logo
Watch Mac McClung dunks that secured him a three-peat in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Watch Mac McClung dunks that secured him a three-peat in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Yahoo16-02-2025
Mac McClung of the Orlando Magic secured his place in NBA history Saturday night by becoming the first player to win the NBA Slam Dunk contest for the third consecutive year.The reigning G-League MVP wasn't ready to rest on those accomplishments coming into the competition. He made a statement - by jumping over a car - in the first round to impress the judges and help secure his early positioning.The judges for the contest included Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Baron Davis, Jason Richardson and Jesser.Here's how the defending champion secured his historic third title:
McClung jumped in the air and took the ball out of the hands of a person standing out of the sunroof of a Kia. McClung floated over the car, turned and slammed the ball in behind his head before landing on the other side. His choice could have been a tribute to Blake Griffin.In 2011, Griffin received a lob pass from teammate Davis, who was standing out of the sunroof of a Kia, while in midair jumping over the car.
MAC MCCLUNG JUMPED OVER A CAR 🚨The 2-Time defending champ came out SWINGING in Round 1 of the #ATTSlamDunk 🤯 pic.twitter.com/iyiYLRFnnm
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2025
McClung performed a dunk with the help of two men to help put two balls into the basket.The defending champ took the first ball out of the hands of a man spinning on a hoverboard as he jumped over him. Then, he showed the coordination to slam in another ball held near the basket by a man on a ladder before putting home the first ball.
We are running out of words...3RD-STRAIGHT 5⃣0⃣ FOR MAC MCCLUNG!Dunked two balls at once 😲 #ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/SgIGWvVOck
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
McClung secured the victory by jumping over Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley and tapping the ball on the rim.The dunk resulted in a perfect score (50 points) from the judges.
Jumped over Evan Mobley AND tapped the ball on the rim 🤯IT'S A THREE-PEAT 🏆🏆🏆Mac McClung, 2025 #ATTSlamDunk Champ! pic.twitter.com/vBYejtMMZX
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mac McClung video: NBA Slam Dunk contest champion jumps over car
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Heat Land Strong Giannis Antetokounmpo Take
Heat Land Strong Giannis Antetokounmpo Take

Newsweek

time9 minutes ago

  • Newsweek

Heat Land Strong Giannis Antetokounmpo Take

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Miami Heat and Pat Riley are always searching for the next big move. They're always looking to bring in star power if the right move presents itself. As the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be a major question mark in the NBA, the Heat are a team to keep an eye on. If he were to request a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami would instantly become a potential trade destination. Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the NBA. Should the Heat find a way to bring him onboard down the road, they would instantly become a championship contender once again. Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts to a three point shot during the second half of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Fiserv Forum on January 24, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts to a three point shot during the second half of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Fiserv Forum on January 24, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo byWith that being said, no one knows what the "Greek Freak" is going to choose to do. He might end up being happy to remain with the Bucks long-term. Read more: Pacers Fan Going Viral After Wild New Team Tattoos Even though that could happen, a lot of suggestions have come up if a trade were requested. Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report has suggested Miami as one of the top potential trade suitors in the NBA for Antetokounmpo. He even offered what a potential trade package could look like with Milwaukee. In his suggested trade idea, Hughes would have Antetokounmpo heading to the Heat in exchange for Kel'el Ware, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick swap, a 2030 first-round pick, a 2031 first-round pick swap, and a 2032 first-round pick. Pairing Antetokounmpo with Bam Adebayo would give Miami one of the best front-court duos in the NBA. Opposing teams would have a tough time matching up with them. During the 2024-25 NBA season with the Bucks, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game across 67 appearances. He also shot 60.1 percent from the floor. At 30 years old, he isn't getting any younger. Winning another championship has been a very clear goal for Antetokounmpo. It's quite possible that he won't have an opportunity to do that with the Bucks. Read more: Celtics Receive Blunt Jayson Tatum Reality Check Making the move to a team like the Heat could help him towards that goal. With Miami already being a favorite destination for NBA free agents, the addition of Antetokounmpo would make the franchise an even more attractive landing spot for veterans looking to compete. It's just an idea at this point in time, but Antetokounmpo to the Heat is worth keeping a close eye on should he hit the trade market. For more on the Miami Heat and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.

