He still pinches himself just a bit, allowing his mind to wander to boyhood days when he rooted for the Washington Bullets. Now, here Roger Mason is, trying to make their roster.
But the feel-good story didn’t turn him into a just-happy-to-be-here guy. Good Counsel High graduate Roger Mason wanted to prove he again belonged in the NBA.
“I know what I’m capable of,” he said.
It took him a few years to show another NBA team the same thing. The Wizards have noticed, which is why he’ll almost definitely be on the final roster when Washington coach Eddie Jordan announces it today.
“It really means the world to me,” Mason said. “I’ve had a long journey the last couple of years. To land on my feet here is like a dream.
“I always dreamed of one day playing here. I can taste it, but at the same time I have a whole lot to prove.”
For Mason, it’s the culmination of two years of trying to get back into the NBA. He was a second-round draft choice by Chicago out of Virginia in 2002 — shoulder surgery caused him to slip in the draft. He spent two years in the league, playing in 43 games. But he hasn’t been back since, having spent his time playing overseas. Last year, he opted to play in Israel rather than attend Orlando’s camp. Now he’s about to make the roster of a team with visions of winning 50 games.
“It was definitely hard,” Mason said of the past two years. “There were times when I’d wake up and not know if it would work out, but you trust in yourself and you keep the faith.”
Mason, a 6-foot-5 guard, would primarily help Washington as a defender, though it’s his offense that got him noticed. He’s not expected to be part of the rotation, but he is expected to help.
“He has the skill to score and in this league you need that,” Jordan said. “He plays very good defense. He’s a very coachable young man and we’re glad to have him. He fits right in the locker room. … He’s a terrific findfor us.”
