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NBA All-Star Weekend is approaching and the four-man field for the Slam Dunk Contest has been set.
The contest will be headlined by the two-time defending Slam Dunk Contest champion Mac McClung, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Bucks guard Andrew Jackson Jr. and rookies Stephon Castle of the Spurs and Matas Buzelis of the Bulls will round out the field.
McClung is the main attraction as he looks to become the first player to three-peat and only the second player, alongside Nate Robinson, to win three contests. He became the first G League player to ever appear in the Dunk Contest in 2023 and defended the title last year by dunking over NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.
McClung left fans unsure whether he would return to the contest after his comments at last year’s event.
“I don’t know. We’ll think about it,” he said when questioned about going for a third straight title. “I’m not sure yet.”
McClung will have some tough competition, however, as Castle and Buzelis look to make names for themselves at their first-ever All-Star Weekend. These two rookies both competed at the 2023 McDonald’s Jamfest Dunk Contest.
Jackson is in his second season with the Bucks, starting in 34 of his 42 appearances. He has exceptional bounce and will certainly flex his dunking prowess at this year’s event.
Andre Jackson Jr.’s head was ABOVE THE RIM on this putback slam 😳 pic.twitter.com/omVUf3TvTJ
— NBA (@NBA) March 13, 2024
It is a talented field this year but who will win the 2025 Dunk Contest? Here is how each contestant is likely to fare.
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Who will win the NBA Dunk Contest?
4. Andre Jackson Jr., Milwaukee Bucks
Jackson Jr. may have some of the best hops in the league, but he also has the least amount of dunk contest experience. Flying high in-game is not the same as crafting a collection of unique dunks to showcase in front of the world.
Jackson Jr. has a similar size and bounce to previous winners such as Derrick Jones Jr. and Hamidou Diallo. He could surprise fans but it is unlikely the first-time contestant will walk away with the crown.
3. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Castle, like Jackson Jr., won a national championship at Connecticut, but the two did not overlap at school.
The fourth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Castle has had a solid rookie season, playing alongside French phenom Victor Wembanyama. Castle is averaging 11.7 points, 3.6 assists and 2.5 rebounds on .400/.259/.716 shooting splits. He’s been even better in his last six games, posting 17.7 points, 3.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game on .471/.292/.760 splits.
Castle recently dropped a career-high 26 points against the Grizzlies and is now second in odds for the Rookie of the Year award.
Castle can elevate quickly off one or two feet and slams his dunks with incredible power. As of Monday, Jan. 27, Castle’s 27 dunks this season are the most by any point guard, per Basketball-Reference.
However, Castle did not light it up in his performance at the 2023 Jamfest Dunk Contest. If he gets creative, Castle has a shot to finish in the top two, but as of now, it is safe to say the rising star is the third most qualified for this contest.
2. Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
Buzelis has not had quite the role with the Bulls as Castle has had in San Antonio, but he has flashed his explosive finishing ability in just under 13 minutes per game.
Buzelis is 6-10 with an identical 6-10 wingspan, creating potential highlight reel plays every time he touches the court. The No. 11 pick in the 2024 draft is averaging 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in his limited time on the court, but as Chicago prepares for a rebuild, Buzelis is clearly a key piece of the franchise’s future.
Heading into tonight’s McDonald’s All American Game, Matas Buzelis is already receiving strong interest from several brands on a potential shoe deal.
The @DraftExpress projected #1 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft will sign with the G-League Ignite, and can sign a full shoe deal now. pic.twitter.com/Izveqn7D1Q
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) March 29, 2023
Buzelis used his lengthy measurements and impressive agility to showcase some elite dunks in the 2023 Jamfest Dunk Contest. He has also flashed his talent in-game with dunks off the dribble and flying in on putbacks.
.@BuzelisMatas can get 🆙
The best dunks from his rookie season so far 🍿 pic.twitter.com/COKWEbAqtT
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 18, 2024
The Bulls star had another stellar jam in Chicago’s game against the Nuggets on Monday.
MATAS BUZELIS SHOWING ALL THE WAY OFF…
Loses the defense and drops the hammer! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/w3mJbb3aJf
— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2025
1. Mac McClung, Orlando Magic
It is hard to bet against the champ. McClung has shined at the Dunk Contest, finding his place in the league, despite not playing many NBA games.
McClung has only played five NBA games in his three-year career, including one this season. He played two games at the end of the 2023 season for the 76ers and tallied a near triple-double with 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists against the Nets.
In 2023, McClung outlasted Jericho Sims and Kenyon Martin Jr. before narrowly defeating Trey Murphy III. He scored two 50-point dunks in the finals.
This shot of Mac McClung’s final dunk 🤯#ATTSlamDunk x #StateFarmSaturday pic.twitter.com/b8rXjRfg52
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2023
The following year, McClung beat Jacob Toppin, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Celtics star Jaylen Brown.
McClung has averaged a 49.5/50 in his eight dunks. He has been wickedly creative and wonderfully original across two dunk contests. If he brings his creativity and excellent hops to this year’s contest, McClung will make history.
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