Frank Mason III

Frank Leo Mason III (born April 3, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Lakeland Magic.[1] He played college basketball for the University of Kansas, where he was the starting point guard for the Jayhawks. For the 2016–17 season, he was named National Player of the Year by all of the major national player awards, making him consensus national player of the year. The awards are the John R. Wooden Award, CBS Sports National Player of the Year,[2] the USA Today, the Sporting News Player of the Year, Associated Press Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, Oscar Robertson Trophy, and NABC Player of the Year.[3] He was also a consensus All-American selection for his senior season at Kansas.[4]

Frank Mason III
Mason with the Sacramento Kings in February 2018
No. 15 – Orlando Magic
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1994-04-03) April 3, 1994
Petersburg, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeKansas (2013–2017)
NBA draft2017 / Round: 2 / Pick: 34th overall
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–2019Sacramento Kings
2019–2020Milwaukee Bucks
2019–2020→Wisconsin Herd
2021–presentOrlando Magic
2021–present→Lakeland Magic
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men’s basketball
Representing  United States
Summer Universiade
2015 Gwangju Team competition

Early life

Mason grew up in Petersburg, Virginia and went to Petersburg High School. He scored 1,901 points in his four-year career at Petersburg, which is the second-highest scoring total in school history behind Hall of Famer Moses Malone.[5]

Mason had originally signed to attend Towson University in Towson, Maryland during his senior year, but he lost his eligibility after failing a government class.[6] Mason attended Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia to make up for the failing grade in government. After being discovered playing the Amateur Athletic Union circuit by Kansas Assistant Coach Kurtis Townsend, Mason was offered a scholarship by the University of Kansas.[7]

College career

As a sophomore at Kansas, he was a second team All Big 12 selection.[8] He averaged 12.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game as a sophomore, an increase from the 5.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game he averaged as a freshman.[9]

During his junior season, Mason averaged 12.9 points and 4.6 assists and was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.[5]

During his senior season, Mason took on more of a leadership role on the Kansas team, becoming the first player in Big 12 history to average 20 points and 5 assists a game during the regular season.[10] His regular season culminated in receiving multiple awards. He was unanimously selected as the Big 12 Player of the Year, averaging 20.5 points and 5.1 assists in the regular season.[11] He was also consensus first team All-American selection, the NCAA-leading 29th first-team selection in Kansas basketball history.[12] He was awarded multiple player of the year awards including AP Player of the Year,[13] Sporting News Player of the Year,[14] USA Today Player of the Year,[15] Oscar Robertson Award,[16] Naismith Award,[17] and NABC Player of the Year.[18]

Professional career

Sacramento Kings (2017–2019)

Mason was drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the 34th pick in the 2017 NBA draft.[19] He played in the NBA Summer League for the Kings, where he scored 24 points in 24 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 10, 2017, adding 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.[20] For the full 2017–18 regular NBA season, Mason averaged 7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 52 games.[21]

Mason was waived by the Kings on July 4, 2019.[22]

Milwaukee Bucks/Wisconsin Herd (2019–2020)

Mason signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks on July 26, 2019. In the deal he will split time between the Bucks and their NBA G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd.[23] In the G League, he scored 44 points in a win over the Grand Rapids Drive on February 19, 2020.[24]

Mason was awarded the NBA G League MVP for the 2019–20 season on June 25, 2020. He averaged 26.4 points, 5.0 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game with the Herd.[25]

Orlando Magic/Lakeland Magic

Mason signed a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic on February 2, 2021. In the deal he will split time between the Magic and their NBA G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic.[26]

National team career

Mason and the Kansas Jayhawks competed on behalf of the United States in the 2015 World University Games.[27] He scored 18 points in a double-overtime victory over Germany in the gold medal game and received the Finals MVP award.[28]

