Among the players on the call Friday: Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon, Portland’s CJ McCollum, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Indiana’s Justin Holiday, San Antonio’s Rudy, Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie, Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes, Orlando’s Al-Farouq Aminu, Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley Jr., Portland’s Zach Collins and Indiana’s Myles Turner. Former NBA player and NBPA executive Roger Mason Jr. was also on the call, sources said.
Roger Mason Rumors
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Roger Mason
Position: -
Born: 09/10/80
Height: 6-5 / 1.96
Weight:199 lbs. / 90.7 kg.
Earnings: $14,987,315 ($17,779,304*)
Born: 09/10/80
Height: 6-5 / 1.96
Weight:199 lbs. / 90.7 kg.
Earnings: $14,987,315 ($17,779,304*)
Ian Begley: For those interested: former Knick Roger Mason has launched an athlete and entertainer IP development company, Vaunt. The company will have an event tonight in Miami to kickoff Super Bowl weekend.
Marc J. Spears: Joint Statement from Big3 and Roger Mason Regarding Lawsuit Settlement. pic.twitter.com/YfkiQVknsl
Through a helpful youth coach, Paddy Hibbert, Roy’s mother, found a number for Marsha Mason Wonsley, whose son, Roger Mason Jr., played for the Washington Wizards. Wonsley told her about an organization called Mothers of Professional Basketball Players, or MPBP. An upcoming meeting was to be held in Las Vegas. Hibbert flew out from Washington, D.C., to seek advice. As the mothers introduced themselves one by one, Hibbert stood nervously. “I’m Roy’s mom,” she told the hundred-odd women who had assembled. “Little Roy. He’s 7 feet tall.”
Mason, who last month accused Kwatinetz of calling the league’s players “rich n—-rs,” adds in the suit that Kwatinetz’s insensitivity “is evidenced by his repeated discussions with company employees of his relationship with Steve Bannon and his defense of Bannon’s character.”
Mason, an 11-year NBA veteran who says he recruited big-name players to Big3, including Allen Iverson and Charles Oakley, blames his ouster on “a phony ‘independent investigation’ ” into alleged conflicts of interest with league investors — “a sham effort to make Mason a scapegoat for issues at the company caused by Kwatinetz,” according to the suit filed in Delaware Chancery Court.
BIG3 says Mason has a personal relationship with the investors — that he may have taken gifts from them — and he essentially chose siding with his friends over effectively doing his job as commish. In fact, after BIG3 sued the investors, Mason commented on an Instagram photo featuring him with the two men saying, “#family.”
Roger Mason’s out, Ice Cube is in … with the rap legend replacing the ex-NBA star as the Commish of the BIG3 basketball league after allegations of some seriously shady conduct. TMZ Sports has obtained a letter the BIG3 sent to players, coaches and staff explaining the move: “We are writing to inform you of the decision by the BIG3 to terminate the employment of Roger Mason Jr. for cause under the terms of his employment agreement with the league.” The letter details a corruption investigation involving Mason and his ties to two Qatari investors who allegedly stiffed the league out of millions of dollars … investors that Mason brought to the league in the first place.
BIG3 sued the investors Ayman Sabi and Ahmed Al-Rumaihi — but Mason allegedly refused to cooperate with the league because of his personal relationship with the men. The league says Mason had an obligation to side with BIG3 due to his role as Commish. One of the problems, the league says it found evidence the Qataris were showering certain BIG3 employees with gifts and vacations while refusing to pay the league. The insinuation is that Mason was one of the beneficiaries and it corrupted his ability to effectively run the league. The good news … Ice Cube will step into the Commish role effective immediately and will stay in the job until the league finds a long-term replacement.
Some of the biggest stars in the NBA went to La Salle University on Sunday to pay tribute to Rasual Butler … and honored their friend by circling together for an emotional chant. Chris Paul, Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Roger Mason Jr., Jim Jackson and others were in Philadelphia for the “service of love” for Butler … who was killed in a car crash in L.A. on January 31. CP3 was one of the speakers — he and Butler played together back with the Hornets.
Some of the biggest stars in the NBA went to La Salle University on Sunday to pay tribute to Rasual Butler … and honored their friend by circling together for an emotional chant. Chris Paul, Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Roger Mason Jr., Jim Jackson and others were in Philadelphia for the “service of love” for Butler … who was killed in a car crash in L.A. on January 31.
With the BIG3 already boasting legends of the game such as Allen Iverson, Rick Barry, Spurs great George Gervin, and others, the league’s Commissioner, Roger Mason, is already making a home for another hardwood legend – Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki. Mason is interested in adding Dirk once he hangs up his NBA sneakers. He also points to his time battling Nowitzki on the floor as a member of the Spurs as a starting point at recruiting the Mavs big man.
“We absolutely would be interested in Dirk Nowitzki,” said Mason. “He obviously has been one of the greatest of all time in five on five, but even where he is today he’d be a great three on three player so if he decides to hang them up this year in the NBA we certainly have a home for him here. I enjoyed my time playing against Dirk when I was with the Spurs playing Dallas a couple years ago in the playoffs so we do have a relationship and I’m sure he’s seen our games,” Mason said.
Speaking with Mason today, he expanded on his continuing efforts to lure Duncan to the league and is hoping he’ll have a change of heart. “I did reach out to him early on and I didn’t hear back,” said Mason. “But I think ultimately, it’s going to be a sit down. I am sure Tim has seen the games now and if he hasn’t, I am still planning on coming down to San Antonio to grab some food with him and try to get him in our league.”
