Mac McClung: From Viral Sensation to NBA Slam Dunk Champion
Matthew Ford "Mac" McClung, born on January 6, 1999, is an American professional basketball player currently under a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. McClung's journey to professional basketball has been marked by viral dunking highlights, collegiate success, and perseverance through the NBA G League.
Early Life and High School Career
McClung grew up in Gate City, Virginia, a small town near the Tennessee-Virginia border. Although football is more popular in Southwest Virginia, McClung's passion was basketball. Even as a child, family members noted his extraordinary competitiveness. His first organized basketball experience came just before seventh grade when his mother, Lenoir, signed him up for a local youth league.
McClung's athleticism and dunking ability became apparent during his high school career at Gate City High School. He started dunking as a sophomore and quickly gained recognition for his acrobatic dunks. During his senior debut on December 12, he scored 47 points, shooting 18-of-23, in a 96-43 victory over Lee High School, a game attended by Georgetown head coach Patrick Ewing. On January 11, 2018, McClung scored 44 points against Fern Creek High School of Louisville, Kentucky, at the Arby's Classic tournament in Bristol, Tennessee.
McClung broke Allen Iverson's VHSL single-season scoring record during the 2018 VHSL regional playoffs on February 21, surpassing Iverson's 948 points in 25 games. He concluded his high school career by leading Gate City to its first state championship, scoring 47 points in an 80-65 win over Robert E. Lee High.
College Career
Georgetown Hoyas (2018-2020)
McClung began his college career at Georgetown University. On December 22, 2018, he scored a freshman season-high 38 points in a 102-94 victory over Little Rock. As a freshman, he averaged 13.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and two assists per game, leading Big East Conference freshmen in scoring. He was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team.
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During his sophomore season in February 2020, he missed several games due to a foot injury. He played only 21 games that season, averaging 15.7 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals in 27 minutes per game.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (2020-2021)
After two seasons at Georgetown, McClung transferred to Texas Tech University. He received a waiver to play immediately and made his debut with the Red Raiders in a 101-58 win over Northwestern State.
Professional Career
Early Years and G League Success (2021-2023)
After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, McClung joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2021 NBA Summer League and signed with the team on August 10, 2021. However, he was waived on October 13. He then signed with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League on October 23, 2021.
On December 22, 2021, McClung signed a 10-day contract with the Chicago Bulls, followed by a second 10-day contract on January 1, 2022. On January 4, 2022, the Bulls assigned him to their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, where he scored 19 points and added nine assists in a 112-108 loss to the Motor City Cruise. He was named the 2021-22 NBA G League Rookie of the Year.
Continued NBA and G League Play (2023-Present)
McClung's journey continued with short stints with the Orlando Magic and their G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic. He also played for the Delaware Blue Coats.
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Slam Dunk Contest Dominance (2023-2025)
McClung gained widespread recognition after winning the 2023 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. He followed this up with victories in 2024 and 2025, joining Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson, Nate Robinson, and Zach LaVine as the only players to win back-to-back contests. He also became the first player on a G-League team to win the contest. In 2025, he made history as the only player to win the Slam Dunk Contest three years in a row, achieving perfect scores on all four of his dunks.
Recent Years (2025-2026)
McClung re-signed with the Chicago Bulls on October 17, 2025, but was waived shortly after. He then signed with the Indiana Pacers on October 27, 2025, making his debut against the Dallas Mavericks and recording seven points, two rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in 13 minutes.
Career Statistics
| Season | Team | Age | G | GS | MIN | PTS | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | TO | VPF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | TOT | 23 | 2 | 0 | 27.0 | 25.0 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 40.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 25.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 100.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| 2025-26 | WCB | 27 | 19 | 19 | 36.3 | 28.9 | 9.8 | 19.2 | 51.2 | 2.9 | 8.2 | 35.9 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 83.0 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 7.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 2.6 |
| 2024-25 | LAK | 26 | 30 | 30 | 32.7 | 25.7 | 9.1 | 17.9 | 51.0 | 2.5 | 6.7 | 37.8 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 82.7 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 3.4 | 1.5 |
| 2023-24 | LAK | 25 | 27 | 27 | 35.4 | 25.7 | 9.3 | 18.4 | 50.7 | 2.7 | 6.7 | 39.6 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 84.3 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 6.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 1.9 |
| 2022-23 | DEL | 24 | 31 | 28 | 26.8 | 19.8 | 7.1 | 12.7 | 54.8 | 2.3 | 4.9 | 47.4 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 82.3 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| 2021-22 | SBL | 23 | 26 | 26 | 36.3 | 21.7 | 7.8 | 16.6 | 47.1 | 1.9 | 5.1 | 37.9 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 88.0 | 1.3 | 4.1 | 5.4 | 6.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 2.2 |
| 2021-22 | WCB | 23 | 1 | 1 | 38.9 | 25.0 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 40.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 100.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 100.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Total | 134 | 131 | 33.1 | 24.8 | 8.5 | 16.7 | 50.8 | 2.4 | 6.2 | 39.6 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 83.0 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 6.4 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 1.8 |
Personal Life
Mac McClung is the son of Marcus and Lenoir McClung. During his birth, his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. His parents met at Virginia Tech, where Marcus played football and Lenoir was a cheerleader. His father is an attorney, and his mother teaches driver's education at Gate City High. His sister, Anna, was a successful high school soccer player, and his uncle, Seth, played professional baseball.
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