The three-peat is complete.
Orlando Magic guard Mac McClung won his third consecutive Slam Dunk Contest, becoming the first player in the event’s history to three-peat and joining Nate Robinson as the only players to ever win three titles.
McClung, who plays for the Magic’s G League affiliate team, the Osceola Magic, completed each of his four dunks on the first attempts and drew perfect scores of 50 on each of his tries. He topped Spurs guard Stephon Castle, whose final round score of 99.6 meant that McClung won by a margin of 0.4 points.
McClung joined former Knicks guard Robinson (2006, ’09, ‘10) as the only players to win the Slam Dunk Contest three times, putting him in the conversation of best dunker of all-time.
“I definitely don’t think that’s something for me to say,” McClung said after the event. “I appreciate you saying that, but no, I think I was just extremely honored to be a part of this weekend. I think the biggest thing is I genuinely love this contest and I’m very honored to be here and just very appreciative.”
For his first attempt, McClung brought a Kia sedan onto the floor. He directed a person to hold the ball through the sunroof as he soared over the car, grabbed the ball and powered home a reverse dunk that worked up the crowd. McClung got 50s across the board, easily topping the rest of the field.
A replay showed that McClung’s shoe clipped the top of the car.
McClung, once again, netted a perfect score of 50 on his second attempt of the first round. This time, he had a person stand with the ball over his head. McClung then jumped over the person but almost appeared to float as he hesitated for a moment before turning and flushing home the dunk.
In the final round, Castle put pressure on McClung early, scoring 49.6 on his first attempt.
McClung, though, once again brought out props and pushed the limits. He had one person spinning on a hoverboard with a basketball held over his head. He had another person on a ladder with another ball positioned right in front of the rim.
McClung ran, jumped over the person on the hoverboard, dunked the ball positioned in front of the rim first with his left hand and then slammed the other ball home.
For the third time in the evening, McClung scored a perfect 50.
After Castle’s behind-the-back 360 gave him a perfect score, McClung essentially needed another perfect score to win.
McClung brought out Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley — who is 6-foot-11 — and had him stand on a short platform in front of the hoop. Mobley held a ball over his head and McClung jumped over Mobley, grabbed the ball, double-clutched by tapping it on the front of the rim and then slammed it home.
For the fourth time in the evening, McClung got 50s across the board. And, for the first time, a player won the event three consecutive times.
With the title, McClung surpassed Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Harold Miner, Jason Richardson and Zach LaVine, each of whom won the event twice.
As to whether he would consider going for four titles, McClung was noncommittal, but did leave the door open.
“I was probably thinking about hanging up after this one,” McClung told reporters after the event, “but I never want to say never.”
The NBA’s All-Star Game weekend is being held at the Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the Golden State Warriors.
