and 39.6% from three, in addition to 4.7 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest. McClung was named the 2024 Kia NBA G League MVP and earned an All-NBA G League First-Team nod.
“It means a lot. I really got emotional thinking about it because it shows the relentlessness in my story,” McClung said at the time. “Maybe you look at me as a dunker. Maybe you look at me as a highlight tape. And last year, they said I couldn’t shoot, but then I shot (close to 40 percent) from three. This year, I’m G League MVP. It’s one of the moments in my life that I’m most proud of myself (because it shows) that relentless pursuit.”
How many All-Star Slam Dunk contests has Mac McClung won?
McClung became the fifth player to win back-to-back slam dunk titles in 2023 and 2024, following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan (1987-88), Jason Richardson (2002-03), Nate Robinson (2009-10) and Zach LaVine (2015-16). But McClung stepped out of the shadows of the greats with his three-peat performance on Saturday. He’s the first player in NBA history to win the dunk contest three consecutive times.
Check out all four of McClung’s dunks in the 2024 Slam Dunk contest:
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
