But it comes with a caveat. McClung, a phenomenal leaper at 6-2 and a creative dunker, is a novelty, a G-League player with minimal NBA experience.
McClung has won the past two dunk contests, and at this weekend’s All-Star festivities in San Francisco, he will try to join Nate Robinson as the only three-time winners.
Some of the NBA’s best dunkers have refrained from participating, leaving it to a guy who has played in just five NBA games since the start of the 2021-22 season, two rookies and a third-year player to carry the event.
This year, McClung will be joined by rookies Matas Buzelis of the Chicago Bulls and Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs and second-year player Andre Jackson Jr. of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Here’s a closer look at this year’s dunk contest participants, how to watch and past champions:
2025 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest participants
Mac McClung
McClung’s leaping ability and creativity make him a fan-favorite, and he is a thoughtful participant, going over ideas with confidantes. While McClung has yet to get substantial minutes with an NBA team, he has parlayed his dunk contest success into endorsement deals, helping him pursue his NBA dream without going overseas for a lucrative payday.
Matas Buzelis
Buzelis, a 6-10 forward, came into the league as a known leaper and showed off his dunking ability in the G League last season. The No. 11 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, Buzelis has 31 dunks through Monday’s games and told reporters, “I’m not going there to lose.”
Stephon Castle
Castle, a 6-6 guard who was the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft by the Spurs, has 39 dunks this season through Monday’s games. He has two of the top dunks this season, according to the NBA’s “Dunk Scores,” which uses player tracking data and data science to assign a score to a player’s dunk.
Andre Jackson Jr.
Jackson has an impressive collection of dunks this season, including some high-flying, forceful put-back dunks. Will that translate to the dunk contest?
Dunk contest odds: Who is the favorite to win?
Odds courtesy of BetMGM:
Mac McClung: -210
Andre Jackson Jr.: +500
Matas Buzelis: +700
Stephon Castle: +800
How to watch Slam Dunk contest
Saturday’s All-Star festivities, including the dunk contest, will be broadcast on TNT, starting at 7 p.m. ET with a tipoff show. The night will be hosted by the network’s ‘Inside the NBA’ crew – Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith with Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and Allie LaForce providing commentary and reporting. Events begin at approximately 8 p.m. ET on TNT. You can stream it on Sling.
Prize money for Slam Dunk contest
First place: $105,000
Second place: $55,000
Third place: $20,000
Fourth place: $20,000
Who are Slam Dunk contest judges?
Former NBA players Baron Davis, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady and Jason Richardson are this year’s dunk contest judges. Richardson won the event twice (2002, 2003).
Who won 2024 Slam Dunk contest?
McClung won the event in 2024 and 2023. Last year in Indianapolis, he topped Jaylen Brown. McClung jumped over TNT analyst, Basketball of Hall of Famer and 7-footer Shaquille O’Neal, who was wearing a jersey from McClung’s high school, Gate City in southwest Virginia, and completed a two-handed reverse dunk.
What are Slam Dunk contest rules?
There are two rounds. In the first, each contestant will get 1:30 and three attempts to complete a dunk. An official will judge whether a dunk is completed or missed, and any props the players use must be approved beforehand by NBA Basketball Operations. In the first round, each contestant will have the chance to complete two dunks. Completed dunks will be given a score between 40 and 50 points. The average of the five judges will be the final score for that dunk. The two dunkers with the highest composite score from the first round will advance to the final round. If there is a tie after the first round, the judges will then vote to pick the advancing dunker.
In the final round, the dunker with the lowest score from the first round will go first. The same scoring rules apply, and the contestant with the higher score will be the champion. In the case of a tie, there will be a one dunk dunk-off. If there is a tie following the dunk-off, the judges will vote to break the tie, as in the tiebreaking scenario from the first round.
Slam Dunk contest winners, year by year
2024: Mac McClung, Philadelphia 76ers
2023: Mac McClung, Philadelphia 76ers
2022: Obi Toppin, New York Knicks
2021: Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers
2020: Derrick Jones Jr., Miami Heat
2019: Hamidou Diallo, Oklahoma City Thunder
2018: Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz
2017: Glenn Robinson III, Indiana Pacers
2016: Zach LaVine, Minnesota Timberwolves
2015: Zach LaVine, Minnesota Timberwolves
2014: John Wall, Washington Wizards
2013: Terrence Ross, Toronto Raptors
2012: Jeremy Evans, Utah Jazz
2011: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
2010: Nate Robinson, New York Knicks
2009: Nate Robinson, New York Knicks
2008: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
2007: Gerald Green, Boston Celtics
2006: Nate Robinson, New York Knicks
2005: Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks
2004: Fred Jones, Indiana Pacers
2003: Jason Richardson, Golden State Warriors
2002: Jason Richardson, Golden State Warriors
2001: Desmond Mason, Seattle SuperSonics
2000: Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors
1997: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
1996: Brent Barry, Los Angeles Clippers
1995: Harold Miner, Miami Heat
1994: Isiah Rider, Minnesota Timberwolves
1993: Harold Miner, Miami Heat
1992: Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix Suns
1991: Dee Brown, Boston Celtics
1990: Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks
1989: Kenny Walker, New York Knicks
1988: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
1987: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
1986: Spud Webb, Atlanta Hawks
1985: Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks
1984: Larry Nance, Phoenix Suns
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