It's a trap.
Trey Murphy, Jericho Sims, and Kenyon Martin Jr. just got caught in a trap.
And it's a G-League trap.
I know this is just a side event but because the top stars aren't man enough to insert their names on the dunk contest, these unfortunate participants just fell into the hands of Mac McClung. I know he has played in the 2021-22 NBA season but it's just for two games.
There was a time when the slam dunk contest is seen by many as the level-up. It's the ladder Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, and Dwight Howard did to further make their names to further stand out and this is also the spot guys like Aaron Gordon, Nate Robinson, Spud Webb, Jason Richardson, Harold Miner, and Kenny "Sky" Walker did to be relevant.
Mac McClung just became a buzzword and coincidentally, an NBA fixture.
Will this further drive the top stars away from the dunk contest? I bet if Mac's participating, this is spot-on. With that said, again this is something the NBA players need to think about. While the NBA is good on globalization, McClung pretty much "invaded" the main show. And I don't care if he played two games in the NBA and was signed by the Philadelphia 76ers prior to the contest. It's like when Alex Antetokounmpo became part of the skills contest. Yes, he's an Antetokounmpo brother... but he also has yet to play in the NBA. In the last NBA all-star contest, the brothers also participated in the event but were disposed of by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He could have been the first G-League to successfully claim an all-star main sideshow event.
But comparing the slam dunk contest to the skills challenge it's a bit absurd. The slam dunk contest needs to be at par with the three-point shootout. If you check out the three-point contest, we see odd winners like Tim Legler, Daequan Cook, and Voshon Lenard but you can also see guys like Larry Bird, Dirk Nowitzki, Peja Stojakovic, Steph Curry, Devin Booker, Klay Thompson, and 2023 winner Damian Lillard dominating the contest. In fact, five of the eight players in the 2023 contest will take part in the all-star game. I know Trevor Hudgins had NBA experience this season but imagine him, the current G-League three-points made leader with almost five shots per game - put his hat on for the NBA three-point contest?
Did you see the disappointment of Jericho Sims when the judges scored his double honey dip dunk? That is probably the same reaction a player like Hudgins or even McClung would have if he missed out on the contest's crown.
Again, there is a difference between the dunk contest and the three-point shootout. When guys like Jayson Tatum or Michael Jordan (he participated once) failed to make the grade, you can see them grinning as if to tell people that they screwed up. When Aaron Gordon's controversial Tacko Fall dunk messed up his win, he vowed to never participate in the contest as well. It's even worse for Sims, the 58th pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, or Martin and Murphy who could have used the dunk contest to elevate their careers. For Martin, it's his chance to further his stock for a team that is overloaded with young upstarts, and for Murphy, it's his chance to least give his name further oomph, especially with Zion Williamson's injury woes. And while yeah, I know there have been names like Fred Jones, Jeremy Evans, Glenn Robinson III, and Derrick Jones Jr. who never had the chance to exploit the opportunity given to them, one of these three could have taken the moment and play it as an additional bargaining chip.
Here's the thing - when McClung entered the contest, he was essentially helping the league because the participants don't have the star power to propel the tournament. It feels like the top talents are load-managing the dunk contest. Whether or not the Sixers would use McClung in their playoff drive, his 540-degree dunk has helped the NBA solve the dunk contest.
When McClung executed his first dunk, he used two men whom the crowd didn't know. All the hands that high-fived him initially were not NBA players. Martin used his dad and a lot of theatrics to minor pops. Murphy had a good second dunk to compensate for his unfortunate first dunk.
Jericho Sims did another honey dip, but this time with a prop. However, because he's not a household name. And by giving himself a 50 when everyone saw otherwise, the dunk bombed.
Meanwhile, when McClung successfully made the 540-degree jam, Kenny Smith is shouting "a star is born". In some ways, he is right. For 48 hours, Mac is going to get recognition for his hops dating back to his YouTube mixed tape days.
Again, this is a major downer for the players. Now, even if the top stars are hellbent to take back the contest from the G-Leaguers, can they have the mindset to dispose of the players who are that eager to win it to receive a multi-year, million-dollar contract?
I can blame LeBron James for bailing on the dunk contest but through the years, we have seen players of better hops purposely missing the challenge. But more than the dunks, the superstars are missing the point. Maybe instead of the dunks, we need to factor in the storyline. Yes, this is a bit crazy but if players can't dunk with conviction, then maybe it's time to add an element here. And maybe we can still have talented dunkers but at least the dunk contest will have familiar names in some sort of grudge. Can you imagine a 2024 contest wherein we pit Ja Morant against Zion Williamson? I mean two players who came to the league with a lot of fanfare just dunking it out in some sort of blood feud. Sure, the dunks might be subpar but at least it would be a spectacle. How about an Aaron Gordon versus Zach LaVine part deux? McClung could have brought in a slam dunk contest rival.
One of the biggest misses of the contest is pitting LeBron James over Kobe Bryant. I mean, the Jason Richardson versus Desmond Mason one is just as awesome but if there's a time to exploit LBJ when he's still without ego, it's most definitely his rookie year.
But now, I wouldn't be surprised if they change the contest to Gatorade NBA/NBA G-League Slam Dunk Contest.