Personal life

His father is Frank Mason Jr. and his mother is Sharon Harrison. Mason has 7 brothers and sisters.[5] He grew up in the housing project of Pin Oak Estates located in Petersburg, Virginia, where he developed his game and earned the nickname "The Phenom" by local onlookers within the community.[29] Mason has a son named Amari.[5]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Sacramento 52218.9.379.360.8172.52.8.7.27.9
2018–19 Sacramento 38011.4.420.219.6841.12.2.4.15.1
2019–20 Milwaukee 9013.1.451.286.5882.13.2.6.16.9
Career 99215.5.397.298.7571.92.6.6.26.8

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020 Milwaukee 201.0———.00.5.0.0.0
Career 201.0———.00.5.0.0.0

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14 Kansas 35316.1.417.327.6621.32.1.5.05.5
2014–15 Kansas 363633.5.441.429.7863.93.91.4.112.6
2015–16 Kansas 383833.5.434.381.7394.34.61.3.112.9
2016–17 Kansas 363636.1.490.471.7944.25.21.3.120.9
Career 14511330.0.454.420.7613.44.01.1.113.0

References
  1. Parry, Roy. "Magic agree to sign Frank Mason, the 2020 G League MVP, on two-way deal". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  2. Norlander, Matt (March 29, 2017). "Kansas' Frank Mason parlays consistency, efficiency into CBS Player of the Year honor". CBS Sports. New York City, New York. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  3. Bedore, Gary (April 2, 2017). "KU's Frank Mason adds to award haul with NABC player of year". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  4. Kansas' Frank Mason III is AP Player of the Year, unanimous All-American Selection, Kansas City Star, March 28, 2017.
  5. "Frank Mason III - 2013-14 Men's Basketball". KU Athletics. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  6. Shaffer, Jonas. "A failing grade kept Kansas point guard Frank Mason III away from Towson". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  7. Moore, C.J. "HOW FRANK MASON WENT FROM UNWANTED RECRUIT TO THE KANSAS JAYHAWKS' LEADING MAN". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  8. "Sooners' Hield Leads All-Big 12 Men's Basketball Honors". Big 12 Conference. March 8, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  9. "Frank Mason III". Fox Sports. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  10. "Frank Mason III becomes the first player in big 12 history to average 20 points and 5 assists per game for a season". Reddit. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  11. "KU's Frank Mason, Bill Self are Big 12 player, coach of the year". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  12. "Mason earns Consensus All-America First Team distinction". KUAthletics.com.
  13. "Kansas' Frank Mason III is AP Player of the Year, unanimous All-America selection". CBSSports.com.
  14. "Kansas' Frank Mason III is Sporting News college basketball Player of the Year". SportingNews.com.
  15. "USA TODAY Sports player of the year: Kansas' Frank Mason III". USAToday.com.
  16. "Mason Wins Oscar Robertson Trophy". Big12Sports.con.
  17. "Mason awarded Naismith Trophy". KUAthletics.com.
  18. "KU's Frank Mason adds to award haul with NABC player of year". KansasCity.com.
  19. "Frank Mason III drafted in second round by Sacramento Kings". Richmond Free Press. June 30, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  20. Bisel, Tim. Summer league shootaround: Frank Mason heats up in third game, Topeka Capitol-Journal, July 11, 2017.
  21. Jones, Jason. Why the season is already over for Kings rookie Frank Mason III, Sacramento Bee, April 10, 2018.
  22. "Kings Waive Frank Mason III". NBA.com. July 4, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  23. "Bucks Sign Frank Mason III and Cam Reynolds to Two-Way Contracts". NBA.com. July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  24. "Bucks' Frank Mason: Erupts in G League". CBS Sports. February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  25. "Wisconsin Herd's Frank Mason III Named 2019-20 NBA G League Most Valuable Player". Milwaukee Bucks. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  26. "Magic's Frank Mason: Inks two-way deal with Magic". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  27. Vecenie, Sam (May 21, 2015). "SMU's Nic Moore to play with Kansas team at University Games". CBS Sports. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  28. "Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden Jr. rack up Games honors". Lawrence Journal-World. July 22, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  29. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/frank-mason-goodbye-kansas-jayhawks
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.