G League’s McClung repeats as NBA Slam Dunk champion with slam over O’Neal

Mac McClung sealed back-to-back NBA Slam Dunk contest titles on Saturday night.

His final dunk, a reverse slam over 7-foot-1-inch Shaquille O’Neal, earned a perfect score from the judges. 

The G Leaguer defeated Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown in the final round. 

The Osceola Magic guard put his high school jersey on O’Neal for the final dunk of the night. The 2023 Slam Dunk champion had donned the throwback look during last year’s competition. 

“Shaq was so cool to put my high school jersey on,” the G League journeyman said. “Man, that almost makes you emotional that he would do that. I told him, ‘Well, you put it on.’ And he said, ‘You better not miss a dunk.’ I was like, ‘All right, I won’t miss it.’”

Watch all 4 of Mac McClung’s dunks, including his contest-winning perfect 5⃣0⃣

The back-to-back #ATTSlamDunk champion put on a SHOW 🤩 pic.twitter.com/YcTrNDMvwz

— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024

Though he’s only appeared in four NBA games, the 25-year-old joined a select group with his second consecutive title on Saturday. Zach Lavine, Nate Robinson, Jason Richardson, and Michael Jordan are the only other players to win back-to-back dunk contests. 

Though he hopes to become an NBA regular, the 6-foot-2-inch guard said he’s happy with his impact. 

“This is my human experience. I think it’s my human experience for a reason,” McClung said. “Without this grind and struggle, I probably wouldn’t be able to impact like I do. This is my story and I really embrace it.”

The Gate City, Virginia native began his collegiate career at Georgetown before transferring to Texas Tech. He has played in four games over three seasons in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers.

McClung was the only G League player in last year’s contest. This year, rookie Jacob Toppin of the G League’s Westchester Knicks joined the competition along with NBA players Brown and Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat. 

“I’m trying to sit with it right now and just take a second and really understand what’s going on,” McClung said. “Life is so fast. I’ll look back in maybe 20 years when I can’t jump anymore. I know I’m a lucky dude.”