Nate Robinson Calls Out NBA After Mac McClung's Dunk Contest Decision

Story by

Angelo Guinhawa

Wed, Feb 4, 2026 ·

3 min read

Three-time NBA Dunk Contest champion Mac McClung has decided to skip this year's competition, preventing him from potentially winning a record fourth title and becoming the first player to win it four straight times.

Nate Robinson , the only other player to win the Dunk Contest three times, is in full support of McClung's decision, though.

It's unknown why McClung decided to skip the 2026 Dunk Contest. According to his dad, Marcus McClung, in a text message to ESPN , it's a combination of a "bunch of reasons" that led his son to decide not to participate for the fourth straight year.

"Not going to be 4 in a row," Marcus McClung stated. "Not one reason that I could say that was the main reason. In my opinion it is more like a bunch of reasons that just pointed to him not doing it."

Former Osceola Magic guard Mac McClung during the dunk contest.© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
(© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)

Robinson, for his part, is convinced that the lack of opportunities given to McClung in the NBA is the reason he opted out of the popular All-Star Weekend event.

McClung earned his first-ever standard NBA contract with the Indiana Pacers earlier in the season. After appearing in just three games and averaging 6.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, however, he was waived.

McClung has since returned to the NBA G League, playing for the Chicago Bulls ' affiliate, the Windy City Bulls.

"If I was him, I wouldn't do it either," Robinson told Athlon regarding McClung's decision, via Casino.org, which analyzes Kalshi promo codes . "He's such a great guy, he plays basketball the right way. He's been killing it in the D League [G League]. And the NBA still won't give him a chance to play the game at a high level."

Robinson added that he doesn't understand why NBA teams are not signing McClung despite everything that he has accomplished, adding that "teams and the owners are not believing in the little guy anymore."

"I feel so bad for him because he's a good player, he can jump and he will be a fan-favorite if you bring him off the bench and let him do his thing," Robinson added. "I don't understand why they don't have him play in the NBA and be part of a team. It's crazy man, and I don't blame him for not doing the dunk contest again."

Mac McClung's Plan After NBA Dunk Contest

While McClung won't be competing in the dunk contest, it doesn't mean fans won't see him perform some gravity-defying slams.

After news of his decision emerged, McClung revealed on social media that he did have some dunks prepared for the contest and that he would be showing them following the event.

"But since we prepared for it Chuck, I’ll be releasing the dunks we came up with after the contest!" McClung wrote.

As for the competition itself, only Jalen Duren , Carter Bryant and Jaxson Hayes have been confirmed to participate at the time of writing.

Sure enough, there's now extra pressure on the participants to really show what they can do, or else McClung might overshadow them.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.