Mac McClung Reveals 4 Dunks He Prepared Before Skipping NBA Dunk Contest

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Feb 15, 2026 1:30 AM ET

Chicago Bulls two-way guard Mac McClung skipped the 2026 NBA Dunk Contest, preventing him from going for a fourth straight title in the competition.

McClung intended to participate again in the dunk contest, but he eventually decided to back out after hearing that some players were hesitating to join if he were to compete once again. The 27-year-old guard has won the event in the past three seasons, becoming the first player to do so in three consecutive years.

"I think there was just back and forth of us being like this, and then they were calling me, being like 'People didn’t want to do it if I was doing it,' and I thought it's best if I just sit out this year and let it be, no matter what," McClung stated.

Former Orlando Magic guard Mac McClung in the NBA Dunk Contest.Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Despite his absence, McClung said previously that he had some dunks prepared for the contest that he would release following the event on Saturday. Sure enough, he fulfilled his promise after Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the 2026 NBA Dunk Contest.

On X, he shared a post from Team VKTRY showing the four dunks he would have used had he pushed through with participating.

The first dunk showed him jumping over a person while another guy was on a ladder holding the ball in front of the rim. McClung proceeded to twist his hand backwards before hitting the ball with his palm to dunk it.

As for the second dunk, he did a reverse slam, but he hit both the tips of his shoes first before throwing the ball down.

McClung did an over-the-legs reverse dunk in the third video, while the fourth one saw him jump towards the rim before another person passed him the ball from below. McClung received the ball mid-air and dunked it.

"Check em out!!" McClung wrote on X while sharing the videos.

Check em out!! https://t.co/lvfiY4PUs0
— mac mcclung (@McclungMac) February 15, 2026

It remains to be seen if McClung will return to the NBA Dunk Contest next year to attempt to become the first player ever to win the competition four times. McClung and Nate Robinson were the only players to win it three times.

For what it's worth, McClung didn't completely close the door on returning in 2027 despite skipping the popular All-Star Weekend showdown this year.

"I don't know if it’ll ever be in my future or not, but I've definitely enjoyed it these last three years," McClung stated.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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