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Mac McClung, three-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion, signs his first standard NBA contract with Indiana Pacers, who waive James Wiseman amid an injury crisis in their backcourt.
Mac McClung in action at the NBA Slam Dunk Contest (X)
Three-time reigning NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Mac McClung is finally getting his long-awaited shot at a full NBA career.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Indiana Pacers have signed the 26-year-old guard to a multi-year, non-guaranteed deal, marking his first standard NBA contract after years of fighting through the G League and short-term call-ups.
To make room for McClung, the Pacers are reportedly waiving former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman, who had just returned from an Achilles injury and played two games this season.
The Pacers plan to waive center James Wiseman to create roster space for McClung, who will sign a non-guaranteed multiyear deal, sources said. Indiana is dealing with several key injuries to their guards and wings to start the season. https://t.co/eMRWVYfbXQ— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 27, 2025
McClung’s Journey So Far
McClung, once a viral YouTube dunking sensation, went undrafted in 2021 but went on to carve out a unique niche for himself in the league.
After standout college stints at Georgetown and Texas Tech, the 6-foot-2 guard went undrafted in 2021 but refused to fade away.
McClung bounced between G League teams and short NBA stints with the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
His breakout moment came off the court (or rather, above it) when he won the 2023 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, reviving the event with a series of jaw-dropping, near-perfect slams that made him an overnight fan favourite.
He successfully defended his title in 2024, becoming the first back-to-back winner since Zach LaVine, and then later in 2025 as well, making him the first three-peat winner of the coveted contest.
McClung then thrived in the G League, where he won Rookie of the Year (2023), and now, he finally gets what could be his first proper call-up.
Pacers Amid An Injury Crisis
The Pacers are in need of backcourt depth, with Bennedict Mathurin (foot) and Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) both day-to-day, while T.J. McConnell (hamstring) remains out, and All-Star Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) has been ruled out for the season.
(with agency inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
October 28, 2025, 16:57 IST
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