SUMMARY
- Jaylen Brown decided to take part in the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, a move that surprised fans.
- The Boston Celtics star made it to the finals but lost the contest to Mac McClung.
Jaylen Brown recently announced that he will be taking part in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, a decision that caught many by surprise. It is no secret that Brown’s name is not the first to come to mind when we think of some of the most entertaining and extraordinary dunkers in the NBA. However, it must be mentioned that he is great at it, especially in-game. But the dunk contest is something different, and participants have to truly produce something different to walk away with the win.
That’s what Mac McClung has been doing in the last two years. The G-League star has been sensational in the contest and has just won it for the second consecutive year at the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Although Brown didn’t manage to come out on top, he did make it until the finals, an event that has left the NBA world baffled.
Jaylen Brown’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest draws huge criticism
The Boston Celtics star has come under heavy criticism in the last few months. One of the main reasons for that would be his historic contract. For some context, Brown is the highest-paid player in league history, and that comes with plenty of attention as well. Every time he has a bad game, fans and critics are sure to be on his tail.
It wasn’t any different at the competition as well.
BREAKING: Jaylen Brown has been banned from NBA Slam Dunk Contest
(Via @Chris_Broussard) pic.twitter.com/9mf8dj5dL1
— NBAĆentel (@TheNBACentel) February 18, 2024
After McClung won the contest, fans were quick to point out that Brown’s performance was definitely below par. Some even went to the extremes of claiming that he was banned from the contest, purely because of how he performed. But the truth is that the player was not banned or condemned at all, it was just an attempt to gain traction on X.
A look at the Celtics star’s dunks at the Slam Dunk Contest
Jaylen started the contest with a tribute to the legendary Dominique Wilkins and even placed a body double of the NBA icon. He even recreated Wilkins’ infamous tongue-sticking-out gesture, from the 1991 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Just like Wilkins, Jaylen performed the windmill dunk in the very first round. He earned an average score of 48.8 in the first round.
Jaylen Brown with homage to Dominique 🙌
48.8 for the lead#ATTSlamDunk x #StateFarmSaturday on TNT pic.twitter.com/BowLrT9LQ7
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024
For the second dunk, Brown came out with Kai Cenat and Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum. He missed the first dunk but managed to make the second one after jumping over Cenat and catching the pass from JT. Brown even recreated Dee Brown’s celebration after the dunk.
When facing McClung in the final round, Brown paid a heartfelt tribute to Terrence Clarke. For those who don’t know, Clarke passed away in a horrific car crash in 2021. It was just weeks after he had declared for the NBA Draft that year. Brown wore Clark’s high school jersey from Brewster Academy. He put down a 180-degree windmill dunk in that round. He performed a heart symbol and pointed to Clarke’s name as well.
Jaylen Brown opens the #ATTSlamDunk final round with a tribute to Terrence Clarke 💙#ATTSlamDunk x #StateFarmSaturday on TNT pic.twitter.com/hzEYsWb1AO
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024
The fourth dunk could have been the most controversial of the night. Brown decided to dunk the ball with his left hand, not his dominant hand. This was a statement sent to his critics, who claimed that Brown could not dribble or shoot with his left hand. He grabbed the ball over Donovan Mitchell, wearing a glove on his left hand, and jumped over the Cavs star to put down a dunk. It received a 49.2 score, which was received with boos and jeers from the crowd.
Jaylen over Spida ‼️
Mac needs 49.1 to win…#ATTSlamDunk x #StateFarmSaturday on TNT pic.twitter.com/YXiqZl83if
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024
McClung just pulled a rabbit out of the hat, and jumped over the mighty Shaquille O’Neal to get a perfect score of 50, and win the contest. Despite losing, Brown took it on the chin, and admitted that he just wanted to have some fun.