Nobody was beating Mac McClung in his three-peat bid.
The Magic G Leaguer was once again the runaway slam dunk contest winner for his third-straight title Saturday night in a performance for the ages. He started things with a dunk worthy of a closer and continued to wow with each successive dunk. Each of McClung’s dunks earned a perfect 50 score.
In an homage to Blake Griffin, he leapt over a car for a powerful reverse dunk to start his night. And unlike Griffin, who jumped over the hood of a car, McClung cleared the roof.
Mac McClung YOU ARE CRAZYYYYYYYpic.twitter.com/tASjuE7wv9
— Across The Cavs (@AcrossCavs) February 16, 2025
The dunk secured the first of his four perfect scores, including a powerful reverse slam over another human being on his second effort
Mac McClung LEVITATED for a 50 on his 2nd dunk ✈️
He advances to the #ATTSlamDunk Final Round 🍿 pic.twitter.com/V8WkDSQBBZ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2025
McClung then kicked off the the finals vs. Spurs rookie Stephon Castle with a dunk featuring multiple props and two balls.
MAC MCCLUNG ARE YOU KIDDING 🤯#ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/SikHkchNwM
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2025
Castle put up a strong effort as McClung’s clear-cut top challenger out of a field of four participants. He scored his own perfect 50 with his final dunk of the night.
Stephon Castle with an UNREAL under the basket East Bay SLAM 🤯#ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/A7HtSw5fcc
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2025
But McClung would not be denied with a show-stopping dunk that took a second look to truly appreciate. But it was worth the perfect 50 that secured his three-peat.
McClung leapt over 6-foot-11 Cavaliers center Evan Mobley, then kissed the rim with the front of the ball before throwing it down with a powerful two-handed slam.
MAC MCCLUNG WITH A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN DUNK 😧
Another PERFECT 50 to end the #ATTSlamDunk Contest 📈 pic.twitter.com/1viDIbqozQ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2025
If you didn’t catch it in real-time, it’s worth another look in the slow-motion replay above to fully appreciate it.
In a contest that’s criticized for stagnation and lack of star power, McClung continues to bring it with style, creativity and tremendous athleticism. He may not be an NBA player, but he’s a worthy slam dunk contest winner.
McClung prevailed from a field that also featured rookie Bulls forward Matas Buzelis and Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr, who were eliminated in the first round.
There was no three-peat for two-time 3-point king Damian Lillard. The Milwaukee Bucks guard failed to make it out of the first round on Saturday as Buddy Hield, Tyler Herro and Darius Garland made it to the finals out of a field of eight participants.
There, Herro a Miami Heat guard, took home the crown, with a final-round score of 24 to edge fellow finalist Hield, who finished with 23 points in front of his hometown Golden State crowd.
24 PTS. TYLER HERRO SETS THE MARK TO BEAT 👀
Buddy Hield is next in #Starry3PT on TNT…. pic.twitter.com/YZY8ocN1tB
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
Here are the final scores:
Finals
Tyler Herro: 24
Buddy Hield: 23
Darius Garland: 17
First Round
Buddy Hield, Warriors: 31
Darius Garland, Cavs: 24
Tyler Herro, Heat: 19
Jalen Brunson, Knicks: 18
Damian Lillard, Bucks: 18
Cade Cunningham, Pistons: 16
Cam Johnson, Nets: 14
Norman Powell, Clippers: 14
Cavaliers duo Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell topped the Warriors tandem of Draymond Green and Moses Moody to win the skills challenge
But, perhaps more interesting, the Spurs duo of Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul was disqualified for not exactly acting in the spirit of the contest. Instead of taking shots during the shooting portion, they just tossed balls off the rack in an effort to gain a time advantage. Officials did not appreciate this, and disqualified them from the contest.
