MIAMI — At this point, everybody around the NBA is enamored with Mac McClung and what he can bring to the floor athletically. The Philadelphia 76ers signed McClung to a two-way deal shortly before the All-Star break. Then he went out and wowed everybody by winning the dunk contest pretty handily.
McClung returned to Delaware to continue playing in the G League with the Blue Coats and continue his development. Considering he is on a two-way deal, the Sixers can call up McClung whenever they want, but at this point, he is much better served in Delaware where he can play more.
“I haven’t seen him much, honestly,” said coach Doc Rivers before a win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday. “He’s been down in the G League, so I don’t have the answer to that. I’ve always stayed out of that and allowed those guys to evaluate. It would have been easier for me to tell you something if he was in our training camp and we saw him, but we signed him after that.”
McClung is averaging 17.9 points and 5.5 assists with the Blue Coats, and the coaches have provided an update to Rivers on what he brings to the table.
“Once the season starts, you typically don’t get a chance,” Rivers continued on McClung. “They like him. They like his grit. They like his toughness. So I think those are things he needs to keep doing and probably become a point guard.”
At this stage of the season, McClung is unlikely to see some time with the Sixers. He needs the court time to develop, and he isn’t going to get it over guys like Shake Milton and Tyrese Maxey.
