The 2026 NBA All-Star Game weekend took a trip down memory lane by way of Mac McClung. The veteran no longer participated in this year's event as a member of the Chicago Bulls. Still, he made headlines — one that made Phoenix Suns fans think of Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire.
McClung helped release a series of online videos after the '26 Dunk Contest was completed. The fourth, however, is reminiscent of the famous Nash-Stoudemire headbutt dunk.
four stings @macmcclung37 Would have done in this year's dunk contest 🔥
Which one was your favourite? Text DUNK to 69097 to vote! pic.twitter.com/lrtNdcoFek
- Team VKTRY (@TeamVKTRY) 15 February 2026
Nash and Stoudemire had an epic soccer-like dunk in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. Despite not attending the celebration in Inglewood, McClung has become the first person to actually recreate that dunk.
Why did Mac McClung skip the 2026 NBA All-Star Game Dunk Contest?
McClung likely entered the Intuit Dome as the heavy favorite to win again.
Except this year he opted to take a year off.
"I think we were just going back and forth, and then they were calling me, like 'if I was doing this people weren't going to want to do it,' and I thought it would be best if I just sit out this year and let it be, no matter what," McClung said.
Other words - McClung opted to allow this year's edition to become more competitive without him. McClung's presence may have made the participants feel like they had lost.
McClung is on a two-way deal with the Bulls, which he signed on February 5, the day of the NBA trade deadline. He may continue to bounce between the NBA and the G-League.
Meanwhile, Miami Heat's Keshad Johnson won this year's dunk title with the help of famous rapper E-40.