Skills challenge participants:
Team Cavs (Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley)
Team Rooks (Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr)
Team Spurs (Chris Paul, Victor Wembanyama)
Team Warriors (Draymond Green, Moses Moody)
After Mac McClung won his third straight dunk contest, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo teased their potential participation next year.
mac might make me decide to dunk
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) February 16, 2025
If you do it. I’ll do it with you 💯 https://t.co/dsKglTiTca
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) February 16, 2025
They would bring much-needed star power to the contest. While McClung is one of the greatest dunkers in the history of the contest, he is on a two-way contract and has spent much of his career in the G League. Last season Jaylen Brown was the first All-Star to participate since 2017.
Mac McClung was dynamite once again in the Slam Dunk Contest, easily winning the competition among a field that frankly was not ready for prime time.
1ST DUNK.
STATEMENT DUNK.#ATTSlamDunk https://t.co/dTqfwLMM8N pic.twitter.com/t6CniYdmOn
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
ANOTHER 50. 🫨@McclungMac is putting on a SHOW in the #ATTSlamDunk! pic.twitter.com/etXy1ci1CF
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
In the final, McClung defeated the Spurs’ Stephon Castle, who put on a valiant effort.
OK STEPHONpic.twitter.com/IVmerVgfzo
— PFSN (@PFN365) February 16, 2025
But no one could top the wild stuff McClung was doing.
MAC MCCLUNG DOUBLE DUNK!!!
HES ONE OF THE GOATS pic.twitter.com/C9PfUnlZ1z
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) February 16, 2025
Mac is unreal! pic.twitter.com/W5iasFFXiT
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) February 16, 2025
mac mcclung.
told a seven footer to STAND ON A PLATFORM while holding the ball.
then CLEARED him clean.
grabbed the ball.
TAPPED THE RIM and THEN DUNKED IT.
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) February 16, 2025
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
Mac McClung actually cleared the top of the car. For comparison, here’s Blake Griffin in 2011 simply jumping over the hood of a Kia. McClung starting strong in his three-peat bid.
RELEMBRANDO QUANDO BLAKE GRIFFIN PULOU UM KIA pic.twitter.com/gMwpE0a5fE
— Coast to Coast Brasil | NBA (@brasilcoast2) February 16, 2025
Yup, Mac McClung jumped a Kia in the dunk contest.
Mac McClung YOU ARE CRAZYYYYYYYpic.twitter.com/tASjuE7wv9
— Across The Cavs (@AcrossCavs) February 16, 2025
MAC MCCLUNG pic.twitter.com/fbvGmtWOOm
— Mike Zakarian (@MikeZakarian) February 16, 2025
Good Lord.
We’re off to an ominous start on the heels of the Vince highlights. Stephon Castle landed a nice dunk on his first try. But Matas Buzelis whiffed on multiple attempts and failed to land a dunk on his first try.
MATAS BUZELIS DISASTERCLASS INFRONT OF THE WHOLE WORLD 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/5lWPyT7Aaq
— Drix (@DrixRMFC) February 16, 2025
CASTLE 360 VICIOUS WINDMILL
he received a score of 47.2 pic.twitter.com/edzsLk7Fkx
— WembyMuse (@Wemby_Muse) February 16, 2025
On the 25th anniversary of Vince Carter’s legendary victory in the dunk contest at Oracle Arena in Oakland, the NBA celebrated with a video segment at Chase Center in San Francisco before this year’s contestants took the court, showing each of his five dunks on the Jumbotron.
“I’m proud to be part of NBA dunk history,” said Carter.
Highlighting the greatest dunk performance ever before a bunch of players who are not as recognizable as Carter might not be the greatest idea. It could set us up for disappointment.
Case in point: Matas Buzelis missed all three of his attempts on his first dunk. Yikes.
Tyler Herro survived a late rally from Buddy Hield to win the 2025 3-Point Contest.
Herro scored 24 points in the deciding round, but Hield came close to toppling him with 23 points but missed his final shot on the final rack.
24 PTS. TYLER HERRO SETS THE MARK TO BEAT 👀
Buddy Hield is next in #Starry3PT on TNT…. pic.twitter.com/YZY8ocN1tB
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
Damian Lillard, the two-time defending champion of the 3-point contest, will not three-peat.
