Three-Time Champion Mac McClung Will Sit Out 2026 NBA Dunk Contest
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Mac McClung, the only player to win the NBA slam dunk contest three straight years, will not defend his title at next month’s 2026 competition, his father confirmed to ESPN on Monday.
“Not going to be 4 in a row,” Marcus McClung wrote in a text message, adding that multiple factors influenced the decision.
The 27-year-old guard had hinted at his plans over the weekend during a commercial interview and later posted on X that he would share “the dunks we came up with after the contest.”
McClung told ESPN in December he was unsure about entering this year’s showcase, questioning whether he had fresh material and expressing concern about being viewed solely as a dunk specialist.
The former Georgetown and Texas Tech standout signed his first standard NBA deal on Oct. 28 with the Indiana Pacers, appeared in three games, averaged 6.3 points and was waived on Nov. 6. He has logged nine NBA games across five franchises.
McClung currently plays for the Windy City Bulls, Chicago’s G League affiliate, where he is averaging 23.5 points through 11 regular-season games. His résumé also includes a G League championship with the Delaware Blue Coats and a G League MVP award with the Osceola Magic.
He captured dunk contest crowns by defeating Trey Murphy III in 2023, Jaylen Brown in 2024 and Stephon Castle in 2025, the last highlighted by a leap over a car.
Source: ESPN
