Finding his lost jump shot was an odyssey that took Roger Mason halfway around the world.
After flunking tests with the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors, Mason played in Greece and Israel, where he rediscovered the skills that that he displayed at Good Counsel High in Wheaton and as an All-ACC choice at the University of Virginia.
In his second year back in the NBA, Mason is the Wizards’ most reliable reserve. The 6-foot-5 guard averages 8.6 points in 21 minutes per game. When Mason enters the free-agent market this summer, he will field offers that will significantly increase his $895,341 salary.
“I’m not even focused on that right now,” said Mason, who nonetheless acknowledges the likelihood of a pay increase with a smile and a wink.
Signing a major deal with an NBA team is a long way from stops with Greek club team Olympiacos (2004) and Hapoel Jerusalem (2005-06). On both teams, Mason was a go-to player. He found his confidence and, most importantly, his effortless shooting stroke.
“My first few years in the NBA, I didn’t getan opportunity,” said Mason. “I needed the ball in my hands. Going overseas, got my confidence back, made me the man again and allowed my game to blossom.”
But it wasn’t exactly basketball exile. In both countries, Mason lived the life of a star.
“When I was in Greece, I played for Olympiacos, which is traditionally one of the biggest teams in Europe,” said Mason. “You walk down the street in
Athens and everybody knows you. You’re their hero. Culturally, it was a great experience.”
It also was profitable. Mason was the handsomely-paid hired gun.
“The most money I made in my career was my season in Israel. The last two years here, I took a pay cut,’ said Mason. “But it hasn’t been about that.
It’s been about getting a great opportunity here in Washington and to show what I could do in the league.”
Playing overseas was the ego boost Mason needed after his rough indoctrination to the NBA. After suffering a shoulder injury in pre-draft tryouts, Mason slipped to the second round of the 2003 Draft. In a year and a half as an end-of-the-bench reserve who shot 33 percent from the floor, Mason was released by Toronto.
“I probably could have hung on as the 13th man on some team,” said Mason.
“But I needed to get away. I knew I had to refine my game a little bit and find my niche.”
Mission accomplished. Mason’s role this season has been as a reliable perimeter scorer off the bench. When he’s been called upon to start, however, Mason has been even better. In eight games, Mason has averaged 17.6 points on 51 percent shooting from the floor.
Those numbers are sure to make Mason a marketable commodity this summer, and justify his decision last summer, when he rejected a three-year offer from defending NBA champion San Antonio for $3 million-plus to sign for one year with the Wizards.
“It was an honor to get an offer like that from San Antonio,” said Mason.
“But this summer, I was really able to hone in on my skills and work hard on my game. I just knew if I got an opportunity to play, it would pay off. I
thought the best opportunity to do that was here.”