LIllard scored 18 points in his round, not enough to match Buddy Hield, Darius Garland or Tyler Herro, who advance to the finals of the competition.
The league will have a new 3-point champion, as none of them has won before.
Adam Silver addressed the media prior to Saturday’s All-Star festivities. Some highlights …
On the Luka Doncic trade: “I was surprised when I heard about the trade. I did not know that Luka was potentially a player that was about to be traded. That was news to me. I followed it like a fan from that standpoint. … In terms of anger in the fanbase, I’m empathetic. I understand it. …
“Whether or not history will ultimately judge this as a smart trade, the Mavericks did what they thought was in the best interest of their organization. I have absolutely no knowledge or belief there were any ulterior motives. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Dumont and Adelson families bought that team to keep it in Dallas. I have no doubt whatsoever that they’re committed to the long-term success of that franchise.”
On criticism about the amount of 3-pointers in the game: “I was listening to Steve Kerr interviewed by Bob Costas. I actually was eagerly awaiting his response on the state of 3-point shooting in this league. He was one of the all-time great 3-point shooters when he played, and, if anything, the 3-point revolution was led by the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry. His reaction was: ‘Do I think there’s too much 3-point shooting? Possibly, yes. Do I think the state of the game is great? Also yes. Is there a fix that comes to mind that would improve the game and potentially reduce the amount of 3-point shooting?’ There wasn’t one that he had to suggest. …
“One of the things we pay a lot of attention to at the league and through the Competition Committee is: To the extent we have more 3-point shooting, where are those shots coming from? They are not coming from under the basket. Roughly 50% of the points are still scored in that area. So what you’re seeing is a conversion from 2-pointers to 3-pointers, and often those longer shots do take more skill. …
“A long way of saying we’re paying a lot of attention to it. I’m never going to say there isn’t room for improvement. We’ll continue to look at it and study it, but I am happy with the state of the game right now.”
On TV ratings: “It’s almost more media these days instead of TV ratings. But I’ll begin with the state of our ratings right now as they are conventionally measured. They’re slightly down from last season. We had some weakness early in the season. We rebounded, and ratings are heading up right now. So I see that as very positive. And I will say, that’s compared to last year’s regular season, which were our highest ratings in four years. I actually think what was a somewhat negative story early in the season has now turned into a positive and trending upward.
“Having said that, we don’t just look exclusively at traditional TV ratings. One of the things we look a lot at is: How do you measure engagement? Engagement can be measured in many different ways. One is attendance. We came off last season the highest-recorded attendance in the history of the entire league. I look at engagement through social media, and many different platforms, expanding number of platforms all the time. From that standpoint, record popularity. …
“People are using screens more than ever, but there’s only so much time in the day. So if you’re on X or if you’re on Facebook or you’re on Instagram, whatever else, or on Reels, that’s time you might have otherwise been watching television. I think it’s incumbent on us then to reach our fans wherever they are. That kind of engagement is really important to us, as well. …
“I actually think it’s additive. I think we have a much better chance of moving young fans, in particular, to live games if they become engaged with various forms of our content, whether it’s things that our players are doing off the floor, music they love, fashion, or highlights.nBut I think what the challenge for the league is then, how do we move those viewers, those fans to live games? I think part of it is by being smarter in the way we go about creating a lot of that content.”
On the drama surrounding the Jimmy Butler trade and whether we will see more of it under the new collective bargaining agreement: “I’m not concerned that that will be the result of the new CBA. I actually think that what the CBA was designed to do, honestly, is to force teams to make difficult decisions. I think teams are still finding their way a bit through this new second apron and what it means. But for us it’s no secret that part of the design of that CBA and pushing down high-end spending was to create more parity in the league and to do a better job distributing our best players around the 30 teams. I think you’re seeing that to a certain extent already.
