NBA Slam-Dunk Contest – Predictions, Odds & Best Bets for 2025

• The 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest completes NBA Saturday All-Star festivities from the Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday, February 15
• Two-time defending champion Mac McClung is a huge favorite in the latest betting odds
• Dive into the 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest odds, predictions, and best value bet

Two-time reigning, defending NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Mac McClung will look to defend his title in San Francisco. NBA All-Star Saturday night festivities get under way on February 15th at 8pm over on TNT. As always, the Slam Dunk Contest will round out the evening, with the Skills Challenge and 3-point Contest airing beforehand. McClung is a large favorite in the latest 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest odds, with Milwaukee Bucks swingman Andre Jackson Jr. in second, followed by Matas Buzelis and Spurs rookie Stephon Castle.

NBA Slam-Dunk Contest Odds 2025

McClung is the heavy favorite to lift the NBA Slam Dunk contest trophy for a third-straight year. His -210 odds imply a 67.74% chance of victory. As of Wednesday afternoon, Matas Buzelis of the Chicago Bulls owns the highest ticket percentage at 45.3%, while 50.8% of the betting handle is on Andre Jackson Jr. according to BetMGM. Odds as of February 13, 2025 at BetMGM. Find a BetMGM promo code for all your NBA All-Star wagers..

McClung Aims to Make History at 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Mac McClung looks to be the first player in NBA history to win three straight Slam Dunk Contest’s on Saturday night. While NBA veteran and high-flying extraordinaire Nate Robinson has won the Dunk Contest three times, his victories weren’t in consecutive years.

A G-League regular, McClung is averaging 24.5 points and 6.1 assists per game for the Osceola Magic this season. The reigning G-League MVP has put the spark back in the Slam Dunk Contest, adding intrigue for an event that was once the king of All-Star weekend. McClung memorably leapt over Shaquille O’Neal to win the Dunk Contest last year, and is sure bring plenty of dunking ingenuity to the 2025 edition.

The Virginia native is one of only seven players in NBA history – including the greatness of Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, Harold Miner, Jason Richardson, the aforementioned Robinson and most recently Zach Lavine – to win back-to-back Slam Dunk titles, and he’ll aim to slam his way into the record books with another victory. Having said that, McClung will have plenty of competition for the Dr. J Trophy in San Francisco.

2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Predictions & Best Bets

Former UConn star Stephon Castle has put together a plethora of highlight reel in-game dunks this season. Castle sports both the vertical and flair to give McClung a real run for his money. The Spurs rook has the bounce to yam it off of one-hop in the lane with defenders in his way. So, he’ll have no problem throwing it down against air in the 2025 Slam Dunk Contest.

Likewise, Bucks sophomore Andre Jackson Jr. has to hops and creativity to upset McClung. Jackson Jr. explodes through the lane, and has been throwing down vicious putbacks all year long. The 23-year-old sports a 40-inch vertical leap, and literally put his chin on the rim against Sacramento last year.

Bulls rookie Buzelis can get up there with the best of them. But, his gangly 6’10” frame rarely correlates to NBA Slam Dunk Contest success. After all, fans want to see peerless feats of verticality in the Dunk Contest, and players of Buzelis’ archetype are rarely able to convince judges they deserve a spot in the final round.

As the -210 favorite, there’s little value in betting on McClung. After all, as Kansas City Chiefs fans can attest, three-peats aren’t exactly a popular play these days. Instead, look to profit on the underdogs. Throw a half unit on both Jackson Jr. and Castle and look for one of them to pull off the upset in San Francisco.

Pick: Andre Jackson Jr to win +500, risk: 0.5 units. Stephon Castle to win +800, risk: 0.5 units