While this year's 3-Point Contest sports five All-Stars — Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard, New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland, Miami Heat shooting guard Tyler Herro, and Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham — the 2025 Dunk Contest has zero.

There is a noticeable lack of star talent in the 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. While there are some high-flyers in the field, including back-to-back reigning dunk contest champion Mac McClung as well as Andre Jackson Jr. and rookies Stephon Castle and Matas Buzelis, the lack of a big name in the pool is a bit disappointing—albeit not too surprising.

About a year ago at this time, Mac McClung thought his dunk contest days were done. He’d been in the contest at the NBA’s All-Star weekend twice, won it both times with plenty of flair and figured there was nothing else to prove.