McClung is not only fighting on the court this year, but also refusing to admit defeat on the road of his dreams!
From slam dunk champion to defending title, McClung has had a great year. O'Neill stood on the sidelines himself and watched him go over his head to complete the shocking back buckle. This is not only a leap forward, but also a continuation of the dream. Behind the two consecutive championships, McClung is not facing the loss of fame and fortune, but the choice to stick to the NBA dream. This year, he is not only the overlord on the basketball court, but also a firm walker on the road of dreams.
McClung gained fame and fortune, but he kept his composure. Not carried away by the sudden attention, he was not in a hurry to monetize his fame. Instead, he worked quietly outside the NBA gates, chasing his dream of a full-fledged contract. Such persistence is worthy of admiration, because in the face of fame and fortune, he chose the heaviness of his dreams.
Last year's slam dunk contest didn't make McClung lose himself, but inspired more dreams. He entered the tournament with a wild card, won the championship strongly, and was hailed by O'Neal as "saving the slam dunk contest". But McClung was distracted, he knew this was just the beginning, not the end. He signed a two-way contract with the 76ers and received a sneaker sponsorship, but he understands that this is only a short-term contract and that his true value needs to be shown on the court.
Fame came in an impact, and fans and brands flocked to it. But McClung isn't obsessed with that, and he knows he's not really in the NBA yet. Although in the spotlight, he didn't get carried away. "I know the heat is going to go down, but it's crazy," he said. "This calmness and sobriety is admirable.
Not content to be the team's mascot or ambassador, McClung is eager to play and show off his true basketball skills. He further improved his physicality, projection and point guard skills in the offseason. This attitude of focusing on technical improvement shows his dedication to his dreams. He didn't just want to be a celebrity, he wanted to be a real NBA player.
In the jungle of commercial contracts, McClung has his own principles. He does not blindly pursue fame and fortune, but carefully chooses contracts to ensure that he pursues his dreams while maintaining his life. The broker revealed that he rejected more business contracts than accepted. "I don't focus too much on commercial contracts, which are good to have, but that's not my main concern," McClung said. ”
Playing in the Development League, McClung was not discouraged, on the contrary, he worked harder. Played in 14 games, averaging 23 per game7 points, 49 rebounds, 72 assists and 50 percent shooting4% and 39 percent from three-point range3%。This is not only a continuation of his athletic ability, but also an all-round improvement of other skills. However, height, style of play, defense and other factors are still the constraints on him, and he still needs to climb a big mountain.
The road ahead is long, but McClung continues to chase his dreams. He's considering returning to the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest stage again to fight for a three-in-a-row slam dunk contest. This time, he wants to play as an NBA player rather than a Development League player. His dream may not have come true yet, but his perseverance and hard work have made it an impressive basketball journey. This is not only the history of a basketball player's struggle, but also the growth of a dreamer.