NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Odds: McClung Will McDominate This Silly Tournament

Betting Odds Favor McClung To Defend Title But…

We’re not Mac McFlung stans if our title leads. But the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk odds are one-sided in the champion’s favor: -160 against new contestants Jaylen Brown (+400), Jacob Toppin (+450) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (+550). McClung was also favored last year but has even shorter odds this time. But McClung and his backers may find out that repeating as champ is not this easy.

Can’t forget Mac McClung’s performance in last year’s Slam Dunk contestpic.twitter.com/Evig4oEVQW

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) February 15, 2024

McClung To Repeat: A Tall Task For Slam Dunk Champs

Winning for the first time is difficult. But doing it again is another story. Mac McClung pleasantly surprised everyone last year as he took the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest and made it his you-know-what. The 6’2” high-flyer was inventive and pulled some moves that were never done. He has a chance to do something that hasn’t been done since 2016: Win consecutive titles.

“He solidified himself as probably one of the greatest slam dunk competitors that we’ve had in the history of the game,” LeBron James said who also mentioned how he had been following McClung’s highlights since his high school days.

McClung nearly scored a perfect contest last year. He scored 99.8 in the first round and 100 in the final. More notably, he made all his dunks on the first try. This, on top of James’s endorsements, is why most NBA predictions are squarely on his side again.

Before McClung, the last NBA dunk contest winner to do it consecutively was Zach LaVine in 2015 and 2016. Since then, winners were “one and done”. Obi Toppin, who won in 2022, also participated in 2021 but lost narrowly to Anfernee Simons. He did not participate in 2023. 

Here is how past winners have fared when participating the next year:

• 2016: Zach LaVine wins
• 2014: Terrence Loss loses
• 2013: Jeremy Evans loses
• 2010: Nate Robinson wins
• 2009: Dwight Howard loses
• 2008: Gerald Green loses
• 2007: Nate Robinson loses
• 2006: Josh Smith loses
• 2004: Jason Richardson loses
• 2003: Jason Richardson wins
• 2002: Desmond Mason loses

So in the last 11 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contests where a winner defended their title, only three went on to repeat. In the other instances, we crowned a new champion. But who among the new contestants now can dethrone McClung?

Bet The Field? Contest Remains Tough to Gauge

Gauging the betting odds in contests like this is always tricky. After all, this is a competition ruled by judging on mainly qualitative metrics. Even the criteria dubbed “degree of difficulty” is subjective and proportional to the perceived talents of the dunker e.g. shorter dunkers tend to be given more leeway, hence why Robinson is a three-time winner. 

McClung has that “edge” since he is only 6’2” and pulls off jaw-dropping moves with one attempt. If he does so again, it will be tough to bet against him. But those willing to roll on the NBA odds could be rewarded. Even betting on all three challengers could return a profit if one wins. 

Brown is a distant second to McClung based on the odds. He’s on his third All-Star selection as he and Jayson Tatum have the Boston Celtics at the top of the NBA standings. And as a dunker, Brown has a long highlight reel of thunderous dunks. If he can add some more flair and creativity, he may just upset McClung. 

Toppin, on the other hand, may be the most athletic dunker in this contest. He has the highest vertical jump and often goes above the rim in some of his alley-oops. He’s also got his brother, Obi, coaching him on how to win the contest. This may give him an edge over the other challengers. But is it enough to beat McClung? 

Last but not least is Heat forward Jaquez Jr. He’s also got the “hops” to rival the other three participants here even if his highlight reel is the shortest. You just never know and he can pull off an upset.

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