The Ringer NBA Show NBA Cup Thunder Takeaways and New All-Star Format With Tyler Parker. Plus, Mac McClung on the G-League, ‘The Break,’ and His Dunk Contest Future. | Real Ones
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Dec 20, 2024 
Tyler Parker, a unique Ringer writer, shares his insights on the Thunder's absence from the NBA Christmas lineup and reflects on their performance in the NBA Cup. He analyzes the evolution of the Thunder, comparing them with past teams and discusses the new All-Star game format. Mac McClung, a two-time dunk champion and G-League MVP, reveals his experiences as a two-way player for the Orlando Magic and the challenges of documenting his journey in 'The Break.' He also hints at whether he'll defend his dunk contest title.
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Thunder's Christmas Snub
- The NBA Christmas Day schedule often overlooks smaller market teams, even successful ones.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder's exclusion, despite being a top Western Conference team, reflects this trend.
NBA's Market Bias
- The NBA prioritizes large market teams and star players for marquee events like Christmas games.
- This approach can overshadow deserving small-market teams with rising talent.
NBA Cup Atmosphere
- Tyler Parker attended the NBA Cup in Las Vegas and observed a disconnect between the on-court action and the arena's atmosphere.
- Despite competitive games, the lack of crowd energy created a somewhat subdued experience.