Mac McClung will be the first G-Leaguer in the dunk contest

McClung, who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers' G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, will become the first player from the NBA's developmental league to participate in the dunk contest. James "Flight" White competed in the contest in 2013 after starting the year in the G League, but he played 57 games for the New York Knicks last year.

He won the G League Rookie of the Year Award in his first pro season, but the extent of McClung's NBA career so far was a single game for the Chicago Bulls and the final game of the Los Angeles Lakers' 2021-22 season, which he ended in emphatic fashion.

McClung's dunking made him an internet sensation while still a high schooler in Virginia, where he broke Allen Iverson's state high school scoring record. He went from relative obscurity to being called "The Most EXCITING Player In AMERICA!" by Ballislife.

McClung won the Ballislife All-American dunk contest after his senior year.

McClung joins two other young dunkers in the contest, Portland Trail Blazers rookie Shaedon Sharpe and Kenyon Martin Jr. ("KJ").

One advantage of having a G Leaguer in the dunk contest is that it's extremely unlikely that a former Delaware Blue Coat will be one of the judges, and even less likely that he'll rig the contest for one of their players. That was not the case when Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade conspired to steal the 2020 dunk contest from Aaron Gordon, and give it to Miami's Derrick Jones, Jr.

It's no lock that McClung can win another dunk contest on the biggest stage, but it's very likely that the internet audience is going to be pulling for him all the way.