Perth import Mason Jones declares 'I'm team-first'

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Perth Wildcats import guard Mason Jones knows he can get his but winning a championship is more than just him scoring the ball in NBL26.

“You're just gonna expect the all around player, a team player, a player that's gonna make everybody better,” Jones said on his arrival at Perth Airport this week.

“There's gonna be games where I can go for 40 and 50 points but that's not the obvious goal. 

“The goal is to win and watch everybody grow and help them really be the player they need to be. 

“That's what I learned about being on a championship team. You're gonna have games where you go off, but it's all about the team. It's the team first. 

“Are you making your players, are you making your teammates better? Are, are you, are you actually understanding who your teammates are? Do you like the spots they were in? Do you actually know what the shots are and how they like to be? It all, the things matter. 

“And that's what I'm excited to bring here. I'm a winning player … and will lead by example.”

Jones revealed the Wildcats were relentless in his pursuit after leading the Stockton Kings to the 2025 G League championship.

“It's the consistency that comes from somebody that's actually doing work on you and that actually, and people who actually want you,” Jones revealed. 

“So just doing that and really, really just understanding they wanted me. And they did the background work. And that's, that's important to me, just knowing what player you're getting. And I fit the system really well. And like I said, I like to get the teammates involved. (Wildcats) Coach (John Rillie) wants to win. So it really works for me.

Jones is 27 and in his prime. He played 10 games for the Sacramento Kings in 2024-25 and 32 games for Stockton, leading the team to the championship as the Finals MVP. In the three-game series against Osceola Magic he poured in 22.3 points per game, dished out 9.7 assists and pulled down 3.0 rebounds.

Jones said Perth was an ideal place for him to further develop his game.

“I feel like this is gonna be a big, big time for me to grow because Perth wants to win and I want to win,” he added. 

“And I feel like that came together as good timing. And I feel like it was just another chance to show people who I am as a player and as a person. 

“I love to be around people and they show love here as fans in the videos that I have seen. 

“But also I'm just, I'm a big believer in who you are off the court. And I just wanna dive into the community. I wanna learn my teammates, I wanna learn the people I'm around, and really just know what they like, because that's what's gonna help us on the court.”

He reunites with Australian-Sudanese centre Jo Lual-Acuil in a re-tooled roster after Bryce Cotton left the team at the end of NBL25. Cotton later signed with the Adelaide 36ers.

“Oh man, I actually played (Lual-Acuil) two years ago and he was a live threat,” Jones said. 

“And the way he played and how he played and the energy he brought and how he pushed his, how he pushed the teammates is exactly, that's who I was talking to before I got here.

“That's who I really got the insight from because I didn't play for him and, or I didn't play with him. And I know exactly what type of player he is. So, just talking to him and knowing who he is as a player, but as a person off the court is better too.”

Jones’ reputation has preceded him but he was determined to let his game do all the talking.

“I really don't like to put expectations on myself,” he revealed. 

“I let my hard work put due to expectations and results. I'm a very quiet guy, I like to really just work hard, be in the gym a lot and really let the results show. 

“I know that this year as I got signed, there's high expectations. But also losing a player like y'all did last year (Cotton), like they try to put expectations on me. But I am who I am and I know that if you see my resume, you know that I always perform. 

“So just taking it one day at a time and being ready for the season.”

The Perth Wildcats first game on NBL26 is against the Tasmania JackJumpers on September 20, 2025.

“For sure I'll be ready to go,” Jones declared. 

“I've been doing a lot of working out at home and really just standing, staying prepared for whatever happens.”

Mason Jones Playing Career

• 2020–2021: Houston Rockets
• 2021: Philadelphia 76ers
• 2021: South Bay Lakers
• 2021–2022: Los Angeles Lakers
• 2021–2022 :South Bay Lakers
• 2022–2023: Mexico City Capitanes
• 2023: Darüşşafaka
• 2023–2024: Stockton Kings
• 2024–2025: Sacramento Kings
• 2024–2025: Stockton Kings
• 2025: Perth Wildcats