I’ll note, and I think new CBAs are always difficult to predict, I think it was only a few months ago when the conventional wisdom around the league seemed to be that we sort of spoiled the excitement around the trade deadline. That the day and age of these great trades at the deadline weren’t going to happen anymore. I think we just saw more players moved before the trade deadline than anytime in the history of the league.”
On the rescinded Mark Williams trade: “Charlotte has not filed a protest of any kind.”
Darius Garland set the 3-point contest pace to beat with 24 points in his first round.
Darius Garland setting the pace with 24 points 🔥#Starry3PT on TNT pic.twitter.com/MEo4C0eNdB
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
This year’s field includes two-time reigning 3-point champion, Damian Lillard, who is also among five 2025 All-Stars competing in the shootout. Lillard will look to become the third player in the contest’s history to threepeat, joining Larry Bird and Craig Hodges.
Here’s the full list of participants:
Jalen Brunson, Knicks
Cade Cunningham, Pistons
Darius Garland, Cavaliers
Tyler Herro, Heat
Buddy Hield, Warriors
Cam Johnson, Nets
Damian Lillard, Bucks
Norman Powell, Clippers
Cavs duo Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell topped the Warriors tandem of Draymond Green and Moses Moody to win the Skills Challenge on Saturday night.
And that makes sense because, after all, the Cleveland pair are All-Stars.
Cavs stay winning 💯 https://t.co/NBTLAE5u8c pic.twitter.com/Z3y0ESeBIB
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
“It was definitely cheating though” 🤣
Team Cavs caught up with @ALaForce before the final round of the NBA Skills Challenge 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/DlJnFhohdj
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2025
In an ominous start to the evening, San Antonio Spurs teammates Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul — the very first participants of the NBA’s festivities on the Saturday night of All-Star Weekend — were disqualified from the Skills Challenge for trying to circumnavigate the rules.
CP3 and Wemby have been disqualified from the Skills Challenge: pic.twitter.com/ospns4OO1Z
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) February 16, 2025
Instead of trying to make one of three attempts from the 3-point line and free-throw line, both Wembanyama and Paul tossed each ball into the air in rapid succession. There is no requirement to make a shot at every station, just to take the three shots. An attempt must be made, though.
“That’s fine,” Paul could be heard saying on the broadcast, as the news was broken to him.
“It was definitely cheating, though,” joked Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who won the competition alongside teammate Evan Mobley.
Afterwards, TNT attempted to interview Paul and Wembanyama, only to be told by a member of the NBA’s staff not to engage with the players. It was strange all around, overshadowing the first portion of the evening. Wembanyama is, after all, one reason why fans might watch this event.
With the NBA All-Star weekend ongoing, conversations about the league’s on-court product are once again at the forefront. Though interest and revenue in the NBA are growing, discussions around whether NBA games have stagnated hang over the league even as it tries to evolve its All-Star format.
On Saturday, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green got candid about the state of the game. Green is set to compete in the Skills Challenge on Saturday night, paired with Warriors teammate Moses Moody.
When asked if he thought the NBA game was boring, Green was blunt. “Absolutely,” he said, via the Associated Press.
The four-time NBA champion referenced an interview where the late Kobe Bryant said that the game had become “accidental basketball.”
“He couldn’t have been more right,” Green said of Bryant’s comments.
Here’s the rest of what Draymond had to say.
With the frenzy of the 2025 NBA trade deadline now behind us, the attention of the NBA-watching world now shifts to the Bay Area for the high-octane basketball exhibition/convention/trade show that is 2025 All-Star Weekend. Here are a few things to keep an eye on as the league’s best and brightest strut their stuff across three days of basketball-adjacent endeavors, social-media brand activation opportunities and fresh-coat-of-painted tournament-style play.
Everything you need to know for All-Star Weekend.
