This year’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest is lacking in star power, as last year’s inclusion of Jaylen Brown did nothing to sway more stars to take part in the event. But there is a chance for some history to be made in this year’s contest, as G-Leaguer Mac McClung looks to win his third straight edition of the competition over a field that includes some exciting young players in the league.
Continue reading to get our breakdown of the 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. You will find below the odds for each participant to win this competition, along with our prediction in the betting markets for the contest. Will McClung repeat again, or will he lose out to those seeking to dethrone him? We attempt to answer that question here.
NBA Slam Dunk Contest Odds
| Player | Odds to Win |
|---|---|
| Mac McClung | -200 |
| Matas Buzelis | +425 |
| Andre Jackson Jr. | +475 |
| Stephon Castle | +500 |
Mac McClung Favored to Win Third Straight Dunk Contest
The favorite to win the dunk contest going into All-Star weekend is Mac McClung. McClung is a G-League player, who has played a total of five NBA minutes this year for the Orlando Magic. But he is the favorite to win his third straight dunk contest. While critics will lament his inclusion in this event that should feature NBA-level talent, McClung’s ability to dunk is certainly not up for debate.
For McClung, the question in this contest will be execution over anything else. It has already been made clear that McClung has the level of creativity to beat everyone in the field in any dunk contest. But he still has to successfully make his dunks in order to win this contest and that is never a guarantee even for someone as talented as McClung is at this facet of the game.
Can Other Dunk Contest Competitors Compete?
The other three participants in this year’s dunk contest are not household names, but they are certainly athletic enough to win this competition. Matas Buzelis of the Chicago Bulls, Andre Jackson Jr. of the Milwaukee Bucks, and Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs have all showcased the ability to pull off impressive dunks in-game early in their careers. But whether or not they can bring enough creativity to win this contest will be a different task.
Of course, each of these players has a tougher workload in their actual basketball careers than McClung. Having to withstand the rigors of NBA basketball is tougher than playing in the G-League, even if G-League basketball is demanding in its own right. How much these NBA players will care to push the envelope against McClung could be impacted by that fact.
Buzelis, Jackson, and Castle will also have to overcome the aesthetic disadvantage that comes with facing a player like McClung. Ever since Spud Webb won a dunk contest as a smaller player, shorter players like McClung always receive some extra credit for pulling off impressive dunks despite not having big bodies. That could be a factor in the judging that works against that trio and in the favor of the defending champion.
2025 Slam Dunk Contest Prediction
Mac McClung (-200)
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- McClung has won two straight dunk contests and has blown away the competition in both.
- Without any star power to influence the judges away from McClung, we expect the defending champion to win easily once again.
