Well, Chicago Bulls fans, you can officially scratch one of the biggest names off the Windy City Bulls’ exciting roster before their season even begins. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Indiana Pacers have signed fan-favorite guard Mac McClung to a multi-year NBA deal, snatching him away from the Bulls’ G League affiliate before he could even lace up in Hoffman Estates.
Less than 24 hours after the Windy City Bulls announced their official 2025-26 roster with McClung headlined as the main attraction, the high-flying guard finally secured the opportunity he’s been chasing since entering the league in 2021.
A first for the G-League sensation
The most important element of Shams’ report is that this is McClung’s first standard, multi-year NBA contract. After going undrafted in 2021, McClung has been caught on the edges of NBA rosters, grinding through training camp invites, two-way contracts, and a series of 10-day deals, including a stint with the Bulls back in 2021 due to COVID struggles.
Chicago recently brought McClung back into the mix just last week, signing and waiving him in a procedural move designed to keep his G League rights within the organization. It’s a common transaction across the NBA: players receive a bonus, teams secure control over G-League rights. It appeared to signal a mutual plan to continue building his game in Chicago’s system.
Plans changed quickly.
McClung's history in Chicago
Though the Bulls were unable to provide McClung with a real opportunity with the big-league squad, there was a real path between him and the NBA roster. One of his six career NBA appearances came while wearing a Bulls jersey, logging two minutes against the Atlanta Hawks midway through the 2021 season.
He also earned a reputation as one of the G-League's top talents, building an impressive résumé just four years into his professional career: two All-NBA G League First Team selections, 2022 G League Rookie of the Year, and 2024 G League MVP... all while becoming a household name through his All-Star weekend showcases.
A new chapter... in Indiana
Now, instead of elevating the Windy City Bulls' hopes of contention, McClung will be suiting up for a Central Division rival. The Pacers, battling plenty of backcourt injuries, believe McClung finally has the experience necessary to contribute at the highest level, committing guaranteed years to a player long stuck in between.
McClung has certainly earned his shot after basically turning the G-League into his personal playground. Unfortunately for Chicago, his NBA opportunity won’t happen here, but with the second-closest team to Chicago by distance.