Mac McClung and Scoot Henderson capitalized on their massive break after they have been invited to take part within the NBA’s annual All-Star Weekend, going down in Salt Lake Metropolis Utah.
In the beginning of the season, when Mac McClung and Scoot Henderson determined to doc their seasons on “The Break offered by The Normal,” nobody knew the place this yr would take them or what they may accomplish.
The NBA’s All-Star Weekend is a collection of occasions usually reserved for the premier abilities of the NBA. With the G League persevering with to develop in recognition and expertise, the league searched for methods to engrain a few of the sport’s “Rising Stars” into the weekend festivities. This growth resulted in each Scoot and Mac headlining the weekend’s prime competitions and turning heads as they placed on a present.
Scoot Henderson:
As a projected first-round choose within the upcoming NBA Draft, most followers are already accustomed to the identify Scoot Henderson. However after battling accidents through the first half of the season, this weekend was a main alternative for Scoot to remind prime NBA executives that he’s the true deal.
On Friday, February 17, Scoot took the ground for the three-game “Rising Stars” event alongside chosen prime G League abilities, together with Mac McClung and different Ignite teammates. The G League-based staff was coached and named after NBA legend and former All-Star, Jason Terry. Scoot and Group Jason dropped their first sport of the event, however this wouldn’t be the final likelihood for Scoot to take part in a showcase sport all through the weekend.
Scoot was moreover named one of many captains of the G League “Subsequent Up Recreation,” an exhibition going down on February 19 between a few of the greatest gamers throughout the G League. Alongside fellow captain and Iowa Wolves middle Luke Garza, Scoot was given the accountability of drafting his staff. The gamers he was in a position to draft have been voted into the sport by G League followers and gamers. Scoot confirmed some loyalty as he drafted a few of the prime G League abilities to “Group Scoot” when he selected six of his Ignite teammates to compete alongside him in opposition to Group Luka.
Scoot placed on fairly the present as staff captain:
And he completed the sport with a bang by throwing down a strong between-the-legs dunk that obtained everybody on their toes:
Group Luka would find yourself profitable the offensive showdown with a closing rating of 178-162, however Scoot and the remainder of his staff definitely caught the eye of each followers and NBA executives in attendance.
Mac McClung:
Mac McClung was a closely recruited phenom out of highschool and rapidly attracted the eye of coaches and followers together with his dynamic dunks that constantly reached viral standing on social media. After temporary call-ups to the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, Mac fell off the radar for a lot of followers.
After taking part within the “Rising Stars” event on Friday, Mac was set to take part in the principle occasion — the Slam Dunk Contest — changing into the primary G League participant to ever partake. Shortly earlier than, he was referred to as as much as the NBA as a two-way member of the Philadelphia 76ers. Then, on Saturday evening, he capitalized on his massive break and put the world on discover.
Mac was set to go in opposition to Trey Murphy III, Jericho Sims, and Kenyon Martin Jr. Every participant would get 4 whole dunk scores over two rounds. Together with his first two dunks of the evening, Mac instantly confirmed he was able to put up a historic efficiency with an ideal rating of fifty and 49.8.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – FEBRUARY 18: (Dunk sequence 3 of 4) Mac McClung #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball through the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest as a part of 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Vivint Enviornment in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Touchdown the most effective scores of the evening to date, Mac superior to the ultimate spherical to compete in opposition to Trey Murphy III. Murphy put up a valiant efficiency, however Mac’s closing two dunks of the final spherical, introduced him to 3 good scores for the occasion, leaving the entire NBA Stars in attendance in awe of what that they had simply witnessed.
After a show-stopping efficiency, in a contest that many thought had misplaced its aggressive edge in recent times, NBA legend and announcer Reggie Miller claimed that “Mac McClung had saved the dunk contest.” Within the following days, Mac signed an official sneaker deal and elevated his Instagram followers by over 250,000. He additionally matched his whole profession earnings from his prize cash earned because the 2023 Slam Dunk Champion.
Mac had this to say following the dunk contest: “I’m tremendous grateful for this chance, and I believe a number of the blokes within the G League deserve this mild that I simply obtained. I’m appreciative and I hope I represented them nicely.”
What’s Subsequent?
Mac is ready to play his first sport with the 76ers when the NBA returns this week, and Scoot will put together for the remainder of the season with The G League Ignite. Keep tuned for the following episode of “The Break, offered by The Normal” which is ready to debut on March 1 and supplies an inside take a look at each gamers’ weekends in Salt Lake. Within the meantime, you possibly can take a look at the earlier episodes of “The Break” on the G League’s YouTube channel.
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The Normal is proud to assist these athletes as they try to earn their break into the NBA and provides drivers in all places a break after they want it most. For extra data go to Thegeneral.com
