2000-01 In Review: When the Sonics selected Desmond Mason with the seventeenth pick of the first round last June, they viewed him as a depth player who might eventually develop into a starter. Then he went to the Boston Shaw Summer League and blew away the competition. Suddenly, Mason went into training camp as the favorite to start instead of incumbent Brent Barry. Barry's injury that held him out of the season's first week only confirmed what Sonic fans already knew -- Mason would be one of a handful of rookies to start opening night, despite being a non-lottery pick for a veteran team which had made the playoffs the season before. High expectations for a rookie -- maybe a little too high -- and Mason appeared to struggle with the pressure during the season's first month. Upon Barry's return, he took back the starting role (later relinqushed to Emanual Davis), and Mason's minutes were cut when Nate McMillan ascended to head coach. Then a funny thing started to happen -- with the pressure gone, Mason started to slowly but surely improve throughout the season. His minutes and production remained inconsistent (for example, scoring 14 points in a key victory over the Lakers which included a game tying slam dunk and then scoring a grand total of five points over the next four games), but Mason was a valuable asset off the bench, playing primarily small forward due to the Sonics' deep backcourt. Mason punctuated his season with a victory in the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest.

Shooting/Scoring: Mason has a ton of offensive tools, but throughout the season was still feeling his way into learning how to best combine and utilize them. His driving ability was clearly considered his offensive strong suit entering the NBA, and he did nothing to change that. Mason is able to beat nearly any man defender in the league of the dribble, and once in the lane his fabulous leaping ability allows him to finish with either a dunk or a foul. Though not as heralded, Mason's intermediate jump shot showed promise last season, despite inconsistency. At times, observers were reminded of Ricky Pierce, nearly automatic from 15-18 feet. Mason has a long ways to go to make anyone forget Pierce, but the talent is there. From three point range, Mason was not nearly as successful, converting only 27% beyond the arc. He'd be better to avoid the line and take a step inside it. At the free throw line, Mason was solid for a rookie, converting 73.6%. The key to next season is for Mason to learn when to drive and when to take an 18 foot jump shot. Grade: B-

Floor Game: Mason will never be asked to play backup point guard, but he is a solid ballhandler, well above average if he is considered a small forward. He could manage to cut his turnovers a bit -- and is strangely prone to unforced dribbling errors -- but his assist/to ratio of 1.2 was solid for a small forward, where he played primarily. It will have to come up next season as he plays off guard increasingly. Grade: C+

Rebounding: His leaping ability and strength make Mason a very good rebounder for a guard. Oddly, some critics of the Sonics' selection of Mason felt Quentin Richardson was a better fit for the Sonics because he was a stronger rebounder. Mason disproved those fears by grabbing 17 boards in a game at Minnesota. On the season, he projected to about five rebounds per game in starters' minutes, which will likely go up next season as he gains experience. Mason and Gary Payton give the Sonics a superb rebounding backcourt. Grade: A-

Defense: Entering the NBA, Mason's calling card was his defense, and he did nothing to prove that scouting report incorrect last season. Mason has all the requisite defensive tools -- speed, quickness, quick hands, height, and strength. He was not a serious post liability last year at small forward, and it's difficult -- if not impossible -- to imagine a shooting guard capable of posting him up (actually, some Jordan fellow in Washington does come to mind, but who can stop him?) When matched one on one, Mason is unlikely to be beaten to the hole. In terms of team defense, Mason is similar to many of his teammates in that he plays the passing lanes well but tends to roam too much, freeing his man for outside shots. Grade: A-

Intangibles: It's difficult to imagine many NBA players who are better people than Desmond Mason. He is extremely active in the community, present at virtually all the Sonics' events this off season. Howard Schultz has put Mason forth as an example of the type of player he'd like on his team -- and though we think Payton should get some credit as well -- it's hard to disagree. For a rookie on a veteran team with two likely Hall of Famers (Payton and Ewing), Mason sure got the ball an awful lot in clutch situations. Nate McMillan designed an out of bounds play in which Mason inbounded the ball and then got the ball back on a give and go with a full head of steam heading towards the basket. The play was successful twice during the season before failing against Phoenix, not so much because of any poor decision by Mason but the fact that the Suns (like most of us in the stands) saw it coming. Not a particularly vocal leader type, but a fantastically hard worker who agreeed despite his emerging star status to play for the Sonics' summer league team this year. Grade: A

Overall: It's a bit confusing and rather difficult at types to try to analyze Desmond Mason's future. On the one hand, he is so skilled in so many areas and such a hard worker that it's difficult to imagine him not succeeding. But then, a glance at the stats reveals that this is a guy who scored less than six points per game last season and shot less than 45% from the field. This season will undoubtedly be extremely revealing about whether Mason will go towards stardom, or the track which makes him but an ordinary, replacable starter. The feeling amongst fans is clear -- Mason is nearly unanimously regarded as a future star -- but this is a rather optimistic take. If Mason is to step up his game, the improvements he needs to make are clear -- cut turnovers, improve outside shooting, forget the three pointer. If he manages those, the Sonics could be a surprisingly successful team and Mason a surprisingly successful player in 2001. Grade: B

December 1 Update: To think, so recently there was question about Mason's ability to improve this season. The transformation in his offensive game has been nothing short of spectacular. His jumper is now like butter, and he's used it to get to the lane more off the drive. Mason still needs to improve his passing, as he too often calls his own number and dominates the ball on clear outs, but is rapidly becoming an offensive dynamo. On defense, things haven't been as great. Mason still needs to learn the difference between good defensive intensity and great defensive intensity. As well, his rebounding has been surprisingly poor. Nevertheless, it's been a great start.

January 1 Update: Though an injury (a sprained knee suffered while diving for a loose ball) disrupted his December, Mason's worth to the Sonics was proven as they played miserable ball and went 1-5 in his absence. However, he does seem to be increasingly a one-dimensional player. As his scoring has improved, other aspects of his game like ballhandling and defense are seemingly in decline.

February 1 Update: The month of January was a bit of a mixed bag for Mason. Negatively, it was clear that his hamstring injury in December was affecting his shooting, which dropped off to an awful 41%. On the other hand, he became almost automatic at the free throw line, shooting 90%, and upped his rebounding while hustling and playing defense.

March 1 Update: Mason continued his stronger play at the end of January throughout the month of February, averaging 11.6 points during the span. As injuries mounted around the team, Mason was the most consistent reserve, acting to stabilize the team and playing key minutes down the stretch.

April 1 Update: Getting increased minutes as injuries hit the Sonics, Mason had his best month since November, scoring better than 13 points per game and going on a real hot streak midway through the month. Mason's jumper also has become more consistent.