Mac McClung works toward NBA shot with dunk contest decision looming
Story by Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel
For
Mac McClung, the decision to go for a three-peat in the slam dunk contest during
NBA All-Star Weekend is one he hasn’t made yet.
Instead, the
Magic two-way guard and reigning
G League MVP is focused on helping Osceola,
Orlando‘s G League affiliate, find its footing following a slow start to the regular season.
“I’m still thinking on it, praying on it to see if it’s the right time and the right thing,” McClung told the Sentinel at Silver Spurs Arena on Wednesday night. “I’m really just trying to get some wins lined up right now and then kind of focus on that in a couple days.”
ESPN
reported Tuesday that Bulls rookie forward Matas Buzelis and Spurs rookie guard Stephon Castle have committed to two of the four spots in the contest. A third spot was filled Thursday when Bucks forward Andre Jackson Jr. committed, ESPN said.
“I’ve seen some of those guys dunk … They’re really good,” McClung said. “It’s really cool they’re doing it.”
Should he choose to participate in the Feb. 15 event at Chase Center in San Francisco, however, he could make history.
While multiple players have won back-to-back dunk contests similar to McClung — Michael Jordan (1987-88), Jason Richardson (2002-03) and Zach LaVine (2015-16) — no player has ever won three in a row since the event’s inception in 1984.