Another shot: McClung gets two-way contract with 76ers
Senior NBA lead for The Athletic Shams Charania issued a report on Tuesday regarding a new two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers for current Delaware Blue Coats guard and Gate City native Mac McClung.
mac attack! welcome, @McclungMac!
🏠@Houwzer pic.twitter.com/hHvpuzuGFo
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 14, 2023
It is McClung’s latest offer in his journey to the NBA which has included stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, and Golden State Warriors. The Blue Coats are the NBA G-League affiliate of the 76ers.
Stay the course. https://t.co/XxRGgEcxtZ
— mac mcclung (@McclungMac) February 14, 2023
The news of possibly getting to play the rest of the regular season with the third-place team in the Eastern Conference is just the beginning of one of the biggest weeks in McClung’s career.
He was voted to play in the NBA’s Rising Stars game and received an invitation last month to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest–all taking place this All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City.
Here is the official release issued by the 76ers on Tuesday afternoon:
PHILADELPHIA – FEB. 14, 2023 – Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Mac McClung to a two-way contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
McClung, 24, has spent the 2022-23 season with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, where he has posted a team-best 19.1 points on 57.9% shooting from the field and 50.0% from three-point range in 18 games. He is one of two G Leaguers shooting at least 55.0% from the field, 50.0% from three, and 80.0% on free throws this season (min. 15 games played).
McClung has reached the 20-point mark in eight of his 18 games played with the Blue Coats this season, including a 40-point (15-20 FG, 7-9 3-PT), eight-assist effort against Wisconsin on Jan. 16. He has made at least three triples on six occasions, shooting at least 50.0% from beyond the arc in each of those contests.
The Gate City, Virginia native was selected to participate in a variety of NBA All-Star weekend festivities, including the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Game on Friday, Feb. 17, and the NBA G League Next Up Game on Feb. 19.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Lakers on Aug. 10, 2021, McClung was named the 2021-22 NBA G League Rookie of the Year after producing 21.6 points, 7.6 assists, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 27 games with the South Bay Lakers and Windy City Bulls. He has tallied eight points and three rebounds in two career NBA games with the Lakers and Chicago Bulls, both of which occurred during the 2021-22 campaign.
McClung competed in three seasons at the collegiate level between Georgetown and Texas Tech, earning Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team honors in his lone season with the Red Raiders in 2020-21.
The 6-2 guard had a decorated high school career, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Virginia High School League history (now ranks second). He also surpassed former 76er and Hall of Famer Allen Iverson’s single-season scoring record, accumulating 1,153 points as a senior.
McClung will wear No. 9 for the 76ers.
In a related move, the team has waived Julian Champagnie, who appeared in two NBA games with the 76ers. In 18 games with the Blue Coats, he averaged 14.3 points and 5.7 rebounds.
Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have a maximum of two players under two-way contracts in addition to the players under standard NBA contracts. A two-way player for the 76ers will also be eligible to provide services to the team’s G League affiliate – the Delaware Blue Coats.
(IMAGE: Philadelphia 76ers / Official website)
