Jude Magnotti ’26
EE Sports Columnist
The NBA season is grueling. For the players, broadcasters, and crew going through a full 82 games is a grind like any other. Thats why one of the most anticipated events over the course of a season is All-Star Weekend.
In recent years the event has gone through some tough times. Between players in the three point contest not making a shot, or the All-Star game turning into a layup line, its popularity has decreased mildly. However, there was not an event in recent years that has been more of a disappointment then the slam dunk contest, an event in which the best dunkers in the league are supposed to compete and battle it out with star-stunning finishes.
However, due to the NBA’s reluctance to put even a million dollars towards price money, electric NBA stars like Ja Morant and Zion Williamson have refused to participate for a “measly” 25,000 dollars. Instead, the league has recruited no-name young players to participate, and it has resulted in some of the worst dunk contest performances ever (2021-2022 are prime examples).
When the participants were announced this year it seemed like things would turn out a similar way with players like Jericho Sims being the “headliners”. However, one name stood out among the rest: Mac McClung of the G league.
Mac had previously gone viral in high school for his nasty in-game throwdowns, but people (including me) were still skeptical about letting a G league player into the dunk contest. Fortunately, any doubt about him was all erased on Saturday night.
Mac had an astonishing performance putting up three perfect scores and a 49 (that should have been a 50). For a 6’2″ guard, his vertical was off the charts and he was performing dunks that only a 6’7 forward should be able to do.
Some of his highlights from that night include jumping over two people and tapping the ball off the glass, jumping over someone and dunking a double clutch, or doing the first ever 560 degree dunk in the dunk contest to affirm his victory.
With Mac’s incredible performance, the NBA pulled their highest revenue over the past ten years from the dunk contest at over 20 million dollars. Now that the NBA sees how much money it can make from one good player being in the dunk contest, imagine how much money they could make from multiple good players being in the dunk contest!
If the NBA decided to put just one of that 20 million dollars into prize money not only would it attract the big superstars, it would create an extremely competitive atmosphere making it even better.
Imagine a lineup like this: Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Anthony Edwards, and Mac Mcclung. If we were ever able to get this lineup on the floor this event would truly be one for the ages; it’s just too bad it has not happened yet.
However, despite its recent down years, the dunk contest has always been a staple of the NBA. Between the legendary battles between Jordan and Wilkins, to the more modern duel between Aaron Gordan and Zach Lavine it has always been the best event at All-Star weekend. I did not give Mac a chance at first, but if his shell-shocking performances can bring life back into a long forgotten event, I am all for it.