Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry gives kudos to former teammate on Slam Dunk Contest win
The Golden State Warriors may not have any participants at All-Star weekend this season, but a former player (of sorts) did enjoy success as part of Saturday night’s All-Star festivities in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mac McClung was a member of the Warriors during Summer League and was then signed to a training camp deal. But after participating in just one of the the team’s two preseason games in Japan, he was unable to earn a guaranteed or two-way contract with the franchise.
Former Golden State Warriors’ guard Mac McClung lit up Vivint Arena on Saturday night, taking out the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star weekend.
The 24-year-old had three scores of 50 and made all four of his dunks on the first attempt, beating out fellow participants K.J Martin, Tre Murphy III and Jericho Sims.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1627141998456053764
The 6’2″ guard went viral as a teenager for his dunking ability, but he has yet to solidify himself as an NBA player. McClung went undrafted in 2021 after three years in college, and has played just two NBA games — one each with the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls.
Having signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier in the week, McClung had social media abuzz on Saturday with his breathtaking dunks. He even got the attention of Warriors’ star Stephen Curry who labeled his actions ‘unreal’.
Man was a viral HOH high school dunk phenom, still working his way to the League, but lemme go get that dunk contest trophy right quick and bring it back to life!!! Unreal #macmclung
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) February 19, 2023
McClung brought some excitement back to a dunk contest that disappointed many fans last year. On that occasion the New York Knicks’ Obi Toppin beat a field which included former Warrior Juan Toscano-Anderson.
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Earlier in the evening Team Utah Jazz defeated Team Rookies and Team Antetokounmpo’s in the NBA skills challenge, while Damian Lillard won his first three-point contest title by beating Indiana Pacers pair Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton in the final.