Mac McClung Is Single Handedly Carrying The Dunk Contest After Jumping Over A Car On His First Dunk
Garrett Ellwood. Getty Images.I've always been someone who's held out hope when it came to the Dunk Contest. I don't need big name players to participate, I just need big time dunks. Sure it'd be cool to see the biggest names participate, but I'm realistic. I know those days are over, so at the very least just show me some cool shit. Pull off your dunk on the first try and be innovative. That's all I really ask when it comes to the Dunk Contest these days. I'm not expecting Zach LaVine vs Aaron Gordon of 2016, but you have to give me something.
This year, things got off to a disastrous start. Both Matas Buzelis and Andre Jackson Jr could not stop missing their dunks. Nothing sucks the energy out of the arena quicker than a dude going 3-4 straight attempts and missing every single time. Just not even coming close to pulling off his dunk
At this point, the Dunk Contest was on life support. We're talking about arguably the worst Dunk Contest we've ever had and that's saying something. You simply cannot miss all of your attempts, that's Day 1 stuff.
So once again, it was up to Mac McClung to save the Dunk Contest. Some have an issue with him participating, but I'm not sure why. He's a more than worthy Dunk Champion. The dude not only does creative shit, he pulls it off clean on the first attempt. He was going to need to pull something incredible out to save this event, and he certainly answered the bell with his opening dunk
Advertisement
Now THAT is what I'm talking about. No offense to Blake Griffin here, but this was far more impressive to me. McClung didn't just jump over the hood of the car, he jumped over the highest part of the car, nailed the exchange with the ball and finished clean all while slightly making contact with the car with his left foot at the end. I'm not sure what's more impressive, pulling this dunk off the way McClung did or not immediately tearing his ACL on that landing.
An easy 50 and frankly one of the craziest dunks we've ever seen. This is sort of what I mean when I say I don't need a "big name" dunker, I just need an awesome dunk. You can think the Dunk Contest is dead all you want, you can't deny that was electric as hell. This contest is essentially coming down to McClung vs Stephon Castle, and if this is the way McClung is starting then he may have no problem cruising to his 3rd straight title.