"They'd be disappointed because it wasn't Scottie or Michael" - Jud Buechler on how eager restaurants would be to host the Bulls only to feel let down
"They'd be disappointed because it wasn't Scottie or Michael" - Jud Buechler on how eager restaurants would be to host the Bulls only to feel let down

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

"They'd be disappointed because it wasn't Scottie or Michael" - Jud Buechler on how eager restaurants would be to host the Bulls only to feel let down

"They'd be disappointed because it wasn't Scottie or Michael" - Jud Buechler on how eager restaurants would be to host the Bulls only to feel let down originally appeared on Basketball Network. No team captured the imagination of sports fans in the 1990s quite like the Chicago Bulls. With Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen leading the way with their impressive play on both ends, the Bulls were absolute juggernauts that captured six NBA championships in eight years. And while the two all-time greats were the undisputed frontrunners, they couldn't have done it without stellar teammates who excelled in their roles. This group included former 12-year veteran Jud Buechler, who played four seasons with the Bulls and won three rings. A steady 6'6" forward who helped keep the ship steady while his famous teammates took a breather, Mr. Fundamental proved to be a valuable piece of the championship puzzle. Being a member of the Bulls meant enjoying certain privileges, such as getting the best seats at upscale restaurants — something that Jud and his fellow reserves relished. During his appearance on Stacey King's podcast, Buechler recalled how some restaurant owners weren't always thrilled when they showed up. Different time, different perks NBA players today enjoy a ton of perks that teams regularly provide. This includes the option of staying inside their hotel rooms and eating their meals there. However, Jud shared that this wasn't the case for NBA teams back in the day. "We had to leave the hotel to go get meals back in the day. Now, they have these extravagant buffets. Players don't really have to leave the hotel," Buechler said on the "Gimme the Hot Sauce" podcast. "So, you know, a few of us — Randy, Randy Brown, Stevie Kerr, Bill Wennington — you know, we would get into it at some place and we'd call our favorite restaurant and be like, 'Hey, you know, four or five of the Bulls want to come for dinner,'"he continued. "'Oh yes, sir. No problem. We'll get the best table for you.'" The mere mention of some Bulls players coming was enough to send the restaurant staff into a frenzy. From the maitre d' to the waitstaff and chefs, everyone was determined to leave a lasting impression. Unfortunately, more often than not, the players they wanted to wait on weren't even the ones who showed up. "And we'd all roll in, and they'd be disappointed because it wasn't, you know, it wasn't Scottie or Michael," Jud shared, 90s rock stars Meanwhile, King took a trip down memory lane and shared how amazing it was to see thousands of fans waiting for the Bulls to arrive in every city they played. Granted, all of them were there to get a glimpse of Air Jordan and Pip, but nevertheless, it was a surreal experience for the team. "I always tell people it's like being in a rock band like U2, you know, the Beatles — you know, going into cities, you come in at one o'clock in Utah and there's like 1,500 people waiting for you to get autographs," King stated. "The whole lobby would be full of people. It was remarkable." The big man also revealed the time when a woman lay down in front of the Bulls' bus and refused to get out of the way until MJ would come down and take a picture with her. "We're leaving after playing the Knicks, and a lady lays in front of the bus and says she's not going to get up until Michael comes out and takes a picture with her," he remembered. "And then so, you know, we thought it was a joke. And you know, Phil's like, 'Michael, I need you to go take this picture so we can get out of here,' because you had to get out of New York at a certain time since the airport closed at a certain time. If you didn't, you had to stay the night." Jud and Stacey were only minor players on those Bulls squads, but they still enjoyed every moment and felt lucky to have a front-row seat to the greatest basketball dynasty of all story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

