Mac McClung Finally Gets His Shot: Pacers Sign 3-Time Dunk Champ to Multi-Year Deal
Well, it only took becoming the greatest dunker in NBA All-Star Weekend history for Mac McClung to convince someone he deserves an actual NBA contract. The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they’ve signed the three-time Slam Dunk Contest champion to a multi-year deal, his first standard contract since entering the league back in 2021. Better late than never, right?
For a guy who’s been putting on aerial shows that would make Vince Carter nod in approval, McClung has spent most of his professional career bouncing between G League rosters and collecting two-way contracts like they’re trading cards. Across four different NBA teams since the Lakers first signed him, he’s appeared in exactly six games. Six. You read that correctly. Meanwhile, he’s been throwing down dunks that break the internet every February at All-Star Weekend.
McClung’s Long Road to a Standard NBA Contract
The 26-year-old guard has been grinding it out in the G League for years, waiting for his moment. He’s played for the Lakers, Bulls, 76ers, and Magic on various two-way deals, never quite sticking around long enough to prove what he could do with consistent minutes. The dude won the Slam Dunk Contest three consecutive years (2023, 2024, and 2025), including jumping over a car in 2025, becoming the only player in NBA history to three-peat at the event. Nate Robinson is the only other person to win it three times, but he needed multiple attempts spread across different years.
You’d think dominating the league’s premier dunking competition would open some doors, but apparently, NBA front offices needed a bit more convincing. To be fair, McClung stands at just 6-foot-2 and isn’t exactly known for his defensive prowess or elite playmaking. But the kid can score, he’s got bounce that defies physics, and he clearly knows how to perform under pressure.
Just ten days before the Pacers’ signing, the Chicago Bulls signed and released McClung. He had signed on to play for their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, ahead of the 2025-26 season. Guess Indiana saw something Chicago didn’t—or maybe they’re just desperate enough to take a chance.
Why the Pacers Needed McClung Now
Here’s where things get interesting. The Pacers aren’t exactly swimming in healthy bodies right now. Their backcourt and wing rotation looks like a MASH unit. Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, and Obi Toppin are all dealing with various injuries and are listed as day-to-day. Point guard TJ McConnell is rehabbing from a hamstring injury he suffered before the season even started.
Oh, and did I mention Tyrese Haliburton, you know, their All-Star point guard and the heartbeat of their offense, is out for the entire year with an Achilles tear? Yeah, that’ll do it. When your franchise player goes down with one of the most devastating injuries in basketball, suddenly a high-flying guard who can create his own shot doesn’t seem like such a wild gamble.
To make room for McClung on the roster, Indiana waived former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman. The 24-year-old center had just returned to the court after suffering an Achilles tear himself at the start of last season. He even started last week’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies and logged 20 minutes. But when your team needs scoring and playmaking more than rim protection, tough decisions have to be made. Wiseman becomes the latest cautionary tale of a lottery pick who couldn’t find his footing in the league.
What McClung Brings to Indiana
So what exactly are the Pacers getting with McClung? For starters, they’re getting someone who can actually put the ball in the basket. In his limited NBA appearances, he’s shown flashes of being a capable scorer. More importantly, they’re getting a player who thrives in the spotlight and doesn’t shrink under pressure. You don’t win three straight dunk contests without having nerves of steel and an absolute confidence in your abilities.
McClung’s game isn’t just about spectacular dunks, though those certainly don’t hurt. He’s a crafty ball-handler who can create separation off the dribble, and he’s got a serviceable outside shot. Will he be the next great NBA guard? Probably not. But could he provide valuable minutes off the bench for a team desperately thin at his position? Absolutely.
The deal is reportedly non-guaranteed and multi-year; in translation, the Pacers are hedging their bets by giving McClung a legit shot to prove himself in Indiana. It’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward move for a franchise that needs all the help it can get right now.
The Bigger Picture
McClung’s signing raises an interesting question about how NBA teams evaluate talent. Here’s a guy who’s consistently dominated at every level he’s played: high school phenom in Virginia, college standout at Georgetown and Texas Tech, G League star, and undisputed king of the dunk contest. Yet it took a perfect storm of injuries and desperation for him to land a standard NBA contract.
Part of the issue is that McClung doesn’t fit the modern NBA prototype. He’s undersized for a shooting guard and not quite a true point guard. His defense needs work, and there are legitimate questions about whether his scoring ability will translate against elite NBA competition night after night. But talent is talent, and sometimes you’ve got to give guys a real chance to show what they can do.
The Pacers are betting that McClung can be more than just a dunk contest legend. With Haliburton out and their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, they need someone to step up and provide a spark. McClung has been waiting for this opportunity his entire professional career. Now he’s finally got it.
Will he make the most of it? Only time will tell. But if there’s one thing we know about Mac McClung, it’s that he’s never been afraid of the big moment. The stage is set. The contract is signed. Now it’s time to see if the dunk champion can become an NBA rotation player. For his sake, and for everyone who’s been rooting for him, let’s hope he can finally stick around long enough to make it happen.
