Mac McClung and Scoot Henderson capitalized on their massive break once they have been invited to take part within the NBA’s annual All-Star Weekend, going down in Salt Lake Metropolis Utah.

Originally of the season, when Mac McClung and Scoot Henderson determined to doc their seasons on “The Break introduced by The Common,” nobody knew the place this 12 months would take them or what they could accomplish. 

The NBA’s All-Star Weekend is a collection of occasions sometimes reserved for the premier skills of the NBA. With the G League persevering with to develop in recognition and expertise, the league searched for tactics to engrain a number of the recreation’s “Rising Stars” into the weekend festivities. This enlargement 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 decide within the upcoming NBA Draft, most followers are already aware of the title Scoot Henderson. However after battling accidents throughout the first half of the season, this weekend was a first-rate 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” match alongside chosen prime G League skills, together with Mac McClung and different Ignite teammates. The G League-based crew was coached and named after NBA legend and former All-Star, Jason Terry. Scoot and Workforce Jason dropped their first recreation of the match, however this wouldn’t be the final likelihood for Scoot to take part in a showcase recreation all through the weekend. 

Scoot was moreover named one of many captains of the G League “Subsequent Up Sport,” an exhibition going down on February 19 between a number of the greatest gamers throughout the G League.  Alongside fellow captain and Iowa Wolves heart Luke Garza, Scoot was given the accountability of drafting his crew. The gamers he was capable of draft have been voted into the sport by G League followers and gamers. Scoot confirmed some loyalty as he drafted a number of the prime G League skills to “Workforce Scoot” when he selected six of his Ignite teammates to compete alongside him towards Workforce Luka. 

Scoot placed on fairly the present as crew captain: 

And he completed the sport with a bang by throwing down a strong between-the-legs dunk that bought everybody on their toes: 

Workforce Luka would find yourself profitable the offensive showdown with a remaining rating of 178-162, however Scoot and the remainder of his crew actually caught the eye of each followers and NBA executives in attendance. 

Mac McClung: 

Mac McClung was a closely recruited phenom out of highschool and shortly attracted the eye of coaches and followers along 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 collaborating within the “Rising Stars” match on Friday, Mac was set to take part in the primary occasion — the Slam Dunk Contest — turning into the primary G League participant to ever partake. Shortly earlier than, he was known 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 towards 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 throughout the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest as a part of 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Vivint Area in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Touchdown the very best scores of the evening to date, Mac superior to the ultimate spherical to compete towards Trey Murphy III. Murphy put up a valiant efficiency, however Mac’s remaining two dunks of the final spherical, introduced him to a few good scores for the occasion, leaving the entire NBA Stars in attendance in awe of what they’d simply witnessed. 

After a show-stopping efficiency, in a contest that many thought had misplaced its aggressive edge lately, 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 quite a lot of the fellows within the G League deserve this gentle that I simply bought. I’m appreciative and I hope I represented them effectively.” 

What’s Subsequent? 

Mac is ready to play his first recreation 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, introduced by The Common” which is ready to debut on March 1 and offers an inside take a look at each gamers’ weekends in Salt Lake. Within the meantime, you may try the earlier episodes of “The Break” on the G League’s YouTube channel.  

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The Common is proud to assist these athletes as they attempt to earn their break into the NBA and provides drivers all over the place a break once they want it most. For extra data go to Thegeneral.com