Coach Gary Payton was absent for the media reception and both practices. Yesterday, the only point guard to win Defensive Player of the Year was reportedly on his way to Chelsea Piers. Not even the BIG3 commissioner and president knew his whereabouts. “He’s a big boy,” said Roger Mason Jr., while cruising around Chelsea Piers’ courts in a custom black suit, clearly bankrupt of answers. “He’ll find his way.” Today, Payton is unresponsive. This, a day before the BIG3’s debut and 3HM’s reintroduction. Turns out GP never made it to NYC. He was back home on the Left Coast. “I had stuff to do,” Payton would say later. “I had businesses to handle. Shit. This ain’t my motherfuckin’ job.” He laughs. “This ain’t paying my bills.”
16 Jul 17
Who is on the ‘wish list’ for the BIG3’s Roger Mason, Jr. and the newly-launched 3-on-3 professional basketball league? The BIG3 Commissioner and President made it perfectly clear at Hashtag Sports this week. Those retired players on the list outside of the BIG3’s current eight rosters and reserve players include Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Tracy McGrady. A Twitter user asked if Mason had reached out to NBA greats Bryant or Jordan to compete in the BIG3, with the Commissioner saying ‘yes’ to both. However, Jordan is the owner of Charlotte Hornets and according to Mason, “Kobe is still fresh.”
Mason explained to the crowd how he also tried to secure five-time NBA champion Tim Duncan for the inaugural BIG3 season but Duncan didn’t even bother to call Mason back. “Timmy, call me man,” Mason pleaded of his former teammate while on stage at the Times Center during Hashtag Sports. “Next year.”
4w
24 Jan 17
Iverson will be one of eight dual head coach/players in the league, which is backed by entertainment icon Ice Cube and includes Roger Mason as president and commissioner. Iverson is scheduled to appear at a news conference in New York on Wednesday to discuss his part in the league’s summer launch, sources said.
Deputy executive director Roger Mason is leaving the National Basketball Players Association to become president and commissioner of a new professional basketball league for retired NBA players, The Vertical has learned. Mason’s departure comes at the conclusion of the union’s negotiations for a new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement, which sources say will be ratified Friday with the final tally of player voting due. Mason, who had a 10-year NBA playing career, has played a sizable part in the NBPA’s transition under executive director Michele Roberts. Mason spearheaded the union’s movement to provide tens of millions of dollars in health care and increased benefits to retired and elderly ex-players. Mason has been a strong conduit to the league stars – as well as the rank-and-file players – in the rebuilding of the players association.
Mason is partnering with film actor and rapper Ice Cube and investors to bring a summertime league called the BIG3 – a three-on-three, half-court basketball league – to cities and venues starting in June. Plans include eight teams of five players – including an ex-player as coach, as well as a team captain – that’ll tour together from city to city starting in late June. So far, retired NBA players Kenyon Martin, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’Neal, Rashard Lewis and Jason Williams are some of the players committed to play on teams, league officials said.
Howard Beck: NBPA news: Roger Mason hired as director of player relations, per sources. Mason among several new hires by exec director Michele Roberts.
Roger Mason: I’m hoping @carmeloanthony takes the full max from the #Knicks! #getyourfullvalue #freeagency #nbpa #nba
Michael Scotto: Sources: Roger Mason Jr. will play for the Indiana Pacers in the Orlando Summer League.
Roger Mason: My bad if I was not clear.LBJ never said anything about boycotting.He’s a friend and I would never want to imply something he didn’t say. The bottom line is that our commissioner,team owners,fans, players, and the world all agree that there is no place for racism in our league.
Don’t be surprised if Miami Heat star LeBron James distances himself from comments made by former teammate Roger Mason, who indicated in a TV interview that James would lead a boycott if Donald Sterling still owned the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the 2014-15 season. Mason, the National Basketball Players Association first vice president, told Showtime’s Jim Rome, “If it’s not handled by … the start of next season, I don’t see how we’re playing basketball. I was just in the locker room with LeBron. At the end of the day, you know we have leaders, we have player reps, we’ve got executive committee members. … Leaders of the teams, they’re all saying the same thing: ‘If this man is still in place, we ain’t playing.’ ”
Ethan J. Skolnick: In interview that airs tomorrow on Showtime, @Roger Mason told Jim Rome that LeBron “ain’t playing” next year if Sterling is still an owner.
Jared Zwerling: Roger Mason Jr. also told me the player union’s priority at this point is to find a new executive director by the start of next season. Mason: “Somebody who can look directly across from Adam Silver & be just as smart, just as innovative & bring more to the table than him.”
The National Basketball Players Association plans to elect an executive director before the start of a new NBA season, NBPA vice president Roger Mason Jr. said last week. In addition to looking at new candidates, Mason said the association will review previously eliminated candidates. The plan would be to interview three or four finalists for the top job at its annual meeting in July.
30 Apr 14
Roger Mason, who is a free agent but remains vice president for the National Basketball Players Association, said players were prepared to boycott all playoff games if Silver had not taken the dramatic steps he did against Sterling, banning the owner from the NBA for life and forcing him to sell the team. “I heard from our players and all of our players felt like boycotting the games tonight. We’re talking about all NBA players. We’re talking about the playoff games tonight,” Mason said. “This wasn’t just about the Clippers. All teams would have been prepared if (the punishment wasn’t strong enough).”
