AN NBA star’s wealth can mostly be attributed to his success in an All-Star event.

An Orlando Magic guard has not only seen his career earnings skyrocket due to being a winner in an NBA All-Star Weekend event for the last several years, but he has also made history in the process.

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The 26-year-old Mac McClung dribbles the ball during an NBA G League game on February 7Credit: Getty

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McClung won his third NBA Slam Dunk Content in a row last weekendCredit: Getty
Last weekend, the 26-year-old Mac McClung won the 2025 Slam Dunk Contest at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

He became the first and only player to win three consecutive slam dunk contest titles in NBA history.

McClung has been an otherwordly sensation at the event, but he hasn’t nearly had the same impact in the NBA, spending most of his time in the G League, a development league for the professional level.

While McClung has struggled to receive playing minutes in the NBA, his 2023, 2024, and 2025 Slam Dunk Contest performances have given him a financial enhancement.

This year, the Texas Tech product earned $105,000 in winnings, bringing his total contest earnings to about $310,000.

That number is close to three times his guaranteed career NBA earnings ($132,101).

However, per Front Office Sports, that sum doesn’t include two-way contracts – the one McClung is currently signed on with Orlando.

A two-way contract pays half of a rookie’s minimum salary, which is $578,577 for this season.

McClung was on a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers in the previous two campaigns – and both those contracts put his earnings close to his dunk contest winnings.

If he can finish the season with the Magic on his current two-way deal, his NBA earnings will finally surpass his dunk contest winnings for the first time in his four-year professional career.
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This season, McClung won this year’s slam dunk contest in style.

One of the dunks saw him jump over a Kia sedan car that was parked under the basket, before slamming the ball down.

The move paid homage to Blake Griffin, who made a similar dunk and won the 2011 competition.

Another dunk saw McClung jump over the 6-foot-11 Evan Mobley while also tapping the rim with the ball, and then dunking it down.

McClung scored a perfect 50 on all four dunks this year.

This year, he has totaled just five minutes for the Magic.

Entering this season, McClung played four NBA games, with one of them seeing him score a near-triple double with 20 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in the 76ers’ final game in 2022.

McLung did reveal going into last weekend’s contest that the event was likely the last one he’d participate in, but the Virginia native said after winning it, “I never want to say never.”

“I was extremely honored to be a part of this weekend,” McClung said after his victory.

“I genuinely love this contest, and just very appreciative.”

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McClung seen jumping over a gray Kia sedan before slamming the ball down during the 2025 All-Star event at Chase CenterCredit: Reuters