Mcclung wasn’t an unknown
Dunk contest champion has played in 2 NBA games but was Youtube sensation
SALT LAKE CITY — Mac Mcclung was not exactly an unknown. Long before he won the dunk contest at NBA All-star Saturday, he was a Youtube phenomenon. It’s impossible to add up all the views that videos of Mcclung — everything from dunks to documentaries — had gotten, but it was in the hundreds of millions.
Yet it all seems different now, after this 6-foot-2 boyish-looking guard from a small town in Virginia with trampolines for legs and only two NBA games on his resume became the league’s dunk champion and finally brought buzz back to an event that had been more criticized than celebrated over the last few years.
“He saved the dunk contest,” Shaquille O’neal said, and countless others echoed those sentiments.
Time will tell if they’re right. But an event that is designed to create unforgettable moments — Michael Jordan taking off from the foul line, Vince Carter saying “it’s over” after a dunk, Aaron Gordon jumping over the
Orlando Magic mascot, Dwight Howard donning the Superman cape — got a massive shot in the arm from a guy who now has more dunks in the contest (four) than he does in actual NBA games (one).“it’s a cliche, but you can really do whatever you want to do,” said Mcclung, who is on a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and playing in the G League. “I’ve had so many people even at the highest level ... if you are a young kid, and someone who is an inspiration to you, someone that you respect so much tells you that you can’t do it, it doesn’t matter. Literally, if you manifest and put your mind to it, you can literally make your life and reinvent yourself every day.”
The reactions from NBA players watching the show were amazing.
Heat: Kevin Love said Sunday that he will sign with Miami for the remainder of the season once he clears waivers. Also Sunday, a person with knowledge of the matter said the Heat are finalizing plans to add another big man in free agent center Cody Zeller, with that deal expected to be completed following the All-star break. That person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because Zeller’s contract has not been signed. Love’s decision was first reported by ESPN.