2001 Slam Dunk Champion and Former Seattle SuperSonic Arrested on Felony Warrant in Oklahoma
Desmond Mason, who won the NBA Slam Dunk contest in 2001 and started his professional career with the Seattle SuperSonics after being drafted 17th overall in 2000 out of Oklahoma State, was arrested on a felony warrant. The 48-year-old former player is now in custody in Oklahoma facing serious legal trouble.
From Draft Day to the Cell Block
Mason was picked 17th in the 2000 NBA draft, and Seattle gave him his first shot in the league. The SuperSonics were the ones who believed in him early, launching a career that would take him through stops in Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Sacramento. He became one of the most electrifying players on the court, winning the 2001 Slam Dunk contest at the peak of his game. Now, decades later, he's facing the opposite kind of spotlight.
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Police arrested Mason in Bricktown, Oklahoma. Before he was taken to jail, authorities transported him to a hospital to address a medical issue. He remains in custody, with News 9 reporting that the charge against him is "flight to avoid," which is used when someone crosses borders to dodge prosecution. Police have been looking for him since February.
The Case Behind the Charges
According to the Melissa Police Department in Collin County, Texas, a couple filed a police report in January claiming they hired Mason in March 2025 to frame a piece of sports memorabilia. The couple paid him a total of $9,822.86 for the job. Mason sent them a photograph of the completed framing work in April 2025 and promised to deliver the finished product, but then stopped communicating with them. The sports memorabilia and its authentication documents were valued at around $40,000. That silence stretched on for several months before authorities got involved, leading to the felony warrant that finally caught up with him in Oklahoma.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.