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Roger Mason Jr. averaged a career-high 9.1 points per game last season in Washington. |
His ship has finally come in.
After signing a one-year contract extension with the Washington Wizards last season, simultaneously turning down a multi-year offer from the San Antonio Spurs, former Virginia star guard Roger Mason Jr. signed a lucrative two-year deal with the Spurs on Wednesday for $7.3 million.
Despite the payout, Mason Jr. says it’s not just about the money.
“It’s another step for me as far as my career,” Mason said. “The opportunity is there to get a championship.”
The shorter contract will allow Mason, who is entering his fifth year in the NBA, more time to develop as a player and perhaps sign a long-term contract in the future. He feels he still has a lot of room to grow.
“At some point I do want to sign a long-term contact,” Mason said. “I’m not the player that I’m going to be yet. This will be an opportunity to grow as a player.”
Opportunity and playing time he may not have gotten with the Wizards. While the Wizards claimed to be interested in re-signing Mason, no offer had been made as of Wednesday.
Mason no doubt proved himself capable of being a difference-maker in 2008 when Gilbert Arenas and Antonio Daniels were forced to miss time because of injuries. Mason made the most of his opportunity by averaging a career-best 9.1 points a game last season and shooting 39.8 percent from beyond the arc.
While increased playing time was part of the pull toward the Spurs, Mason says he knows there are no guarantees. Everything is earned in San Antonio.
“Obviously they made a financial commitment to me and all I know is that I’m going to go there and play hard and hopefully my hard work pays off,” Mason said. “No minutes were guaranteed. I know I have to work for everything.”
While making the transition from Washington to San Antonio, he is actively trying to finish his degree in Architecture at Virginia. Mason, who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2002 after his junior year, has been attempting to take classes online to finish the degree. The specialized nature of his field, however, makes it virtually impossible.
“I was ahead of schedule when I left,” Mason said. “I’m actually meeting with Craig Littlepage this weekend to see if I can get it done.”
Mason, who still holds Virginia’s all-time free throw percentage record for a career at 86%, often thinks about coming back to his alma mater to coach when his NBA career is complete, even though it won’t be any time soon.
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Learn more about Roger Mason Jr.’s 1st Annual Ball for a
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“I love teaching the game to younger kids,” he said. “I’m sure it’s something I’d be interested in as my career gets further along.”
However, giving back is something that Mason knows doesn’t have to wait till his career is over. He has been a guest at the NBPA Top 100 Camp at the John Paul Jones Arena as an example of his effort to give back to the game. Plus, he is active in the community. In addition to various speaking engagements, Mason is hosting a celebrity bowling tournament in Washington D.C. on July 29 to benefit the National Kidney Foundation. When Mason was just 11 years old, his father passed away from kidney disease.
“I really enjoy helping out in the community,” Mason said.
As Mason takes the next step in his career, he won’t forget the team and the city that helped his career progress.
“I left [Washington] on good terms. It wasn’t just about the payout. My two years in Washington have been great, but at this point I’m looking forward to advancing my career.”
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