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Three Goals For Frank Mason III This Upcoming Season

By Rafe Wong

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: Frank Mason of the Sacramento Kings poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: Frank Mason of the Sacramento Kings poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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What type of goals should Frank Mason III have this upcoming season? This article will state three objectives which the new King should keep in mind.

The Sacramento Kings have a bevy of young talent which includes second-round pick, Frank Mason III, out of the University of Kansas.

After having a prolific collegiate career with the Jayhawks, Mason is looking to still be impactful at the professional level. Here are three goals he should follow in order to achieve his ambition.

Goal #1: Efficient Shooting

The Kings need to have reliable shooters this season, and Mason is definitely a possibility for the role. During his senior season at Kansas, he recorded excellent shooting percentages of 49% from the floor, 47.1% from the three-point line, and 79.4% from the charity stripe.

If Mason is able to produce similar results scoring the ball like he did with Kansas, it will be huge for him going forward into his career. With the way the NBA is played now, shooters are a dire need for any team who wants to succeed.

Goal #2: Show Defensive Presence

If Mason becomes a productive defender this year, it will help both him and his team immensely. For the last few years, the Kings’ defense, specifically their perimeter defense, has been a major liability for them. Many of their defensive woes have started from the top, which is why signing George Hill and drafting De’Aaron Fox, both have reputations as defenders, were signals that the team is looking to upgrade.

Mason also has the ability to be an effective defender as well. He may lack length against other NBA guards, standing at 5’11”, but he is athletic and strong enough to handle his own. In my opinion, Mason was a solid defender during his collegiate days and has the ability to be the same in the pros.

Goal #3: Impress Dave Joerger

It will hard for Mason to be a regular guy in Coach Joerger’s player rotation. With guys like Hill, who is an experienced and successful veteran, and Fox, a player who the Kings are looking to spark the franchise, Mason’s opportunities to make a splash are limited. With that being said, however, if Mason is able to achieve goals one and two listed above, Joerger may have no choice but to find ways to place Mason in certain lineups.

He may be a rookie, but Mason is incredibly seasoned due to playing four years of college ball. When analyzing his game, he sparks my memories of watching Isaiah Thomas. Both were undersized and late draft picks, but both had experience and grit which forced coaches to play them despite their physical limitations.

Not saying Mason is the next IT, the Kings don’t need him to be. But if he can be a player who can produce on both sides of the floor, Sacramento fans could be watching #10 for a long time.

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