San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
MCCLUNG STEALS THE SHOW
Mac Mcclung might have single-handedly restored the shine on a dunk contest that has been widely panned in recent years.
And Damian Lillard represented his school and his brand, doing them both proud.
Mcclung, the 6-foot-2 Philadelphia guard on a twoway 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.
“I’m truly blessed and grateful for the NBA giving me this opportunity,” Mcclung said.
A 540-degree dunk — not a 360, a 540, him doing oneand-a-half rotations in the air — was his third perfect score of the night out of four dunks, but 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.
“If you guys will have me, I’ll be back,” Mcclung said.
His is an unbelievable story: Mcclung has played mostly in the G League. Philadelphia would become his third NBA team, and he hasn’t even played for the 76ers yet. He played in one game last season for the Chicago Bulls, one other game for the Los Angeles Lakers.
He has three NBA baskets.
He had four dunks on Saturday night. A guy with more dunks than actual NBA field goals might have saved the dunk contest.
“Give this man his flowers, man,” TNT commentator Kenny Smith said.
Mcclung set the tone for the night with a dunk that had NBA superstars in disbelief — he leaped over two people, took the ball out of the hands of one of them, tapped it on the backboard and then threw down a reverse slam.
And that was just for starters.
Riding the momentum of that perfect dunk, he wound up hoisting the trophy that was newly renamed for dunking legend — and former 76ers star — Julius “Dr. J” Erving.
3-point contest
Lillard, the Portland star, won the 3-point contest by topping Indiana teammates Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton in the final round.
Lillard wore a Weber State jersey with “Dolla” on the back. Weber State is his college; he performs music under the name Dame D.O.L.L.A. And when he got the trophy, he had a Blazers warmup shirt on for that moment.
“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.
Lillard played his college games in Ogden, Utah, about a half-hour outside of Salt Lake City.
Skills Challenge
Utah got a win to open Allstar 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.