Vince Carter is an icon of the Slam Dunk Contest, even if he only participated in it once. One only has to see the regular tributes paid to him, as when Donovan Mitchell had decided to wear his jersey in his honor, or when the actors repeat some of his emblematic dunks successful during the legendary competition of the year 2000. We can now add the confession of Mac McClung.
The two-time reigning champion actually had to answer a trick question: who would have come out on top in a dunk contest, or “Vinsanity”? The opportunity for him to close the debate.
“Don’t do that, there’s not even a photo. It's Vince Carter every day. Don’t do this to me,” he blurted outa bit embarrassed, before adding in a joking tone that he had to prepare “ two years in advance, just to think about it and try to get it right.”
Vince Carter for his part would have loved to measure himself against Mac McClung in the same way as all the other best dunkers in history, in order to raise the level a little and see who would have made the best use of this adversity.
“I would have loved the competition, that’s the most important thing. I know the NBA tried to put a lot of money a few years ago into getting the best dunkers to go there. And Vince Carter at his best would have wanted to confront everyone, because that's what would have brought out the best in me,” said “Half-man half-amazing”.
Not keen to cross swords with LeBron James
Interviewed by TMZ, Mac McClung returned to the subject when asked which superstar he would like to measure himself against. For him, it is above all about having motivated athletes in front of him, regardless of their status.
“I think the person has to want to do it. It is the most important. I don't want to confront someone who does it for some reason. I think the best thing is when the person really wants to do it. It doesn’t matter who, as long as there’s the will, we have to go.”
As with Vince Carter, Mac McClung showed humility when the name of LeBron James was suggested to him, who has never participated in a dunk contest in almost 21 years of career. “He’s THE guy. I don't know if I would want to go there against him. He would probably beat me. It's certain “ he concluded…
