And Lillard won the title of best long-distance recorder with a decisive throw at the final whistle, raising his total score to 26 points in his third participation in the competition.
“They say third time is the best and I’m glad it happened here,” said Dam, who attended Weber State University, about 25 miles north of Salt Lake City. “Things are perfect and I’m glad I made it when I got back to Utah.”
“Most of the best shooters in the history of our sport have one,” the sixth-best three-pointer in league history added of winning the trophy.
Lillard, 32, outperformed Indiana Pacers players Buddy Held, winner in 2020, and Sacramento Kings Tyrese Haliburton, who scored 31 points in the first round of the competition, to equal the record set by Stephen Curry in 2021.
McClung, the 24-year-old from the J-League reserve league, stunned the fans after he scored the full score in the final of the overwhelming basketball competition, “Dunk”, and thus won the title.
“It’s amazing. I’m happy and grateful to the NBA for giving me this opportunity,” said McClung, who was called up by the 76ers from the Junior League earlier this week.
“I am not surprised by these things, but I am very grateful,” he added.
McClung became the first player from the J-League to win the competition on his debut, and the first player from the 76ers to write his name in the list of winners alongside the giants of this competition such as Michael Jordan, Dominic Wilkins, Vince Carter and the late Kobe Bryant.
The 1.88m player has only played four games in the “NBA”, but has been known since high school for his spectacular smashing baskets.
After receiving the trophy from 1970s legend Julius Irving, the 70’s legend best known for his most spectacular smashing basket in league history, McClung vowed to defend his title.
“If you want me, I’ll come back,” he said to applause from the crowd.
McClung got his only perfect mark on his first attempt in the first round, leaping over a man sitting on someone else’s shoulders, knocking the ball off the board, and doing a reverse dunk.
The Utah Jazz trio of Jordan Clarkson, Colin Sexton and Walker Kessler won the skill competition, which consists of passing, shooting and relay courses.
