The 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest was supposed to be another highlight of All-Star Weekend, but instead, it sparked one of the wildest debates in recent history. While Mac McClung cemented himself as the king of the dunk contest with his historic three-peat, not everyone was thrilled with the result. NBA stars took to social media to question whether Stephon Castle should have been the true winner, setting the stage for major controversy. But just as things were heating up, McClung dropped a bombshell that no one saw coming.

Mac McClung may have stolen the show, but for many, Stephon Castle was the real MVP. The San Antonio Spurs rookie delivered some jaw-dropping slams without relying on props or gimmicks, which led to a wave of support from NBA stars. Ja Morant made his feelings crystal clear, posting a simple but powerful message: “FW Castle.” It didn’t stop there. NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor joined the debate, saying: “Stephon Castle should’ve won. Better dunks without the use of gimmick props and he’s an actual NBA player.”

The conversation then took an unexpected turn when Morant teased his potential entry into next year’s contest, saying: “Mac might make me decide to dunk.” That alone sent fans into a frenzy, but then Giannis Antetokounmpo jumped in, raising the stakes even higher. “If you do it. I’ll do it with you 💯,” the Bucks superstar replied, before following it up with another message that really got fans talking: “I just gotta warm up for 3 weeks prior to the contest.“

Wait, hold up. Giannis is actually considering this? Are Morant and Giannis in the dunk contest together? If this happens, we’re looking at an all-time classic in 2026. Will we see Giannis, Morant, McClung, and Castle next year? Based on Mac’s announcement it does seem unlikely to me.

“This Might Be It for Me” – Mac McClung Drops Stunning Announcement

While the debate raged on, Mac McClung had his own revelation to share. After securing his third straight dunk contest title, he hinted that this could be his last appearance. “This might be it for me, but we’ll see,” McClung said when asked about his future in the competition. “If they want me back bad enough, I’ll think about it.“

It was a bittersweet moment. On one hand, McClung had just made history, becoming the first player to ever win three consecutive dunk contests. On the other, the contest’s biggest star might be walking away for good. But his reasoning makes sense. What else is left for him to prove? He came in as an underdog, won back-to-back titles, and now he’s cemented as an All-Star Weekend legend. If he steps away now, he leaves at the absolute peak of his dunking career.

Still, the fans aren’t ready to let him go. The crowd erupted in chants, pleading for him to return next year. Even the broadcast crew acknowledged that McClung “saved the dunk contest.” So, could the NBA find a way to convince him to run it back one more time?

If this was Mac McClung’s final dunk contest, he just left the game on a Jordan-level mic drop. But if Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo are serious about stepping up, the NBA might be looking at the greatest dunk contest lineup in decades. Imagine this: Ja, Giannis, Zion Williamson, and maybe even a desperate last-minute plea to get McClung back in the mix. The potential is INSANE. Could 2026 be the year we finally get a true revival of the dunk contest with NBA superstars battling for the crown?

Or better yet—does McClung’s exit force the NBA to throw the biggest bag ever to keep him in? Because let’s be real, if the league wants to keep the dunk contest alive, they better figure out a way to make it happen. So, is this really the end of an era? Or just the beginning of something even crazier? Because if Morant and Giannis are actually in, we might be looking at the most legendary dunk contest of all time.