NBA

Meet The 2025 NBA Dunk Contest Participants

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By
Colin Lynch
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Colin Lynch Sports Editor

After four seasons of professional baseball in the San Diego Padres system, Colin was featured as a freelance sports writer in numerous publications. He enjoys handicapping and writing about sports wagering while covering the MLB, NBA, NFL, PGA, and multiple college sports. Colin attended and played baseball at St. John's University in Queens, NY.

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Sports Editor

Updated13 Feb 2025

Meet The 2025 NBA Dunk Contest Participants

The 2025 NBA Dunk Contest will surely be a highlight of NBA All-Star Weekend 2025, with some big-time high fliers. 

It’s the moment where flight becomes art. Where the rim is just a suggestion, and the impossible feels within reach.

Since its debut, the NBA Slam Dunk Contest has been a showcase of pure athleticism and boundless creativity. Who could forget Vince Carter in 2000, hanging on the rim, sealing a moment in history? It’s the kind of magic that keeps fans coming back.

All-Star Saturday Night remains unchanged—featuring the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, and the iconic Dunk Contest. Let’s take a look at the participants set to take flight in this year’s dunk contest.

2025 NBA Dunk Contest: Dates, Time, TV Schedule, & How To Watch

  • What: AT&T Slam Dunk
  • When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 8 ET (third event)
  • Where: Chase Center
  • TV: TNT & truTV
  • Stream: TNT Overtime (NBA App, NBA.com), Max

2025 NBA Dunk Contest Participants

  • Matas Buzelis (Bulls)
  • Stephon Castle (Spurs)
  • Andre Jackson Jr. (Bucks)
  • Mac McClung (G League, Osceola Magic) *

* = defending champ

Mac McClung

Mac McClung is back. The viral sensation, the high school dunking legend, and now the two-time defending champion will take flight once again. Representing the Osceola Magic, just as he did a year ago, McClung is chasing history. Despite having played just four NBA games—his last stint coming with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023—he remains a must-watch, an artist in the air with something to prove.

But he won’t go unchallenged.

Stephon Castle

Stephon Castle, the San Antonio Spurs’ rookie sensation, steps into the spotlight. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Castle arrived from UConn with a championship pedigree, having helped lead the Huskies to a national title while earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors. His NBA career is just beginning, but with 25 starts and an 11-point-per-game average, he’s already making an impact in San Antonio. Now, he looks to make one on All-Star Saturday Night.

Matas Buzelis

Matas Buzelis, another highly touted rookie, takes his shot at the crown. A five-star recruit who bypassed college for the G League Ignite, Buzelis was taken 11th overall by the Chicago Bulls. Though averaging just 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds in limited minutes, the 6-foot-10 forward possesses the size, skill, and creativity to leave the crowd in awe.

Andre Jackson Jr.

Then there’s Andre Jackson Jr., the Milwaukee Bucks’ high-energy wing who has already made a name for himself this season. A second-round pick in 2023, Jackson’s impact has been felt beyond the box score. Since moving into the starting lineup after the Bucks’ sluggish 1-6 start, Milwaukee has climbed all the way to fourth in the East. And while his three-point, three-rebound averages don’t tell the full story, his athleticism and defensive intensity make him a key piece for a team with title aspirations.