Tyler Herro wins 3-point contest
Cavs duo wins skills challenge; Wemby, CP3 DQd
Ja Morant, Giannis Antetokounmpo tease dunk contest participation
Mac McClung makes it 3 straight in Slam Dunk Contest
Mac actually cleared the roof of the car
Mac McClung jumps a Kia in the dunk contest
Matas Buzelis whiffs
NBA hypes the Vince Carter dunk contest before this year’s competition
Tyler Herro wins 3-Point Contest
Damian Lillard will not three-peat as 3-point champion
Highlights from NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s press availability
Darius Garland sets early 3-point pace
NBA 3-point contest is up next
Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell win Skills Challenge
Victor Wembanyama, Chris Paul disqualified from Skills Challenge
Warriors’ Draymond Green says NBA on-court product has become ‘very boring’
NBA All-Star 2025: Will the new format work? Breaking down the weekend’s big questions
The new NBA All-Star format is here, and Sunday night will show whether it works
Stephen Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, speaks to media during the NBA All-Star game media day, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — This will be an actual All-Star matchup. On one side, there’s a team with 86 combined All-Star selections, $2.7 billion in on-court earnings and where every single player on the team is either an NBA champion, an Olympic gold medalist, or both.
On the other, there’s a bunch of young guys without much in the way of resumes yet.
Welcome to the reimagined NBA All-Star Game, a single-elimination mini-tournament: four teams of eight players, three games, first to 40 points wins and a David vs. Goliath element thrown in there for good measure. It happens Sunday night in San Francisco, the NBA’s latest way of trying to make the midseason showcase event competitive again.
“It’s definitely different, definitely interesting,” New York’s Jalen Brunson said. “We’ll see. I’m just as interested as you.”
There’s no more Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference. There are four teams with new names: Shaq’s OGs, Kenny’s Young Stars, Chuck’s Global Stars and Candace’s Rising Stars, all a nod to TNT analysts and basketball greats Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Candace Parker.
It’ll be Smith’s team against Barkley’s team in the first semifinal. The second one is the one with all the intrigue: O’Neal’s team of some of the biggest names in basketball history — LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
They’re going up against this group of first- and second-year players that earned their way into the All-Star mix by winning Friday’s Rising Stars competition: San Antonio’s Stephon Castle, Utah’s Keyonte George, Phoenix’s Ryan Dunn, Memphis teammates Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, Golden State’s Trayce Jackson-Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Dalton Knecht and Houston’s Amen Thompson. Fine players, for sure, but they’re not All-Stars — at least, officially.
And yet, they could win the All-Star Game.
“I think that’s probably why they put this type of format in, to kind of heighten that sense of pride and not wanting to be on the wrong end of that,” Lillard said. “I mean, we’ll see. I think one thing about a team full of young players is they’re going to come out there and they’re going to play with some energy. They’re going to play fast. I think that’ll probably heighten the competition.”
The Rising Stars team is, by far, the long shot to win this thing, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. It’s fair to say that they won’t have much expected of them. But that said, Mac McClung — who went up against that team in the Rising Stars competition title game Friday night — said he wouldn’t count them out.
“They’re still NBA basketball players. They’re still really good basketball players,” McClung said. “And I think everybody’s vibe is just joy right now. We’ll see how competitive the game is. I’m excited to watch it myself.”
That’s the whole reason for the change: Competition, or at least the hope of having some.
The All-Star Game last year set all sorts of records: a 211-186 final score, almost everything 3-pointers or dunks, and it didn’t sit well with Commissioner Adam Silver and the rest of the NBA decision-makers. They don’t want Game 7-type mayhem. They want a better product.
So, the tournament idea became reality.
“I like taking chances on something different, knowing that the game had kind of stalled out for a couple of years,” Curry said. “I think it’ll work just because it’ll be something new for everybody.”
At least one player is vowing to play defense in this All-Star Game. San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, a top defensive player of the year candidate who is in the All-Star Game for the first time, said he’s bringing his best.
“That’s the goal,” Wembanyama said. “The goal is not to chill, for sure.”
To illustrate the size of the mismatch — on paper — in the second semifinal, consider this:
Shaq’s OGs have the No. 1 (James), No. 8 (Durant), No. 13 (Harden), the No. 27 (Curry), No. 37 (Lillard), No. 81 (Irving), No. 220 (Tatum) and No. 337 (Brown) scorers in NBA history.
