Matt McClung became the first player to win the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest in three straight years, and he has done it in an extraordinary fashion.
The Virginia native also became the second to ever win it three times, with former NBA player Nate Robinson having won it in 2006, 2009 and 2010.
Basketball analysts, experts and fans have started to include McClung in the “best dunker of all time” debates, with sports television personality Stephen A. Smith stating that the G leaguer “saved the Slam Dunk contest over the last three years.”
McClung shows how he three-peat
Matt McClung took control of the 2025 Slam Dunk Contest on his very first attempt – soaring over a Kia – and never relinquished it. From his reverse dunk over the car McClung was simply too much for the overmatched competition, which included San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle and Lithuanian-American Matas Buzelis, from the Chicago Bulls.
McClung dominated the competition as he scored all 50s in the contest. “It kind of feels like a blur,” Mac said. “It’s something I love doing. That’s where my creativity comes is I genuinely love this contest and I love to dunk.” added the fantastic jumper.
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The Orlando Magic’s G League Osceola player showed how he was able to demolish the rest of the dunkers this year. In a video posted on social media, we see the 26-year-old guard leaping over a car with such ease, a dunk that was even better that the one he performed at All-Star weekend.
“Future dunkers take note, don’t wing it. Practice, practice, practice.” an X user commented. “It’s easy to practice this when you don’t have to worry about, you know, NBA games or anything.” wrote another. “People don’t understand that while he’s grabbing the ball, he’s also able to simultaneously push off and push himself higher. When will people under the jumping over people is not very impressive.” an X user posted.
McClung has not been able to be a regular NBA player
McClung, a 6-foot-2 guard, has spent most of the 2025 season with the Magic’s G League team in Osceola. Through his first 29 games, he’s averaging 21 points and 5 assists. Osceola is 10-7 so far in the regular season and 7-3 in its last 10 games.
His only appearance for the Orlando Magic so far came on October 26 at Memphis, where he played the final five minutes of that game. He has appeared in five NBA games in his career, playing in one each for the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers during the 2021-22 season and two for the 76ers in the 2022-23 season.
“When you feel like the crowd has your back, that gives you a different level of adrenaline, maybe confidence,” he said after winning the 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. “It was great. It felt really good and the judges gave me some good scores, so that got me feeling good. I really do like to play off the crowd.”
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