NBA Pokes: GIA’s 2019 Mac McClung, Lindy Waters Showdown Is Aging Well, Cade Makes All-Star Debut

There were 9,188 people in Gallagher-Iba Arena on Dec. 4, 2019 to watch Oklahoma State host Georgetown. Little did those people know they were witnessing a future NBA player go up against a future three-time slam dunk champion.

Lindy Waters and Mac McClung did battle that day, combining to score 62 points in a game McClung’s Hoyas beat Waters’ Cowboys 81-74. Waters finished the night with a career-high 29 points while also tallying six rebounds and six assists. McClung dropped 33 (his second-best college game).

Fast forward to 2025, and Waters is in his fourth NBA season while McClung this past weekend won his third consecutive NBA slam dunk title. The most famous person on Eddie Sutton Court that day was still Patrick Ewing, who was coaching his alma mater. It feels like a fever dream thinking back to it.

The NBA’s All-Star Weekend was this past weekend, where McClung picked up his third crown. Among various feats of athleticism, he jumped over a car, Blake Griffin-style. Despite his strong standing in dunk contest lore, McClung has played in just five NBA games to this point in his career.

Waters might have not featured during All-Star Weekend, but its still an incredible story that he went from OSU to the Enid Outlaws to delivering food to the NBA. Waters is now with the Pistons (and NBA All-Star Cade Cunningham) after playing 38 games on the Golden State Warriors this season. Waters has scored 759 NBA points, which again, is tremendous given I’m not sure many back on Dec. 4, 2019 would’ve expected him to score any.

Cade Cunningham Makes All-Star Debut

Cade Cunningham made his first of what could be many All-Star teams this year.

If you didn’t watch, the format was a little funky. Rather than it being the Eastern Conference vs. the Western Conference, there was a mini tournament between four teams of eight. There has been a lot of online discourse about the format, players caring, etc. since the game ended. I actually thought it made for some more competitive basketball. The issues I had moreso involved all of the dead time between basketball being played. I digress.

Cunningham got started Saturday night, taking part in the 3-point contest. He finished sixth of eight in the first round. The top three were all who advanced.

As for Sunday’s All-Star game, Cunningham was on Kenny Smith’s Young Stars and got matched up with Charles Barkley’s Global Stars in the first game of the night. The game was first to 40, and Cunningham’s squad lost, meaning he played just five minutes and 21 seconds in his All-Star debut. He had five points, an assist and a rebound, still making some highlight-worthy plays.

Cunningham got on the board by banging home a 3. His assist was an alley-oop lob to Evan Mobley, which is particularly cool because they were the No. 1 and No. 3 players in the 2020 high school class.

Effort is something that has justly been questioned in recent All-Star games. Although players were, for the most part, taking it easy, Victor Wembanyama — a 7-foot-3 alien — wasn’t lollygagging.

Cade made a nice dribble move to get past Wemby and even went for a reverse dunk attempt, using the rim as protection, after getting by him, but Wemby won the rep with a block.

WEMBY DENIES CADE AFTER THE HESI 👀 pic.twitter.com/Xn4XkfuQGu

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 17, 2025

Cade got his dunk, though. Not long after, Cunningham got the ball on a breakaway with Wemby lurking. Cade was able to get the flush down before Wembanyama’s 8-foot wingspan got to him.

THROW IT DOWN CADE 👀#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/iOzrTQMf3Z

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 17, 2025

And now Cade will forever have this photo:

🗣️ PUT IT ON A T-SHIRT!!! pic.twitter.com/1lllCbMncl

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 17, 2025

In his fourth NBA season, Cunningham averages 25.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 9.4 assists a game — all career-highs. He has the Pistons up to the 6 seed in the East at 29-26. The last time Detroit won 29 games in a season was 2018-19. Cunningham was the Pistons first All-Star since Blake Griffin was voted in that season.