Osceola Magic’s McClung, Queen bring home All-Star hardware

He’s still the dean of the dunk.

Osceola Magic point guard Mac McClung proved that an NBA G League player winning the All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest last year wasn’t a fluke.

After winning in 2023 as a member of the Delaware Blue Coats, a Philadelphia 76ers affiliate, McClung, who also appeared in the Future Stars game on Friday made up of first and second-year players along with Orlando’s Paulo Banchero, did it again wearing Magic colors Saturday night in Indianapolis.

He wasn’t the only Magic player to bring hardware back to Osceola, as Trevelin Queen was named the MVP of the NBA G League “Up Next” game. His Team EYL used a 15-0 run to close out Team BallisLife — which featured the Magic’s Kevon Harris — 30-21. It was played Sunday before the All-Star Game and streamed on nba.com.

The final-round winning dunk also included a Magic legend as the 6-2 McClung elevated over the 7-1 Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq held the ball behind his neck, and Mac skied over “The Big Fella” and threw down the dunk. He earned straight perfect-50 scores from the judging panel of former NBA All-Stars to defeat Boston Celtic Jalen Brown for another title. “That was the backup option,” McClung said of the dunk. “Shaq was so cool to put my high school jersey on, but he said, ‘If I put it on you better not miss the dunk.’ What a guy, to do that for me and my hometown.”

The defense of the title — McClung said he’d be keeping this trophy after giving last year’s to his dad — even got the attention of NBA legend Julius “Dr. J.” Erving.

“Back to back, you can make something out of that,” Erving said to the Osceola Magic’s Comron Fouladi. “He’s a special guy, clean-cut guy, what I like about him. He understands the responsibility of being a champion and living up to that in his community.”

The Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez and the New York Knicks’ Jacob Toppin also participated.

“It’s incredible they’re letting (G League) players do this and put our names out there,” McClung said. I know I’m a lucky dude.

“People have come to me, saying I should be mad I’m not in the NBA,” he said following the victory. “I do believe I do, but I also think this is my human experience for a reason. Without this grind and struggle, I wouldn’t be able to impact like I’ve been lucky to do. This is my story and I embrace it, and will keep fighting.”

Does that fight include going for the three-peat?

“I don’t know, I’ll think about it,” he said.

In the Future Stars game Friday, McClung scored 12 points and added five rebounds and three assists in Team Detlef’s 41-36 win over Team Pau, which included the likes of Jaquez, Jabari Smith and Victor Wembanyama.

Queen and Harris were selected to the “Up Next” game in an online fan poll.

“It was a blessing to be able to call yourself an All-Star and be able to play in front of friends and family like that,” Queen said. “It’s a real highlight, and then I get to talk smack to Kevon about beating his team!

“But it was cool to see all the big names in one place, and just have normal conversations with those guys. And Shaq … what a highlight for Mac to have him out there for the dunk contest. I got to watch that. He’d a’ cleared Shaq if he was 7-6.”

Following the All-Star break, like its Orlando brethren, Osceola has jumped right back into the drive for an NBA G League playoff spot. The Magic entered the break on a three-game win streak and continued that Friday night with a come-from-behind 124-113 win over the G League Ignite in Las Vegas. The Magic trailed by 12 at the half and by 19 and one point before a second-half rally that featured a 44-point third quarter. All five Osceola starters scored at least 17 points, include 20 from McClung (and seven assists) and D.J. Wilson (and 13 rebounds).

 Heading into games against the Salt Lake (Utah) Stars Monday and Tuesday, the Magic are 12-7, just 2 games back of first place in the Eastern Conference -- but also a game and a half ahead of seventh place.

The Magic return to the Silver Spurs Arena, where they’ll play 10 of their final 14 games, on Sunday, March 3 to host the first-place Delaware Blue Coats.

It’s been a long season for Queen, who’s played in Osceola and Osceola as a two-way player, and got just one day’s break traveling from Indianapolis to Orlando then out west with the team.

“As a two-way guy you never get comfortable, it’s a nonstop grind, so this is nothing new, you just try to avoid hitting the wall,” he said. “The second half (of the season) is real important to us.”