Rockets sign Arkansas guard Mason Jones to two-way contract

Two-way contracts will not have a 45-day limit in the 2020-21 NBA season. A 6-foot-5 guard, Mason led the SEC in scoring last year.

The Houston Rockets are signing undrafted free agent Mason Jones to a two-way contract, as first reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

A 6-foot-5 guard, Jones played his college basketball at Arkansas, where he led the SEC in scoring last season. In all, Jones averaged 22.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game for the Razorbacks.

Here’s a summary of the 22-year-old from Rookie Wire, which listed Jones as the No. 29 overall prospect for the 2020 draft:

Mason Jones scored 6.0 points per game in transition, per Synergy Sports, No. 1 overall among high-major players. He shot 74.8% at the rim, via Bart Torvik, the best among high-major players 6-foot-5 or shorter. He drew 8.1 fouls per 40 minutes, which was the most in the nation.

Criticized for his lack of athleticism, Jones has radically transformed his body in order to become more prepared for the NBA. Earlier this year, he told HoopsHype:

“Once I get on a mission, nothing really can stop me. I’m still on a mission. There are just a lot of things going on in this world right now that we can’t control. But I’m doing all the right things and the little things to stay prepared and stay motivated. My body is definitely still changing. I know that people say I’m strong right now, but I’m going to get stronger, only going to get faster, only going to get better. That’s the thing about me.”

He has a lot of the same skills that have led to dominance by James Harden and Luka Doncic. While he is still far from either of those players, he draws contact and fouls at a rate much higher rate than any other prospect and can be trusted to make something happen with the ball in his hands at the end of the game.

Jones also shot 14-for-24 (58.3%) from 3-point range during the month of March before the season abruptly ended.

Based on the unique circumstances of the 2020-21 NBA season, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no longer a 45-day limit for two-way players. Instead, those players — such as Jones, with the Rockets — can be active for up to 50 games (of 72, total). Moreover, travel days and practices will not be counted toward active days.

Jones joins fellow rookie Kenyon Martin Jr. as newcomers to Houston.

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