The NBA All-Star Weekend has finally arrived, and the NBA world got to experience one of its most anticipated AT&T Slam Dunk Contests.
The all-star weekend main event, the all-star game, will be held tonight at the Vivint Smart Home Arena, the Utah Jazz’s home venue. Prior to that, the weekend had several other contests planned, including Slam Dunk, 3-Point Contest, and Skills Challenge.
To bring more heat to the once-glorified slam dunk contest, the NBA renamed the trophy to honor one of the best dunkers in NBA history.
In whose name has the NBA changed the slam dunk contest’s trophy?
The NBA renamed the competition after Hall of Famer Julius Erving and named the trophy Dr. J. This is the first time Irving has been recognized for his legacy, particularly in the clam dunk contest.
Julius “Dr. J” Erving will now serve as the namesake of the trophy awarded to the #ATTSlamDunk Champion!
Recognizing of one of the game’s most electrifying dunkers of all time, the trophy honors Erving’s legacy of unparalleled flair on the court and mastery of the slam dunk. pic.twitter.com/HQC3CC3i0x
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2023
The 72-year-old won the slam dunk contest in 1976, which set the example of how electrifying, vibrant, and majestic a dunk can be. Even though some consider Carter’s dunk at the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest iconic, the majority of us believe Dr. J’s dunk started the legacy.
Julius Erving was an NBA champion in 1983, a two-time ABA champion, the NBA’s most valuable player in 1981, an 11-time NBA all-star, a five-time ABA all-star, and a member of the NBA Hall of Fame in 1993, and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
The small forward played for the Virginia Squires in the ABA and the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. In his 14-year NBA career, his franchises retired his jersey numbers 32 and 6 to honor his unmatched propensity on the court.
Other 76ers point guard, Mac McClung, was named champion this year, and the trophy was presented by the Sixers legend himself, creating a mesmerizing moment. In the high school level competition, Mac was also named the best dunker.
Mac McClung's score by each judge on his second dunk in the first round:
◽️ Jamal Crawford – 50
◽️ Karl Malone – 50
◽️ Harold Miner – 50
◽️ Dominique Wilkins – 50
◽️ Lisa Leslie – 49 👀🎥 @NBApic.twitter.com/KnoyxXHqQt
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 19, 2023
What are your thoughts on Mac McClung, the newly named Julius Dr. J. Trophy winner? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
