NDIANAPOLIS — The Slam Dunk champion is a Big Mac. And make it a double.
Mac McClung, the high-leaping 6-foot-2 guard from the Osceola Magic of the G League defended the slam dunk title he won last year by beating Jaylen Brown in the final round of Saturday night’s competition
McClung joins an illustrious list of five NBA players who have won the dunkfest two in a row –Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson, Nate Robinson and Zach LaVine.
Big Mac was not as electrifying as his 2023 performance in Salt Lake City in Utah. But he did more than enough to win at Lucas Oil Stadium, a triumph that included a dunk where he soared over Shaquille O’Neal.
The final dunk earned a perfect 50 from the four judges.
Brown, on the other hand, slammed two dunks that excited the judges. His first was a tribute to the late Terrence Clarke, a Boston native, and his second featured Donovan Mitchell and a rhinestoned glove on his left hand.
McClung led the opening round with a high score of 97.4 to advance. The next spot came down to New York Knicks G Leaguer Jacob Toppin, the younger brother of 2022 champ Obi Toppin, and Brown.
Toppin slammed home a 360-degree jam going through his legs that the crowd approved. But it only got a score of 47.2.
Brown had the final dunk of the round. He sought the assitance of teammate Jayson Tatum and YouTuber Kai Cenat, with Tatum lobbing the ball and Cenat sitting in front of the basket.
The judges gave him a 47.6, eliminating Toppin.
