Intern Reporter Chen Yutang / Comprehensive Report
Three-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Mac McClung has spent the past few years shuttling between the NBA and the G League, never giving up on securing a full NBA contract. Now, he has decided to temporarily leave American basketball and join Bàsquet Girona of the Spanish Liga ACB, beginning his European career.
According to ESPN, McClung’s mother confirmed that her son has signed with Girona. The team is owned by former NBA All-Star center Marc Gasol, who was a key figure in facilitating the signing.
McClung had previously received multiple lucrative overseas offers but turned them down in pursuit of a stable NBA contract. However, his mother revealed that McClung is no longer eligible for a two-way contract. During the offseason, he and his agent contacted several NBA teams, but none were willing to make a commitment, prompting him to seek other opportunities.
“Now is the right time,” McClung’s mother said. Girona wants him to become the team’s marquee player. “This means a lot to him. He’s really looking forward to it. He feels at peace with this decision and believes he’s ready for a new chapter.”
Marc Gasol also played a crucial role in McClung’s decision. His mother said Gasol had “a very big influence” on her son’s signing, even helping him find housing and assisting his adjustment to life in Spain.
McClung is best known to fans for his Slam Dunk Contest performances. He became the first G League player to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and later completed an unprecedented three-peat. Despite his high profile in the dunk contest, he struggled to establish a foothold in the NBA, playing for five teams over his career and appearing in just 17 games, averaging 5.9 points per game.
In October 2025, McClung appeared to break through by signing his first NBA standard contract with the Indiana Pacers, only to be released a week later. In February of this year, he signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, and that same month he declined to attempt a fourth straight Slam Dunk Contest title. Unable to secure consistent playing time in the NBA, McClung decided to leave American basketball and embark on a new chapter in Europe with Spain’s Bàsquet Girona.
