Acclaim can come from a variety of doings, deeds and feats.
For Mac McClung, his ability to dunk a basketball in swift, high-flying, acrobatic style has brought unexpected and startling notoriety.
He was the first player from the NBA’s farm-system G League to take part in its popular slam-dunk contest, long a part of the league’s attention-grabbing All-Star Weekend, last Saturday in Salt Lake City.
All he did was win in the rather prolific fashion that such a victory typically requires.
Now comes the hard part.
Back with Blue Coats
On Wednesday night, McClung was still a G League player, back with the Delaware Blue Coats needing to show skills versatile, effective and consistent enough to earn the right to play in real NBA contests.
That made him the star of the show inside the noisy Chase Fieldhouse, where 1,697 gathered for the Blue Coats’ game against the Motor City Cruise.
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Last week, McClung was designated as a two-way player by the Philadelphia 76ers, who’d signed him and placed him with the Blue Coats in October but can now summon him if needed. He won the slam-dunk contest wearing 76ers gear but has not yet otherwise suited up for the Sixers, who host Memphis Thursday night in their first game since the All-Star Weekend.
“I wanna be in the NBA,” McClung said. “I want to make an impact. Can’t have nights like tonight but I’m just waiting my turn.”
Taking his shot
The 6-foot-2 guard was not on the floor as the Blue Coats blew a 10-point lead with 6½ minutes left and lost 116-111 to end a 5-game win streak.
His first made shot was his sixth, a 3-pointer in the third quarter.
As McClung sped down court on a fast break early in the fourth quarter, a murmur rose from the crowd, which was hopeful for a slam dunk. The presence of opposing players forced him to settle for a layup.
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He finished with 7 points on 2-for-9 field-goal shooting and 1-for-2 foul-line aim but did deal seven assists in 25 minutes. That was important because McClung must be a combo guard to make it at the next level, able to drive and dish the basketball, defend diligently, get to the rim and score from long range.
“It’s just about progressing each day. Even days like tonight can be a lesson,” he said.
No break for McClung
Blue Coats coach Coby Karl suggested McClung was likely fatigued from all the events of the past week.The all-star break provided no real respite for him.
McClung entered Wednesday’s game leading the Blue Coats with 19.1 points per game while shooting 57.9 percent overall and 50 percent on 3-pointers
“He put in a lot of work,” Karl said. “He mentally stayed engaged to compete in the one game [Sunday’s Next Up Game] that he played in.
“And obviously just the emotions and the energy and this whole process that he’s going through with kinda coming out to the world. It’s taxing.”
Broadening his skills
The Virginia native played two seasons at Georgetown and one at Texas Tech before declaring for the NBA Draft in 2021. He was not drafted but signed with the Lakers.
McClung, 24, was G League Rookie of the Year in 2021-22 but did have a pair of 10-day contracts with the Chicago Bulls, appearing in one game. He also made one late-season appearance for the L.A. Lakers.
The 76ers signed McClung in October after he was previously released by the Lakers and Warriors.
Karl called McClung “a freak athlete” whose speed, balance and agility, which characterized his slam-dunk success, do translate to him being a solid all-around guard.
“His catch-and-shoot threes have really evolved,” Karl said, “and I really think that will be his next step. With that type of speed and that type of quickness, if you have to close out even harder to him it’s gonna give him more advantages.”
Homecoming game
McClung’s first game since the slam-dunk contest certainly added to the fanfare, for which he said he was “grateful.”
Among the more animated and vocal fans Wednesday night were five high school friends from Sterling, New Jersey, who have attended Blue Coats games since the fieldhouse opened in January of 2019.
They waved signs that read “The Dunk Contest Happens In Delaware” and “McClung for President 2023.” Another simply showed a goat – the GOAT acronym is widely used by sports fans for Greatest of All-Time – with McClung’s face.
All appreciated McClung’s rise to slam-dunk stardom.
“It’s cool watching the progression of a player no matter what sport,” John Halwood said. “We just love it here. We love the energy. We love the vibe that they bring. The G League is a very under appreciated league. They’re still great. They’re just not there [in the NBA] yet. So it’s cool to track a young star on their journey to the NBA.”
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