Mason Alexander Plumlee (born March 5, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He primarily plays the forward and center positions. As a freshman in 2009–10, he was a back-up forward for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team's national championship team, playing with his older brother Miles. He was a 2009 McDonald's All-American in high school. During his senior year at Duke, he also played with his younger brother Marshall. He was selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013 NBA draft. Plumlee was also a member of the United States national team that won a gold medal in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
High school career
Plumlee first attended Warsaw Community High School in Warsaw, Indiana, before transferring to Christ School in Arden, North Carolina, after his freshman year. At Christ School, Mason helped lead the team to three North Carolina High School Athletic Association state championships and a record of 99–8 over his last three years. He earned a silver medal with the 2008 USA U18 National Team at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship. Plumlee was named a 2009 McDonald's All-American as a senior after he averaged 15.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game for the year, a Jordan Brand All-American, and a third-team Parade All-American and Slam All-American. He was named 2009 North Carolina Mr. Basketball by the Charlotte Observer, and was twice an All-State pick. In addition, he competed in the high jump in track and field, with an individual best jump of 6 feet 8 inches.
College career
His brother Miles had originally committed to play at Stanford, but chose to follow him to Duke after Stanford coach Trent Johnson left for LSU.
He missed the first six games of the 2009–10 season with a broken left wrist. He and Miles usually rotated into games together, replacing Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas, and were often the first two players off the bench. Teammate Nolan Smith said: "He's an athlete. He can run and jump with the best of them in the country."
Through April 4, 2010, Mason was tied for first on the team in blocks, with 30, and second on the team with 21 dunks. In an average 14.1 minutes of play per game during the 2009–10 season, he averaged 3.1 rebounds and .9 blocks.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said: "Mason has got a chance to be really, really good. He has skills of a guard and the body of a big man, and a great basketball mind. He's very competitive, he likes the stage, and he's comfortable with the ball."
It was anticipated that in 2010–11 the two brothers would both be in Duke's starting lineup. Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt viewed Mason as Duke's best pro prospect. Told in early April 2010 that some scouting services viewed him as the team's best pro prospect, Plumlee said: "I have seen that. I don't even really know what to say to those people. I mean, let's be real. I'm trying to play the best I can, but in reality nobody goes from the bench to the NBA. Come on."
Mason started 11 of the team's first 13 games in the 2010–2011 season, in 3 of which he recorded double doubles in points and rebounds. For the season, he averaged 7.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game to help man the paint for the defending champion Blue Devils.
He was a 2012–13 first team Academic All-American selection. He was also a 2012–13 Senior CLASS Award finalist.
Professional career
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015)
2013–14 season
Plumlee was selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013 NBA draft. On July 3, 2013, he signed his rookie-scale contract with the Nets. On November 15, 2013, in his first game against his brother Miles and the Phoenix Suns, he recorded 7 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in a 100–98 overtime win. The following night, Plumlee played 26 minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers with both Brook Lopez and Kevin Garnett out injured, and had 19 points and 6 rebounds, both career highs. Plumlee was selected to play in the 2014 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge on Chris Webber's team, while his brother Miles was picked to play on Grant Hill's team. On February 9, 2014, Plumlee recorded his second NBA double-double, finishing with 22 points and 13 rebounds in a Nets victory. On March 17, 2014, both Miles and Mason Plumlee started for the Suns and the Nets, respectively. Mason had 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Miles had 3 points and 6 rebounds in a 108-95 Nets win.