IN WHAT would be considered a successful season, Stockton Kings star Mason Jones powered his team to a G League championship in April, and was deservingly named Finals MVP for his efforts in the decisive series.

Jones was a driving force for the Kings all throughout the 2024/25 season, putting together a consistent campaign and playing a huge role in getting the team into the postseason, where they kicked into another gear entirely, defeating the Maine Celtics and claiming the ultimate prize.

Jones was undrafted in 2020, but has had short stints on the Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers, before recently signing a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings for the 2024/25 NBA season.

He was assigned to the team’s G League affiliate in the Stockton Kings and made an immediate impact with his strong scoring ability and productive playmaking, emerging as a central figure to the team’s success.

Jones stepped up to become the number-one scoring option for much of the season, and it proved to be a winning strategy, with the guard putting up 20+ points at a consistent rate and proving a reliable route to the bottom of the net.

He led the Kings to the number-one seed in the Western Conference, having won 22 of their 36 matches throughout the 2024/25 fixture, and an impressive home record of 14 wins and three losses, making Adventist Health Arena a bit of a fortress.

In the postseason, Jones stepped up again, producing several match-winning performances as the Kings advanced through each round of the playoffs. He was instrumental in several of the results, continuing the strong foundation he had built as a three-level scorer throughout the regular season.

His magnum opus came in the Western Conference semifinals, when Jones produced a historic showing to single-handedly drag the Kings into the Conference finals. Although tested strongly by the Valley Suns in a high-scoring clash, Jones dropped a stunning 47 points to get his side to an eight-point triumph.

This win set up a Western Conference finals matchup against the Austin Spurs, where Jones was magnificent again. He produced another 38-point performance to help Stockton overcome a slow start and reach the G League finals, where they would ultimately prove victorious.

On the season, Jones averaged 23.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists on 47.7 per cent shooting from the field, 41.3 per cent shooting from behind the arc and 82.9 shooting from the charity stripe in an inspirational campaign.

He was named Finals MVP for his work in the postseason, as well as making an appearance on the All-NBA G League Second Team for an outstanding campaign overall. Still contracted by the Kings at NBA level, it would not be surprising to see a few more appearances for Jones at the top level after his season with Stockton.