The Rising Stars’ leading scorer: That would be George, tied for 1,813th on the all-time scoring list.
It’s fairly simple: untimed games, first team to 40 points wins, no fouling out, regular rules pretty much apply. There is no consolation game.
Players on the winning team get $125,000 each. Players on the team that finishes second get $50,000 each. The other two teams get $25,000 per player.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Inside the numbers
The format
___
Where to watch NBA Slam Dunk Contest: Time, TV channel, live stream, picks for 2025 All-Star Saturday night
NBA All-Star Weekend is here. And before the league unveils its new All-Star Game format on Sunday, we have some trophies to hand out on Saturday. NBA All-Star Saturday Night is back with three events: the Skills Challenge, 3-point Shootout and Slam Dunk Contest. The action will all take place at the Warriors’ Chase Center in San Francisco.
Before we get to our picks, let’s lay out the schedule for Saturday night.
I can’t tell you how invested the Saturday participants are. But I can help guide you strategically through the minefield that is the All-Star Weekend betting market. While I will offer picks below for all of the major events, what is more important is the thought processes I’ll guide you through below. There’s no reliable way to pick winners on All-Star Weekend, but you can almost always at least find the right value.
This is the single event I consciously avoid every year. It’s utter chaos. The official tiebreaker is a half-court shooting contest. My actual advice is to avoid this event like the plague. If you insist, though, just ask yourself this: who do you trust to make open shots? Team Rooks is comprised of the top two picks in June’s draft, Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher, both of whom have effective field goal percentages below 50. They’re out. Team Warriors includes Draymond Green. I’m not putting my hard-earned money on someone who shoots like he’s wearing a backpack. That leaves Team Spurs and Team Cavs. If you’re forcing me to make a pick it would be on the Spurs (+220), because Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama are the sort of competitive maniacs who might just take winning this thing seriously, but, and I cannot stress this enough, this is the event to avoid.
The key to betting the 3-point contest isn’t figuring out who to bet. It’s figuring out who not to bet. Remember, the act of shooting a basketball is inherently random. It’s not as though Stephen Curry wins this event every year. So what are our value indicators? First of all, we can take Damian Lillard (+350) off the board entirely. Only Larry Bird has ever won this event three times, and Lillard has won it twice. Lillard has won the last two, but before him, nobody had won it consecutively since Jason Kapono. If you want to bet on a 3-peat, go for it, but I’m not doing so at favorite money.
Here’s a strange trend to keep an eye on: outside of recent wins by Lillard and Curry, experience has tended to do more harm than good in this event lately. Karl-Anthony Towns, Joe Harris and Eric Gordon all have recent wins in their first tries in the event. Devin Booker and Buddy Hield both won in their second go-round. While I don’t necessarily think this means you should run to bet the first-timers, it does suggest there’s some value in surprising places. Our first-timers this year are Darius Garland, Cameron Johnson, Cade Cunningham and Norm Powell. I’m not taking Cunningham simply because nothing in his NBA history suggests he’s the same caliber of shooter as his competitors. Johnson at +750, however, represents a nice bit of upside compared to Garland (+500) and Powell (+550), so I’ll take Johnson as my pick here.
Finding Dunk Contest odds can be a bit tricky, so we’re borrowing some from Bleacher Report here. We only need to cover one player, though. Take Mac McClung at -220. That line represents implied odds of 68.75%. Now, ask yourself honestly: after having watched the last two Dunk Contests, do you think Mac McClung has less than a 70% chance of winning this thing? To me, the answer feels closer to 80%. He could lose. If voter fatigue exists for MVP, it probably exists for Dunk Contests, too. But we’re not there yet. McClung pops up in our NBA world once a year just to win these things. He’s Dunk Contest royalty now, and the judges are going to give him the benefit of the doubt that comes with that. The tie goes to McClung. I have a hard time seeing anyone beating him outright. I almost never suggest minus-money bets on single outcomes, but don’t overthink this one.
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