Mason Plumlee Bio
Mason Alexander Plumlee (born March 5, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 7 feet tall and weighing about 255 pounds, he primarily plays the power forward and center positions. Plumlee has built a reputation as a reliable interior presence, high-energy teammate, and skilled passer for his size. Over more than a decade in the league, he has appeared for several franchises and contributed to winning basketball at every stop.
Early Life and Background
Mason Plumlee was born on March 5, 1990, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He grew up in a deeply athletic household shaped by basketball. His father, Perky Plumlee, played college basketball at Tennessee Tech, while his mother, Leslie Plumlee (née Schultz), played at Purdue. The couple met at a basketball camp during the summer of 1979, and their shared love of the sport carried into the next generation.
Mason has three siblings who all reached high-level college athletics. His older brother Miles Plumlee, younger brother Marshall Plumlee, and sister Madeleine Plumlee each competed in college sports, with Miles and Marshall later joining Mason in the NBA. His grandfather Albert “Bud” Schultz played basketball at Michigan Tech, and uncles William Schultz and Chad Schultz also competed at the college level, underscoring a strong multi-generational basketball lineage.
Path to Basketball
Mason first attended Warsaw Community High School in Warsaw, Indiana, before transferring to Christ School in Arden, North Carolina, after his freshman year. At Christ School, he helped lead the team to three North Carolina High School Athletic Association state championships and posted a 99–8 record across his final three seasons. He also competed in the high jump in track and field, clearing a personal best of 6 feet 8 inches.
As a senior at Christ School, Mason averaged 15.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game. He earned selection as a 2009 McDonald’s All-American, a Jordan Brand All-American, and a third-team Parade All-American, while also being named 2009 North Carolina Mr. Basketball by the Charlotte Observer. He capped his pre-college résumé with a silver medal at the 2008 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship with USA Basketball.
Mason Plumlee Career
Early Career (Duke Blue Devils, 2009–2013)
Mason committed to Duke University, where his older brother Miles was already a player. He missed the first six games of the 2009–10 season with a broken left wrist but worked his way into a regular rotation role. As a freshman, he served as a backup forward on the Duke Blue Devils team that won the 2010 NCAA Championship, rotating into games with Miles. Through April 4, 2010, he tied for the team lead in blocks with 30 and ranked second in dunks with 21, averaging 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 14.1 minutes per game.
Over his next three seasons at Duke, Mason developed into a frontcourt cornerstone. During his senior year, he played alongside his younger brother Marshall and earned first-team All-ACC honors, consensus second-team All-American recognition, the Pete Newell Big Man Award, and first-team Academic All-American accolades. He was also a 2012–13 Senior CLASS Award finalist, graduating as one of the most accomplished big men in program history.
Brooklyn Nets Breakthrough (2013–2015)
Mason Plumlee was selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013 NBA draft and signed his rookie-scale contract on July 3, 2013. He made an immediate impression, including a 19-point, 6-rebound performance against the Los Angeles Clippers and selection to the 2014 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge. On February 9, 2014, he recorded his second NBA double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and on April 8, 2014, he blocked a potential game-winning dunk by LeBron James in the closing seconds against the Miami Heat to seal a season sweep. He earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors, becoming the first Net since Brook Lopez in 2008–09 to receive the recognition.
In his second season, Plumlee served as the primary backup to Brook Lopez, starting in Lopez’s absence and moving back to the bench when healthy. He posted multiple season highs, including 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 12, 2014, and a career-high 24 points against the Houston Rockets on January 12, 2015. In 70 games during his rookie year, he averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds, establishing himself as a frontline NBA center.
Portland Trail Blazers Era (2015–2017)
On June 25, 2015, Mason was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a package that also included the draft rights to Pat Connaughton. He grew into a versatile contributor, posting 15 points and 13 rebounds against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 14, 2015, and reaching a then-career-high six assists in the same game. He finished the 2015–16 regular season with 13 double-doubles and a career-high 19 rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks on March 20, 2016.
Mason produced one of his most memorable playoff performances in Game 3 of the 2016 first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, recording 21 rebounds and 9 assists in a 96–88 win. He became the first player since LeBron James in 2010 to post at least 19 rebounds and 8 assists in a playoff game. In Game 4, he added 14 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 blocks to help Portland even the series at 2–2. He later became the fastest Portland player since Scottie Pippen in 1999–2000 to reach 150 rebounds and 100 assists.
Denver Nuggets Era (2017–2020)
On February 13, 2017, Plumlee was traded to the Denver Nuggets as part of a deal headlined by Jusuf Nurkić going to Portland. He re-signed with Denver on September 20, 2017, and provided steady interior play and playmaking alongside center Nikola Jokić. After the death of Kobe Bryant in January 2020, Mason changed his jersey number from 24 to 7 to honor Bryant’s legacy.
