Pacers News Mac McClung’s first bucket isn’t a slam dunk, but it’s still a highlight
The Indiana Pacers they made a surprising move this week when they traded away former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman and signed the reigning slam dunk champion Mac McClung on a multi-year contract. McClung got his first minutes with the Pacers on Wednesday during the team’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, and his first bucket may not have been a dunk, but it was still a highlight-worthy play.
Mac McClung’s first game with the Pacers came during the second quarter when he came off a screen set by Pascal Siakam and was clear for a three-point shot. He knocked down a shot, only to be fouled by Mavericks guard Brandon Williams for an and-one. He would make the free throw to end the three-point play.
It’s been a long road for McClung to get to this point where he has a multi-year contract in the NBA. After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, McClung was signed to the Chicago Bulls on a pair of 10-day contracts and to the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way contract.
He spent part of the 2022-23 season with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-way contract and then all of last season with the Orlando Magic on a two-way deal. Between his time with the 76ers and the Magic, McClung became the first G League player to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2023-24.
Over three seasons, McClung appeared in a total of six NBA games with just over 12 minutes per game. He holds career averages of 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 42.9 percent shooting from the field, 33.3 percent from the three-point line and 66.7 percent from the free throw line.
If invited to the slam dunk contest this season, McClung will be gunning for an unprecedented fourth straight slam dunk victory. He is currently tied with former NBA player Nate Robinson as the only player to win the slam dunk three times.
2025-10-30 02:14:00
