NBA All-Star Weekend is here. The action continues on Saturday night with the 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Let's make some NBA Dunk Contest picks and predictions before the event gets underway. First, though, let's review who will be participating and what's at stake.
Mac McClung is the two-time defending champion and he's back again. McClung, who plays for the Orlando Magic's NBA G League affiliate, will try to become the first player to ever win three Slam Dunk Contest titles in a row. Joining him are Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs), Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls) and Andre Jackson Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks).
The four Dunk Contest judges will be Kevin Garnett, Baron Davis, Tracy McGrady and Jason Richardson. Fans can also vote and the average score for each dunk will count as the fifth judge.
Let's now break down which Dunk Contest picks to lock in before the dunkers take off. Note that all odds are accurate as of this writing but subject to change as always. Good luck.
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2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Picks & Predictions
(Odds via BetMGM)
Dunk Contest Finalists Prediction
Mac McClung is the rightful betting favorite to win the Slam Dunk Contest this year. He's the back-to-back reigning champ and essentially a veteran in this competition - especially compared to his younger opponents. Despite playing in the NBA G League, McClung is still very well known to the judges and NBA fans because of his past exciting dunks.
McClung knows how and when to pull out the big dunks to win this event. Last year, he threw down a reverse two-handed jam over Shaquille O'Neal to clinch it. The feat in itself was impressive enough but the Magic G Leaguer dunking over a former Orlando legend was an added cool moment. Two years ago, McClung's 540-degree two-handed dunk dramatically won the contest.
Unfortunately, the odds on McClung to win the Dunk Contest don't offer much value. Instead, let's pair him with another dunker to both be finalists to grab a better return.
Matas Buzelis brings a ton of upside into this competition. The rookie has been an afterthought on a bad Chicago Bulls team this season so far. Still, the 6-foot-10 wing has a versatile skillset with an underrated dunking ability. Buzelis also recently said about the contest, "I'm not going there to lose."
Two years ago, Buzelis competed in the McDonald's All-American Dunk Contest and made the finals but fell short. In the contest, he got a perfect score in the first round with a creative bounce-between-his-legs dunk he nailed on the first attempt. Then he went with a crafty 360 between-the-legs dunk in the second round.
If you need more convincing, Buzelis could come into this Dunk Contest with some added motivation and confidence. Buzelis was drafted 11th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft and yet was left off of the Rising Stars rosters. Yes, that's because he's averaging just 6.4 points per game in limited minutes off the bench. Still, the rookie will likely want to show out on a big stage here.
Plus, Buzelis recently moved into the Bulls' starting rotation after the Zach LaVine trade. He's averaging 14.1 points per game over the past eight contests before the All-Star break. That's key for a young player to build confidence ahead of this Dunk Contest.
Pick: Matas Buzelis/Mac McClung (+200)
Dunk Contest Exact Outcome Prediction
As noted above, it’s not worth betting on McClung to win the Dunk Contest as the sizable favorite. The odds on Buzelis, though, are pretty tempting. At +450 on BetMGM, he has the second-shortest odds behind McClung. Let's go one step further, though.
McClung will no doubt be tough to beat in this competition. However, anything can happen in a final if McClung tries to go for a near-impossible dunk to finish his three-peat in style and can't get it done. It's very likely the two-time champ is among the finalists either way, though.
Buzelis, on the other hand, offers plenty of upside to steal the victory. His athleticism and hops combined with creative and flashy dunks could easily be the recipe to upset McClung. Let's add the exacta pick for Buzelis to beat McClung in the final round. The odds are juicier than the straight bet for Buzelis to win.
Pick: Matas Buzelis to Beat Mac McClung in the Final Round (+1400)
