540-degree slam dunk? Champ did it

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Mac McClung might have single-handedly restored the shine on a dunk contest that has been widely panned in recent years.

McClung, the 6-foot-2 Philadelphia guard on a two-way contract, defeated New Orleans’ Trey Murphy III in the finals of the dunk contest, culminating an NBA All-Star Saturday that may have finally answered the question as to whether what used to be the league’s signature event can be glitzy again. McClung had the answer: Absolutely. A 540-degree dunk – not a 360, but a 540, him doing one-and-a-half rotations in the air, a move more reserved for figure skaters and skateboarders than basketball players – was his third perfect score of the night out of four dunks. By the time the judges’ scores came up it was already decided. Everyone in the building knew he’d already won. “It’s over,” McClung said. It was. And he immediately committed to defending his title at Indianapolis at All-Star Saturday next year.

The final score, not that it mattered, was McClung 100.0, Murphy 98.0.

His is an unbelievable story: McClung has played mostly in the G League, where he ranks 36th in scoring this season at 19 points per game. He was undrafted in 2021 after spending three college seasons at Georgetown and Texas Tech. He was signed by Golden State last year but never played in a regular-season game for the Warriors, and spent a little time on USA Basketball’s World Cup qualifying team last year as well.

“Ever since the beginning, I was the underdog,” said McClung, who put on a Gate City jersey – his high school and hometown in Virginia, population 1,600 – for the final dunk.

Meanwhile, Portland star Damian Lillard won the 3-point contest by topping Indiana teammates Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton in the final round.

“They say the third time’s the charm,” said Lillard, who got his first 3-point title in his third try at the event. “And I’m happy that it happened here. It’s a perfect situation. I’m happy that I did it in my home, coming back here to Utah.”

Lillard won the final round with 26 points. Hield had 25 and Haliburton scored 17.

Utah got a win to open All-Star Saturday night. The Jazz – a roster composed of Utah players Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton – won the Skills Challenge, prevailing in two of the three competitions.

The Rooks were second, with Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, Detroit’s Jaden Ivey and Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. getting 100 points.