Even though it has lost its luster in recent years, the dunk contest nonetheless remains one of the major attractions of All-Star Weekend.
In Indianapolis this Saturday, it was the leader of the G-League (a development league, below the NBA) Mac McClung who won by showing his relaxation, at the end of a 2024 vintage which will not remain in the annals.
Winner for the second consecutive season, the American was acclaimed by the jury against Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), who will also participate in the All-Sars match on the night of Sunday to Monday.
BACK-TO-BACK FIELD.
Watch all 8 of Mac McClung's dunks from the 2023 and 2024 #ATTSlamDunk 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/OfkAsUeCzR
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024
Small in size (1.88) compared to his competitors, McClung once again let his imagination run wild from his first basket, by jumping over a friend to take the ball from him, then releasing it, then finally recovering it again to dunk.
More classic but perfectly executed, his second dunk then allowed him to reach the final, with the best average of those entered.
MAC WENT REVERSE OVER SHAQ 😱 https://t.co/13bfmfVUlg pic.twitter.com/bKnOIV9nN1
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024
But it is his last basket which will probably be remembered the most: to get the victory, the leaping leader allowed himself to jump over the legend Shaquille O'Neal, to whom he nevertheless returned 30 cm, to go to the basket.
Enough to collect the maximum score of 50 and enter the very exclusive club of double winners of the Slam Dunk Contest, alongside Nate Robinson and Michael Jordan.
The Osceola Magic player is the first to do the double since Zach LaVine in 2015-2016.