Bucks wing Andre Jackson has joined Matas Buzelis and Stephon Castle as young players who have committed to the 2025 Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
The 36th overall pick of the 2023 draft, Jackson has started 31 of his 39 appearances in his second season, averaging 3.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per contest. Known for his defensive versatility and explosive athleticism, the 23-year-old has had some highlight-reel dunks in his young career, including a jaw-dropping put-back against Sacramento last season (YouTube link).
Mac McClung, who is on a two-way contract with the Magic, has won the dunk contest each of the past two years, but he tells Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel he’s not sure if he’ll try to become the first player to win three consecutive times. The reigning G League MVP is focused on helping the Osceola Magic recover from a slow start to the NBAGL regular season, per Beede.
“I don’t know yet,” the 26-year-old guard said. “My gut will tell me the right feeling.”
As Beede notes, if McClung accepts an invitation, he would be the fourth and final contestant in the dunk contest. Despite thriving at the G League level, he hasn’t gotten many NBA opportunities to this point in his career, even with Orlando dealing with a number of injuries in 2024/25. Still, McClung says he’ll be prepared if the opportunity presents itself.
“And that’ll happen when they’re ready to give it to me,” he said. “Right now, I just my put head down and work. If the opportunity comes, I’ll be ready.“
I really don’t get why they continue to have the dunk contest … they should really come up with other more engaging contests and/or make it so that one person isn’t attempting a dunk multiple times.
The shooting contests are more fun and at least they aren’t having to retake shots lol
How is neither Thompson twin in this dunk contest? I’m actually very happy that Jalen Johnson isn’t in it but a dunk contest without him, Jalen Green, Ausar or Amen makes this much less entertaining than it could be
The who’s who of “Who he play for?”
The dunk contest can be revived, but they would have to simplify it. Guys get one dunk (in one attempt) in each round. Sometimes less is more. Actually, it often is, or can be.
There’s guys on Instagram and other social media who do more imaginative dunks than any player does in these dunk contests. The dunk contest can be saved if any of the players really cared about it. Or bring in a couple of social media dunkers to go head-to-head with them.