Mac McClung will leave it up to others to decide where he ranks among the best dunkers ever, but when it comes to the dunk contest, there is no doubt.
The G League star and dunk maven put on a remarkable show at the 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.”
Photo: AP
Nate Robinson is the only other player to win the dunk contest three times, taking it in 2006 and then repeating in 2009-2010.
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.
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 2.11m Evan Mobley on a platform in front of the basket. With Mobley holding the ball behind his head, the 1.88m 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 sunroof 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 did not 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 is not sure if he would go for a fourth straight title.
“I never want to say never, but this one took a lot out of me.” he said.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro edged out the Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield to win the three-point contest, while the Cleveland Cavaliers duo Mobley and Donovan Mitchell teamed up to knock off hometown heroes Moses Moody and Draymand Green to win the NBA’s Skills Challenge crown.
The San Antonio Spurs duo of Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul were disqualified for trying to cheat the rules in the obstacle course that features players speeding through stations with various passing and shooting drills.
Wembanyama and Paul went first in the opening round and were loudly booed for not even trying to make real attempts on their shots, just tossing the balls off the racks. They were ultimately disqualified.
“We tried something that we thought could win,” Paul said. “To see if we had the best time, so ... it was fun.”
TAIWANESE EXITS: Fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell joined Tristan Schoolkate as a winner following his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tseng Hsin-chun Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate on Monday dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 at the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from November last year. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he ousted the world No. 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
RSS