Was it ever in doubt? When Mac McClung drew in for a third appearance at the NBA Dunk Contest, a date with destiny felt inevitable.
It wasn’t just a blowout, it was a wash, as the reigning two-time champ did what no other NBA high-flyer has ever done and won his third straight NBA Dunk Contest with a display of never-before-seen tricks and flair, permanently resetting what a perfect 50 means.
Though the trio of Stephon Castle, Matas Buzelis and Andre Jackson Jr. made an impression, showing off their abilities on the big stage for the first time in their young careers, nothing could compare to the electric antics of the G-Leaguer.
The 26-year-old came out with a bang, bringing a car onto the court for his opening slam. Taking it a step further than just recreating dunks of the past and jumping the car, he had someone sit out of the sunroof with the ball, grabbed it midair and double-pumped the basketball before finishing with an authoritative two-hand reverse flush.
Much like Vince Carter’s dunk in the Bay Area 25 years prior, from that point on the contest was over.
But instead of mailing it in the rest of the way, his penchant for theatrics got the best of him as McClung followed it up with a ridiculous double-clutch last-second turnaround with the rim at eye level.
He and the San Antonio Spurs’ Castle moved on to the finals. McClung advanced with a perfect 100 while Castle moved on with 95.0 points after his first two slams.
The rookie did his best to live up to the example McClung set, opening the final with an innovative slam, grabbing an alley-oop after a layup, then finishing a through-the-legs reverse slam to earn a 49.6.
McClung ended any debate only seconds later. He earned yet another 50 after jumping over a guy on a hoverboard holding a ball and then simultaneously dunking two balls.
For his final trick, McClung brought out the six-foot-11 Evan Mobley and then asked him to stand out a podium, giving him some extra height. With the Cavaliers centre holding the ball above his head, the six-foot-two McClung leaped over him, grabbed the ball with both hands, tapped it on the front of the rim, then somehow managed to put it through.
His victory was inevitable, the competition was over before it began. But the electric dunker gave fans a show anyway.