Mason was arrested earlier this month on a felony warrant for theft of property.
Longtime NBA forward and former Sacramento Kings backup Desmond Mason was arrested in Oklahoma City earlier this month amid an investigation for theft.
According to News9 in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City Police Department arrested Mason on Thursday, May 7. A felony warrant for theft of property had previously been issued in Texas.
An unnamed couple told the Melissa Police Department in Collin County, Texas, in January that they had commissioned Mason to frame a piece of sports memorabilia in March 2025. Mason, who turns 49 in October, reportedly owns an art studio in Oklahoma City.
Mason majored in studio art at Oklahoma State and he has pursued an art career in retirement. Notably, Mason turned heads when he created murals in Milwaukee following the Bucks’ 2021 championship; he played four seasons with the Bucks in the 2000s.
The couple paid Mason over $9,800, and he sent them a photograph of the framed product a month later. However, the couple alleged that Mason stopped communicating with them after promising to deliver the product. The sports memorabilia and associated authentication documents were valued at roughly $40,000.
Mason was initially taken to a local hospital for undisclosed reasons before being booked in the Oklahoma County Detention Center. He has reportedly been labeled a “flight risk.”
Neither Mason nor his representatives had publicly commented on the situation as of May 13.
The No. 17 pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, Mason averaged 12.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 643 games (385 starts) over 10 seasons. He began his career with the then-Seattle SuperSonics, winning the 2001 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
However, Seattle traded Mason and Gary Payton to the Bucks in 2003 during the infamous Ray Allen trade. He later started 130 games over two years with the then-New Orleans Hornets during their Hurricane Katrina-forced time in Oklahoma City.
Mason also notably created a hip-hop song, “We Dem Hornets,” during the 2006-07 season. He collaborated with teammate Brandon Bass and Thomas Scott, a videographer intern and the son of Hornets coach Byron Scott.
Mason closed his 10-year career with the Kings, averaging 2.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in five games (four starts) during the 2009-10 season.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!