What is a two-way contract in the NBA? Here's how Mac McClung is on two teams at once.

Mac McClung made history as the first G League player to participate in the NBA dunk contest.

Four days before his dunk contest victory, news broke that McClung had signed a deal that put him on the roster of the Philadelphia 76ers.

But McClung is also on the roster for the Delaware Blue Coats. In fact, his dunk contest victory significantly boosted ticket sales revenue for the 76ers' G League affiliate team, according to Blue Coats executives.

So what's going on here? Here's how McClung and other early-career players can be on two rosters at once.

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What is a two-way contract?

In the NBA, a "two-way contract" is a relatively new option that allows developing players to simultaneously be rostered on an NBA team and its G League affiliate. Each NBA team can have two players on this type of contract, according to the G League.

As of March 2023, an NBA team is permitted to have 15 players on official contracts during the regular season, plus two players on two-way contracts, expanding each team's roster to 17 player slots, according to the NBA.

But that doesn't necessarily mean more reserves suited up on the bench. An NBA team can still only have 15 "active" players listed for each game, according to the NBA.

There are also limitations to being a two-way player. Only players with three or fewer years of NBA service are eligible for two-way contracts, and players in two-way contract slots are only eligible to be active in a maximum of 50 games with their NBA team, according to the G League. These players spend the rest of the season with their team's G League. If their team does not have an affiliate, they will be sent to play with another team's affiliate, according to SB Nation.

Only two NBA teams, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns, do not have G League affiliates for the 2022-2023 season, according to the G League.

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NBA players under two-way contracts

Here are the NBA players under two-way contracts for the 2022-2023 season as of March 2023, according to the NBA G League:

• Atlanta Hawks/College Park Skyhawks: Trent Forrest and Donovan Williams
• Boston Celtics/Maine Celtics: JD Davison and Mfiondu Kabengele
• Brooklyn Nets/Long Island Nets: David Duke Jr. and Dru Smith
• Charlotte Hornets/Greensboro Swarm: Theo Maledon
• Chicago Bulls/Windy City Bulls: Justin Lewis and Terry Taylor
• Cleveland Cavaliers/Cleveland Charge: Mamadi Diakite and Isaiah Mobley
• Dallas Mavericks/Texas Legends: A.J. Lawson and McKinley Wright IV
• Denver Nuggets/Grand Rapids Gold: Collin Gillespie and Jack White
• Detroit Pistons/Motor City Cruise: Buddy Boeheim and Jared Rhoden
• Golden State Warriors/Santa Cruz Warriors: Ty Jerome and Lester Quinones
• Houston Rockets/Rio Grande Valley Vipers: Darius Days and Trevor Hudgins
• Indiana Pacers/Fort Wayne Mad Ants: Kendall Brown and Trevelin Queen
• LA Clippers/Ontario Clippers: Moussa Diabate and Xavier Moon
• Los Angeles Lakers/South Bay Lakers: Scottie Pippen Jr. and Cole Swider
• Memphis Grizzlies/Memphis Hustle: Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Vince Williams Jr.
• Miami Heat/Sioux Falls Skyforce: Jamal Cain and Orlando Robinson
• Milwaukee Bucks/Wisconsin Herd: AJ Green and Lindell Wigginton
• Minnesota Timberwolves/Iowa Wolves: Luke Garza and Matt Ryan
• New Orleans Pelicans/Birmingham Squadron: EJ Liddell and Dereon Seabron
• New York Knicks/Westchester Knicks: Trevor Keels / Duane Washington Jr.
• Oklahoma City Thunder/Oklahoma City Blue: Jared Butler and Olivier Sarr
• Orlando Magic/Lakeland Magic: Kevon Harris
• Philadelphia 76ers/Delaware Blue Coats: Louis King and Mac McClung
• Phoenix Suns: Saben Lee
• Portland Trail Blazers: Ibou Badji and John Butler
• Sacramento Kings/Stockton Kings: Keon Ellis and Neemias Queta
• San Antonio Spurs/Austin Spurs: Dominick Barlow and Julian Champagnie
• Toronto Raptors/Raptors 905: Jeff Dowtin Jr. and Ron Harper Jr.
• Utah Jazz/Salt Lake City: Johnny Juzang and Micah Potter
• Washington Wizards/Capital City Go-Go: Jay Huff and Quenton Jackson