Thunder: Desmond Mason plants more OKC roots

Desmond Mason and his family moved back to Oklahoma City last autumn. Now they’ve established even more roots. Mason has joined the stately Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club.

I didn’t even know Mason played golf. “I’m getting there,” Mason said. “I play a lot more than I used to.”

He took up the game in 2002 and now is a 13-handicap. Has his sights set on single digits. A single-digit handicap and making his mark in OKC.

Mason has opened two business, a fitness center, barre3, on Classen Curve and an art gallery in which he will display his own work, the work of Oklahoma artists trying to get recognized and the work of visiting artists from as far away as Europe. Mason also is doing analyst work for KWTV-9 during the NBA playoffs.

Mason also has become a spokesman for First Fidelity Bank. He’s having a Nichols Hills house renovated. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to see Mason work for the Thunder in some capacity, since he played for the NBA team in its first season in Oklahoma City and also was a popular member of the Hornets when they played in OKC in 2005-07.

during the basketball game between Oklahoma State and Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011, at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

“I think it’s really cool that guys of his caliber come back to Oklahoma City instead of leaving,” said Chuck Ainsworth, president of Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. “We’re absolutely delighted to have him.”