Mac McClung and Jacob Toppin are about to be two of the most googled names in the sports world with the announcement that they will potentially be participating in the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest on All-Star Weekend.
Per The Athletic's Shams Charania, the likely lineup will feature Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown.
Those are the two headliners, but Charania also mentioned two G-League players, Mac McClung of the Osceola Magic and Jacob Toppin of the Westchester Knicks.
Jaylen Brown, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Mac McClung (G League), and Jacob Toppin (G League) will potentially be headlining the 2024 Slam Dunk Contest, per @ShamsCharania
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 6, 2024
Who’s winning it all? pic.twitter.com/fgEylqOfym
So who are these two G-leaguers?
Toppin may be the most well-known for the average sports fan because he's the younger brother of New York Knicks power forward Obi Toppin.
Obi was drafted eighth overall by the Knicks in 2020 and was traded to the Indiana Pacers this past summer. He's currently averaging 10.9 points and 4.0 assists per game as an NBA player. He was the winner of the 2022 NBA Slam Dunk Contest and apparently, his brother, Jacob, has the same kind of hops in his game.
Former Wildcat Jacob Toppin will participate in the 2024 #NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest
— Blue Chips (@UKBlueChips) February 7, 2024
He will aim to be the 4th @KentuckyMBB player to ever win the event
Kenny Sky Walker (1989)
John Wall (2014)
Hamidou Diallo (2019)pic.twitter.com/cZ3LcKcIjd
Jacob, 23, went undrafted in 2023 but was picked up by the Knicks on a two-way contract as a G-league player. He played college ball at Rhode Island and Kentucky, averaging 12.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for the Wildcats as a senior.
McClung was unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft after two seasons at Georgetown and one at Texas Tech. He's played a lot of G-League ball but finally made a name for himself in February 2023 when he signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
He was invited to the 2023 NBA Slam Dunk Contest and shocked everyone by winning the whole thing.
"LET'S GO HOME, IT'S OVER!"
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 19, 2023
MAC MCCLUNG JUST SHUT IT DOWN pic.twitter.com/PJBf4Xi2EO
McClung was signed by the Orlando Magic in September 2023 but unfortunately, he didn't make it on the active roster past October 2021. He was picked up by Orlando's G-League affiliate, though, and now he has a chance to once again go viral in the dunk contest.
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