Mac McClung still an MVP to many despite playoff loss

Prior to the Osceola Magic's Eastern Conference semifinal game Friday, point guard Mac McClung was named the Kia NBA G League Most Valuable Player.

By Friday night, the feeling was a bit hollow as the Magic fell to the Long Island Ducks, 120-112, ending the team's first season in Osceola.

In a starting lineup that included Trevelin Queen, Kevon Harris, D.J. Wilson and Jett Howard — all who logged NBA minutes this season — McClung scored a game-high 29 points Friday, and he had some highlights, but it wasn't enough.

With the Magic mostly stuck in neutral for much of the first three quarters, McClung hit a pair of big buckets at the end of the third quarter to give Osceola the lead -- and momentum. His 3-pointer with 37.6 seconds left in the third quarter gave the Magic an 85-83 lead. The Ducks scored a bucket at the other end to tie it back up with 4 seconds left, but Mac wasn't having any of it, sprinting downcourt, for a layup and a foul with 0.2 seconds left. The free throw gave Osceola an 88-85 lead headed to the final quarter.

That made the chants of "M-V-P!" rain down from the Silver Spurs Arena announced crown of 2,912 fans, but there wasn't enough fourth-quarter magic to pull out a win.

"I'm honored, but my heart hurts right now," McClung said after the game.

In 27 regular-season games, McClung, 25, led the G League in scoring average (25.7 points per game) and was 16th in assists (6.6 apg). He shot over 50 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from three-point range. He helped the Magic (120.1 ppg) be the highest-scoring offense in the league.

He entered the season with the notoriety from winning the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest in 2023, an honor he'd defend this year. He quickly became a fan favorite in Osceola.

"Mac obviously had an unbelievable year. It's a credit to our whole team, it's just that Mac got the individual recognition," Coach Dylan Murphy said. "It's really hard to explain why some guys get called up and some don't. But I'm really excited for Mac's opportunities this summer. He's a grinder. Our whole team believes Mac's an NBA player."

Teammate Trevelin Queen, who during the 2021-22 season was named NBA G League Most Valuable Player with the Rio Grand Valley Vipers, said McClung winning the MVP was the reward for the work he's put in as a pro. McClung, who said he’s headed home to Gate City, Virginia for an offseason respite before ramping back up in the summer, was quick to deflect praise onto teammates.

"I think this was the best team I've been a part of," McClung said. "TQ, a guy I was excited to play with, D.J. (Wilson), who was a first-round pick, Jett Howard. Us being the No. 1 seed doesn't happen without those guys.

"Coach (Murphy) helped me grow so much this year. It was the little things like off-the-dribble shooting, which I'd never done before. That's the beauty of the game, figuring out ways to grow and get better. That's the beauty of it, more than any certain individual goal."

And, despite looking ahead to find an NBA opportunity, McClung makes sure to include the community in the game. During the final weekend of the season, he worked with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida in its “Ball For All” campaign that provides kids with an on-court experience. He met with a group, answered questions, took photos, signed memorabilia and furthered their love of basketball.

“I see a lot of myself in these kids, so I don’t want any of them to think they are limited in what they can do,” McClung said. “Any opportunity I can get to help these kids, I want to take it.”

Osceola Magic General Manager Kevin Tiller said those things done when people aren’t watching are the reasons the team brought him to do the things fans are watching.

“I can talk for days about Mac,” Tiller said. “He’s a winner, all about the team and those around him, and just humble. Winning the Dunk Contest twice hasn’t changed him.”