The day Mac McClung jumped over a car will go down in dunk contest history as one of those moments that made jaws drop, crowds erupt, and basketball fans worldwide question whether gravity even applies to this guy. If you saw it live, you know exactly what I mean. If you didn’t—well, let me paint the picture for you. Actually, scratch that—just know that I literally fell out of my seat when it happened. Bruised elbow, popcorn everywhere, the works.
It was the kind of dunk that felt like it belonged in the same legendary category as Vince Carter’s iconic 2000 performance, where he single-handedly redefined what was possible in the dunk contest. Or the insane battle between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon in 2016, where every dunk seemed to top the last. McClung didn’t just join that club—he walked in, claimed all the 50s, took the championship belt, and told the other dunks to find a new hobby.
The setup was simple. A sleek, shiny car parked right there on the court. The anticipation in the arena was so thick you could feel it through the screen. McClung, standing a few feet away, locked in like a man about to attempt the impossible. We’ve seen players jump over people before. Nate Robinson soared over Dwight Howard’s shoulders. Blake Griffin famously hurdled a Kia Optima (with a choir singing, no less). But there was something about McClung’s attempt that felt different—like he wasn’t just going for the theatrics, he was about to do something unreal.
Then he took off. And when I say he took off, I mean it looked like he had rocket fuel in his sneakers. Not only did he clear the car with ease, but he also grabbed the ball mid-air, for below his waist, and somehow still had the hang time to throw it down with authority. It wasn’t just a dunk—it was an artistic masterpiece. A moment of pure basketball poetry that made everyone watching rethink what the human body is actually capable of. I’m convinced that if physics had a face, it would have been staring up at McClung in utter confusion.
The crowd? Pandemonium. The judges? Stunned into speechlessness before quickly slamming the ‘10’ paddles down like their lives depended on it. Social media? Exploded within seconds. NBA players, former dunk champions, and casual fans alike couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed. It was the kind of dunk that made people pause and rewind, just to make sure they actually saw what they thought they saw. Oh, and did I mention? McClung went a perfect 50 on every dunk. That’s right, he didn’t just win—he swept the contest like he was collecting infinity stones.
Comparisons were inevitable. Was it as great as Vince in 2000? Did it rival LaVine and Gordon’s epic showdown? Some would say yes, others might argue the classics still reign supreme, but one thing was undeniable—Mac McClung had just cemented his place in dunk contest history. And not just as a participant, but as a legitimate icon of the event. Three straight dunk contest crowns later, and at this point, they might as well rename the whole thing “The Mac McClung Invitational.”
Part of what made this moment even crazier was the fact that McClung isn’t a NBA superstar with a multi-million-dollar shoe deal. But when it came to that dunk, none of that mattered. He was the main event. He was the dunk king of the night. And, let’s be real—if he comes back for a fourth straight crown, they might as well hand him the trophy before the contest even starts.
It’s these kinds of moments that keep the dunk contest alive. Just when people start complaining that the event has lost its magic, that nothing new can really be done, along comes a performance like this to remind everyone why we tune in year after year. It’s about those seconds of pure disbelief, when time seems to slow down, and for a brief moment, basketball turns into something bigger—something closer to magic.
So, if you missed it, do yourself a favor and go watch the clip. Study it. Rewatch it in slow motion. Because what Mac McClung did on that night wasn’t just a dunk. It was a statement. And if history is any indication, we’ll be talking about it for years to come. Or at least until he wins his fourth dunk contest, which, let’s be honest, is probably happening next year over Ja, Giannis and Zach.
