It was always going to be tough for Mason Jones. My article upon his signing was clear on the expectations that were always going to be placed on Jones. Unfortunately, he was saddled with the constant necessity to be better —or at least as good — as the all-time great he was replacing. Five games into the season and the Perth Wildcats decided such a view was not on the horizon so they have released him from his contract.

The Wildcats had a 3–2 record at the time of Jones’ release so it was not that the alarm bells were ringing for the team’s failure like what had sounded for JaQuori McLaughlin in Illawarra. Jones also obviously can play at a high level — as his 2025 NBA G League Finals MVP and NBA appearances prove — so it was not like he was unable to play. It purely proved to be that Jones was not the role that the Wildcats needed. Despite his high assist numbers in the G League, Jones is a scorer and he is primarily a shooting guard. The Wildcats have enough offensive talent on the team — Jo Lual Acuil Jr., Kristian Doolittle, Dylan Windler, Elijah Pepper, Lat Mayen and Ben Henshall — but what they needed more than anything was a facilitator.

I believe that the Wildcats were so eager to fill the hole left in the wake of Bryce Cotton leaving that they tried to find someone who could fit in that hole as close as possible. That ultimately came regardless of what else the team needed. It proved to be a wrong call as Jones is cut and now the Wildcats are left to try again with someone else.

In Jones’ five games with the Wildcats, he averaged 11.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists. His season-high came in his final game where he dropped 19 points on the Brisbane Bullets in a blowout loss. Jones’ shooting percentages were also lower than what would have been expected with 34.7% field goal and 27.6% three-point. The game that probably more than anything cost Jones his position was his third appearance against the Illawarra Hawks; he had scored 12 points in 34 minutes. Wildcats coach John Rillie went to his son, Jaron, to finish the game and The Seed’s efforts helped lead the team to a win. Jones had a plus-minus of -5 in that game; Jaron Rillie had a plus-minus of +25. Jaron Rillie subsequently saw an increase in minutes after that game and Jones was to be cut two games later.

So, Jones goes back to the United States where he will likely re-join the G League. Perhaps the Wildcats realise that it is not so easy to replace a legacy so great.