Very close to securing its continuation in Betclic Elite, Nancy will end the season without Frank Mason. The American leader (1.82 m, 30 years old) and the Lorraine club announced their separation on Saturday “by mutual agreement” while SLUC hosts Le Mans in the afternoon (6:30 p.m.). Mason averaged 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists. Flattering statistics which earned him a selection for the LNB All-Star Game at the end of December.
Since the start of 2024, the former Duke player at the university level has suffered an ankle injury and then another hand injury. This has left him on the sidelines since March 16 and the quarter-final of the Coupe de France lost against Strasbourg (102-88). But the Lorraine club had expressed its annoyance. “I have never forced a player to play. But at the same time, injured players are playing. This is the case for Mérédis Houmounou, Tyren Johnson and Clément Frisch,” recalled coach Sylvain Lautié at the beginning of April, quoted by BeBasket.
Mason’s departure comes six weeks after the deadline to recruit players (excluding medical freelancer). Nancy will therefore not be able to replace him for the epilogue of the Championship. The SLUC is only one victory behind Saint-Quentin (8th), virtual last qualifier in the play-offs. Arriving in January 2023, Mason contributed to keeping Lorraine in the elite last season.
