The NBA's Slam Dunk Contest has been won by an otherwise seldom-known G-Leaguer in Mac McClung the past two years, and oddsmakers believe a three-peat is in store as the now 26-year-old guard is the heavy betting favorite to become just the second player to prevail three times and the first to do so three years in a row.
McClung will be joined by Andre Jackson Jr. of the Milwaukee Bucks and a pair of rookies in San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle and Matas Buzelis of the Chicago Bulls at the Chase Center in San Francisco for All-Star Saturday Night. The judges will be Kevin Garnett, Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, and Tracy McGrady, along with YouTuber Jesser who will represent a fan vote for those partaking in the free NBA ID membership program.
Here's an updated look at the current betting odds for this event on Saturday, February 15, and if anyone is worth wagering on outside of the obvious choice in McClung.
2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Betting Odds
| Player | Team | Odds | Ticket% | Handle% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac McClung | Osceola Magic | -210 | 11.3 | 19.3 |
| Matas Buzelis | Chicago Bulls | +500 | 34.6 | 21.4 |
| Andre Jackson Jr. | Milwaukee Bucks | +750 | 23.0 | 36.3 |
| Stephon Castle | San Antonio Spurs | +750 | 31.1 | 22.9 |
Odds as of February 14, 2025 at FanDuel Sportsbook; Percentages courtesy of BetMGM
2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Betting Favorite: Mac McClung, Osceola Magic (-210)
One would think that the creative well is dry for McClung since he's participated so many times already. One of the bigger complaints about the Slam Dunk Contest in general is that the viewing audience has essentially seen it all, and there's nothing any of the competitors can pull off that hasn't been done to death.
If McClung can once again stun the audience with his aerial acrobatics, it will be a testament to his prowess as a dunker and will certainly place him amongst the greatest in history. That is, if he isn't considered that already.
2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Contender: Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs (+750)
There isn't too much of a gap between the other three competitors in the odds race, so sprinkling even a bit on either Jackson Jr. or Castle is a good move for the upside at +750. Feel free to flip a coin between the two as they're both relatively unknown and could shock the world with what they're capable of, yet Castle still feels like the better option.
Perhaps it's because the common basketball fan may be more familiar with him, as Castle is currently one of the favorites to be crowned this season's Rookie of the Year. Suiting up alongside Victor Wembanyama doesn't hurt either, and in a perfect world, having the 7-foot-4 unicorn out there to assist Castle with one of his attempts could go a long way to winning over some of the judges.
2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Qualify For Finals Betting Odds
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Mac McClung | Osceola Magic | -1100 |
| Matas Buzelis | Chicago Bulls | +130 |
| Andre Jackson Jr. | Milwaukee Bucks | +170 |
| Stephon Castle | San Antonio Spurs | +170 |
Odds as of February 14, 2025 at FanDuel Sportsbook
2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Finalists Betting Odds
| Finalists | Odds |
|---|---|
| Mac McClung/Matas Buzelis | +180 |
| Mac McClung/Andre Jackson Jr. | +240 |
| Mac McClung/Stephon Castle | +240 |
| Matas Buzelis/Stephon Castle | +1400 |
| Matas Buzelis/Andre Jackson Jr. | +1400 |
| Andre Jackson Jr./Stephon Castle | +1800 |
Odds as of February 14, 2025 at FanDuel Sportsbook
