On the twenty fifth anniversary of Vince Carter’s iconic 2000 NBA Dunk Contest, San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Fort appeared to create his legacy as one of many sport’s nice dunkers. Sadly for him, he bumped into maybe the occasion’s biggest dunker, Mac McClung.
Fort was spectacular in his first-ever Dunk Contest, however McClung was good, beating Fort within the ultimate spherical with 4 good scoring dunks on the best way to his third-straight dunk title. Fort was two judges away from an ideal ultimate spherical that will have compelled time beyond regulation towards the stellar McClung.
Fort kicked off the competition with a robust 360 windmill dunk. This dunk was the closest to his in-game dunking model. He completed with the ability and verticality that Spurs followers have gotten used to seeing all 12 months lengthy. This earned him the second-highest rating of the primary spherical.
Fort’s second dunk was an off the again board, 180 behind the again slam with authority. The rookie simply wanted a protected dunk at this level. Matas Buzelis and Andre Jackson Jr. struggled to get their dunks to go down and their scores suffered for it. In the meantime, McClung was dunking over vehicles and spinning hover boarders for good scores in what felt like an inevitable efficiency.
Fort’s ultimate two dunks have been spectacular. He struggled to get his third slam to go down, however lastly nailed a between the legs dunk off a made basket. If it weren’t for just a few misses to start out, Fort might need earned an ideal rating to present him a shot at beating McClung.
His ultimate dunk included a 360, a behind the again switching of the arms after which a cupped dunk along with his left. In some other contest, this may have been the dunk that topped a champion. As an alternative, McClung leapt over Evan Mobley standing on a platform, tapped the rim, after which threw it down. He earned a 50 and simply narrowly beat Fort.
The juxtaposition of Fort and McClung made this a extra fascinating competitors than years previous. Fort confirmed off athleticism and energy, whereas McClung dunked with aptitude and theatrics. The latter gained the day, however Fort nonetheless placed on a powerful present. It is probably not subsequent 12 months, however a rematch between these two dunkers can be enjoyable to observe.
Fort’s work isn’t completed. He has an opportunity to construct on an already spectacular All-Star weekend by main his group of Rising Stars to a win over the likes of LeBron James and Stephen Curry within the All-Star Event on Sunday night time.
