Mac McClung revealed he declined multiple lucrative overseas opportunities while continuing to pursue a long-term NBA role, explaining his decision in an interview with Cyro Asseo of HoopsHype.
The 27-year-old guard said interest from international clubs has been significant, including proposals from EuroLeague and Chinese teams, but his focus this season remained on staying within the NBA pathway.
“I take it year by year. It’s something that I’ll definitely consider throughout my career,” McClung said. “I think this year, I really wanted to keep pursuing playing in the NBA, and that doesn’t mean next year will be the same.”
The high-flying scorer added that financial incentives were not the deciding factor despite receiving strong offers abroad.
“It’s a new year every year, and I’ve been really lucky to have a lot of EuroLeague and Chinese teams offer me a lot of big contracts that it’s been hard to turn down, but money is not a driving force for me, thank God,” he said. “I really just love the game, and I’m pursuing this.”
McClung’s comments arrived during a wider discussion about his absence from the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest, where he had been a central figure after winning three straight titles from 2023 through 2025.
He explained that scheduling and hesitation from other participants played a role in his decision to step aside this season, even though he prepared in case plans changed.
“Originally, I told everybody I was done… I was pretty much saying, ‘I’m not going to do it,’” he said, adding that he wanted the event to move forward smoothly for other players.
The guard remains active with the Chicago Bulls organization after joining the Windy City Bulls earlier in the season and later signing a two-way contract, positioning himself for NBA minutes while continuing to develop in the G League.
Chicago currently sits 11th in the Eastern Conference at 24–31, which keeps the backcourt rotation fluid and leaves room for depth guards to compete for opportunities.
Despite prioritizing the NBA, he left the door open for a move overseas if the situation changes in future seasons.
“But I definitely will consider overseas, and I’m excited about all the offers I’ve got from them, and I’ll just kind of take it day by day,” McClung said.
