Mac McClung and his NBA journey has hit another roadblock. Less than two weeks after finally landing his first full-time NBA contract, the Indiana Pacers have reportedly waived the three-time Slam Dunk Contest winner, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The move comes only 10 days after McClung signed a multiyear deal with Indiana, a moment that the 25-year-old guard described as deeply emotional after years of bouncing between teams and the G League.
“I got in my car, and I couldn’t help but get emotional,” McClung told The Athletic earlier this week. “I was just like, man, it’s been five years trying to chase a contract. So it’s a really beautiful moment where I just thought about all the people who have been along with me for it.”
McClung’s stint with the Pacers was brief. He appeared in three games, all losses, averaging 6.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in roughly 11 minutes per contest. His playing time diminished sharply by his third appearance, logging just two minutes in Indiana’s last-second loss to Milwaukee on Monday.
Indiana’s decision reportedly came as the team juggled injuries to its backcourt. With star guard Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the season with an Achilles injury and both Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell missing time, the Pacers initially brought McClung in to add depth.
But with players returning to health and the roster stabilizing, McClung’s contract became expendable.
The former Texas Tech standout first entered the league in 2021 as an undrafted free agent and has since played for five NBA organizations. While he’s dazzled fans with his aerial artistry, becoming the first-ever three-peat winner of the Slam Dunk Contest from 2023 through 2025, consistent NBA minutes have proven elusive.
For now, McClung’s chase continues, back to the grind that has defined his career since day one.
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