He played only two games in the NBA and dazzled everyone with his skills in the air: Mac McClung won the dunk tournament of the All Star Game

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When it seemed that the attraction generated by the dunk contest in it NBA All Star Game was in the past, a 1.88 meter player dazzled everyone in action Saturday in Salt Lake City. In the 2023 edition of the weekend of stars that takes place in Utah, Mac McClung took all the flashes of the evening after a fantastic performance that revived an old contest in which they knew how to shine Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter y Dominic Wilkinsamong others.

The 24-year-old point guard, who last season was chosen as the rookie of the year in the G-League -the expansion competition that the NBA has to train young people who did not find their place in the best league in the world-, achieved the four dunks in his first attempts and became champion of the trophy Julius Ervingin honor of the historic Doctor J, the player who led the way with his spectacular dunks in the 70s.

McClung received three perfect scores (50 points) and in the rest he took an average of 49.8 to have a night that was close to ideal. Before the watchful eyes of the judges (Jamal Crawford, Lisa Leslie, Karl Malone, Dominique Wilkins and Harold Miner), the young man born in Virginia already marked the way for his victory with the first dunk when he placed two people -one on top of the other with a ball – and then jumped over them. In the air, the player who just signed a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers touched the backboard and then dunked the ball back into the hoop.

Already in his second attempt, he made a 360 degree turn in which he showed his ability to jump (he also lowered the ball between his legs), which allowed him to secure his classification to the definition of the tournament against Trey Murphy III (New Orleans Pelicans). In the initial round they stayed Jericho Sims (New York Knicks) y Kenyon Martin Jr. (Houston Rockets), son of the remembered New Jersey Nets player.

In the final, McClung again showed that in addition to his power, his dunks had the creativity to spice up the contest. He received a 50 from the judges for jumping over a person after going across the baseline. Once he was in the air, he made a feint and the second time he finished off on his back. And to crown the night, before the watchful eye of the legend Shaquille O’Neal and current NBA stars, he nearly completed a 720° turn, but turned her onto her back to the delirium of all present.

  Mac McClung with the slam dunk contest winner trophy (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Mac McClung with the slam dunk contest winner trophy (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

“It’s great. I feel truly blessed and grateful to the NBA for giving me this opportunity,” said McClung, who became the first player in the G-League developmental league to participate in and win the dunk contest.

What is particular about this young man’s story is that until this weekend, He only played two games in the NBA. They were in the 2021-2022 season, one with the shirt of Chicago Bulls and the rest with that of los angeles lakers. During that season he was voted the G League Rookie of the Year (he averaged 21.6 points, 7.6 assists, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 27 games) after playing for the South Bay Lakers and Windy City Bulls. Currently, until he signed this contract with the 76ers, McClung was playing for Philadelphia’s affiliate team, the Delaware Blue Coats.

In the other attractions of the day, the figure of the Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard won the triple championship. The point guard, who participated in the contest for the third time, surpassed in the definition Buddy Hield y Tyrese HaliburtonIndiana Pacers players.

After overcoming the first round, in which Tyler Herro (Heat), Kevin Huerter (Kings), Julius Randle (Knicks), Jayson Tatum (Celtics) and Lauri Markkanen (Jazz) were eliminated, Lillard repeated the same score of 26 points for beat Hield by one unit. “The best shooters in history have one of these and I wanted to win it at least once before I retired,” said the Blazers No. 0, who is also the first winner of the contest in franchise history.

In the other event on Saturday in the All Star Game of the NBA, the players of the Utah Jazz, Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton, stayed with the skills tournament after competing in three stages against the rookie team and another made up of the Antetokounmpo brothers but without Giannis, who, due to an inconvenience, gave up his place to Jrue Holiday, his teammate in the Milwaukee Bucks.

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