Rick Carlisle impressed by Mac McClung’s versatility

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle revealed on 107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis that guard Mac McClung earned his spot with the team after an impressive showing in a three-player free agent workout on Monday.

Carlisle explained that McClung’s performance stood out enough to secure him a non-guaranteed contract, noting that the Pacers see him as a much more complete player than his brief NBA career has shown so far.

“He can score, he’s a hard-playing guy,” Carlisle said.

“For all the things we did in the workout, he didn’t dunk the ball once. … We need a guy that has energy, can go hard, is healthy – I think ‘is healthy’ is probably the number one thing – and that can play a couple of positions. He can play point, he can play off the ball.”

McClung, known for his three-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest titles, has now signed a two-year, minimum-salary contract with Indiana that includes a team option for the 2026–27 season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

The deal carries a cap hit of $2,283,168 for the current year, though McClung will only be guaranteed that full amount if he remains on the roster past January 7.