"He didn't care" - Dirk Nowitzki recalled when Don Nelson had him guarding Muggsy Bogues in his second NBA game
"He didn't care" - Dirk Nowitzki recalled when Don Nelson had him guarding Muggsy Bogues in his second NBA game

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

"He didn't care" - Dirk Nowitzki recalled when Don Nelson had him guarding Muggsy Bogues in his second NBA game

"He didn't care" - Dirk Nowitzki recalled when Don Nelson had him guarding Muggsy Bogues in his second NBA game originally appeared on Basketball Network. Don Nelson was one of the most successful coaches in the NBA. During his coaching career, which began in 1976, he won three Coach of the Year awards and helped develop some of the most popular teams of all time. From the Run TMC era of the Golden State Warriors that featured three top-notch scorers, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin, to the "We Believe" Warriors that shocked the Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs, to the Dallas Mavericks squads led by Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki, he showed he was ingenious when it came to creating winning teams. But at the same time, Nelson also happened to be one of the quirkiest coaches of all time. From bringing his dog along with him to letting the players run practice, he had his fair share of weird moments. Nowitzki experienced this firsthand early in his rookie season when Nelson assigned him and his 7-foot frame to guard Muggsy Bogues. Dirk was still learning the ropes Many people don't recall Nowitzki's struggles during his rookie season. Only 20 when he moved from Germany to the United States to play in the NBA, he had a lot to learn about the game and adjusting to a new country. But Nelson saw potential in the youngster and rolled the dice on him by acquiring him in a draft-day deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. However, many were skeptical of Nowitzki's prospects in the NBA. Although he was a 7-footer, he was a perimeter player, which, at the time, was uncommon in the league. But Nelson saw something special in him that others didn't and continued to lean on him even when he averaged just 8.2 points on 40 percent shooting during his first year in the pros. Nowitzki, though, recalled a moment when Nelson's defensive strategy left him scratching his head. It was his second game in the NBA and the Mavericks were visiting the Warriors at Oracle Arena. At that time, Golden State had veteran big man Terry Cummings playing the four and Nelson believed Nowitzki was ill-equipped to bang against the crafty former All-Star in the shaded lane. "Back in the day, I played the 3-4 spot," Dirk recalled. "I was a little skinny. So, I think, at the time, the Warriors had Terry Cummings at the 4. He was a beast! So Nellie was like, 'Ahhh, not really a good matchup for you.'" In his mind, Nowitzki assumed he would try his hand defending either of the Warriors' forwards, such as Jason Caffey or Antawn Jamison. However, Nelson had a specific player in mind. "So Nellie was like, 'OK, here's what you do. You're going to guard Muggsy Bogues,'" Dirk shared, referring to the quick point guard who played 14 seasons in the NBA despite standing only 5'3". "'And every time he brings the ball up, you just stay in the paint, wherever he goes, just mirror him.'" "So there's actually footage somewhere of me guarding Muggsy Bogues, my second game of my career," he continued. "You know Nellie. He didn't care. He tried everything and anything at any time. So that was a memory I'll never forget."His first field goal came during that game Nowitzki's NBA debut against the Seattle SuperSonics was a disaster. He scored only two points in 16 minutes and missed all five of his field goal attempts. It didn't take long for the critics to bring out their pitchforks and question whether the German was a bust. Dirk, though, put the doubts to rest in his second game. He scored 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Mavs past the Warriors in double overtime, 102-99. "My first game was in Seattle and I was 0 for 4 or whatever from the floor," Dirk shared. "So my first field goal was in Oracle against Golden State." Nowitzki's first game at Oracle certainly held a lot of significance for him. Not only was it memorable because of the defensive assignment he was given, but also because his first basket came in that same story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store