During the 2020 NBA Bubble, Plumlee served as a backup to Jokić and helped the Nuggets become the first team in playoff history to overcome multiple 3–1 series deficits in a single postseason, defeating the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers before falling to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
Detroit Pistons Era (2020–2021)
On December 1, 2020, Mason signed with the Detroit Pistons, where he earned a starting role and expanded his statistical profile. On February 14, 2021, he recorded his first career triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 123–112 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. At 30 years and 346 days old, he became the oldest player to record his first triple-double since Patrick Ewing in 1996.
Charlotte Hornets Era (2021–2023)
On August 6, 2021, Mason was traded to the Charlotte Hornets as part of a deal involving the draft rights to JT Thor. He debuted for Charlotte on October 20, 2021, with eight points, ten rebounds, and five assists in a 123–122 win over the Indiana Pacers. He later scored a season-high 25 points with eleven rebounds against the Atlanta Hawks on January 21, 2023. During the 2022–23 season, he served as Charlotte’s starting center for the second straight year and averaged career highs of 12.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
Los Angeles Clippers Era (2023–2024)
On February 9, 2023, Plumlee was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Reggie Jackson and a future second-round pick, joining a roster featuring Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook under head coach Tyronn Lue. He debuted on February 14 with eight points, five rebounds, and three assists in a 134–124 win over the Golden State Warriors. He re-signed with the Clippers on July 7, 2023, before eventually joining the Phoenix Suns on July 5, 2024.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mason Plumlee’s game is built on physicality, court vision, and high-motor play. He uses his 7-foot frame and elite athleticism to rebound, finish at the rim, and protect the paint, while his guard-like passing instincts allow him to operate as a hub in the high post and short-roll. Throughout his career, coaches have trusted him to defend traditional centers and switch onto smaller players in space.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Mason’s block of LeBron James on April 8, 2014, his 21-rebound, 9-assist playoff performance against the Clippers in 2016, and his first career triple-double with Detroit in February 2021 stand out. He is also a member of a rare basketball family, with all three Plumlee brothers having won NCAA championships at Duke.
Mason Plumlee Career Wins
Mason Plumlee has never won an individual NBA scoring or assists title, but he has accumulated valuable team success and individual milestones across more than a decade in the league. His clearest championship pedigree came at the college level, where he was part of the 2010 Duke Blue Devils NCAA title team. He later added a gold medal with the United States national team at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and a silver medal at the 2008 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship.
NBA and Team Highlights
Mason helped the Denver Nuggets reach the 2020 Western Conference Finals during the NBA Bubble and contributed to multiple playoff series wins in Portland, Brooklyn, and Denver. He earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2014, becoming the first Brooklyn Net since Brook Lopez in 2008–09 to receive the recognition.
Other Performances
Beyond team results, Mason has produced several statistical milestones, including his first career triple-double in Detroit and a 21-rebound, 9-assist playoff game in Portland. He has consistently ranked among the league’s top rebounders and interior passers at the center position throughout his career.
Mason Plumlee Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
The Plumlee family is one of basketball’s most accomplished extended families. Mason’s father, Perky Plumlee, played at Tennessee Tech, while his mother, Leslie Plumlee (née Schultz), played at Purdue. His brothers Miles and Marshall Plumlee both played at Duke and later in the NBA, with Marshall winning an NCAA championship in 2015 to complete a remarkable sweep of titles for the three Plumlee brothers. His sister Madeleine Plumlee played volleyball at the University of Notre Dame, and several uncles and his grandfather Albert “Bud” Schultz also competed at the college level.
Personal Life
Mason Plumlee is a Christian and has spoken publicly about the role of faith in his career, emphasizing that his journey has been guided by belief rather than certainty. He is known for his close relationship with his brothers, highlighted by their shared time at Duke and multiple NBA matchups, including games where Miles and Mason faced each other as professionals. Public details about his marital status and children are not widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
After spending the 2024–25 campaign with the Phoenix Suns, where he was elevated into the starting lineup in early January 2025, Mason Plumlee returned to the Charlotte Hornets on July 13, 2025, signing as a free agent. His move back to Charlotte reunited him with a franchise where he previously spent two productive seasons as a starter.
Heading into the 2025–26 NBA season, Plumlee is expected to provide veteran leadership, frontcourt depth, and playmaking from the center position. His prior stint with the Hornets produced career-best averages, suggesting a strong fit with the team’s system.
With a deep NBA résumé, postseason experience with multiple franchises, and a reputation for toughness and unselfish play, Mason Plumlee enters the 2025 season looking to anchor the Hornets’ interior rotation and contribute to a competitive push in the Eastern Conference.