MASON'S MENTALITY: MASON BOURCIER'S UNIQUE APPROACH TO BASKETBALL AND LIFE
Photo by Jesse Tamayo
Written by Ethan Bomhof
“If you take a glass jar, marbles and sand, you’ve got to put the marbles in first and let the sand seep in to fill the jar. That’s the way I look at my role on the Surge,” said Calgary Surge guard Mason Bourcier. “We have our marbles in Rugzy [Miller-Moore], Stef [Smith] and Simi [Shittu], and I try to embrace being the sand that fills in the gaps.”
Bourcier’s impact as a basketball player goes far beyond the scoring column on a scoresheet and that is not by accident. His mindset dives deeper than getting baskets for himself. His selfless style of play has made him a staple in Surge’s lineup and is the go-to guard to come off the bench first.
The Kelowna, BC native not only recognizes his role on the Surge, but he welcomes it. Bourcier takes pride in being the guy who is distributing the ball, prioritizing defence, and other important parts of the game that don’t always show up on the scoresheet. The versatility that he brings is indispensable to his team.
“I kind of embrace that chameleon-type role that I have,” explained Bourcier. “Everyone just seems to stare at that points-per-game stat. Yes, we need guys scoring, but we also need someone getting everyone involved, getting back on defence, fuelling the fast break.”
“I like to use the analogy that basketball is like building a bridge. Everyone looks at the road on a bridge, not the nuts and bolts supporting it,” said Bourcier.
As a young basketball player, Bourcier wondered how he could set himself apart from his competitors and teammates. He decided to take a more philosophical approach to the game and credits it to him being the player he is today.
Photo by Jesse Tamayo
“I would watch Kobe Bryant and how he talked about being a Black Mamba and he wanted to become a killer snake in the game. Certain guys would all be talking in this weird language of analogies, metaphors and whatnot. At first, I didn’t understand but I realized that was the main difference between someone good and someone great at what they do,” said Bourcier.
The deep-thinking approach even persuaded Bourcier to change his major to philosophy at Trinity Western University. The mindset has allowed the guard to think a few steps ahead in the game. It changed how he views each possession, shot, pass, rebound, or mistake.
Along with changing the way Bourcier looks at the game, his mindset has also humbled him as a basketball player and a person. Bourcier didn’t view himself as an athletic specimen as a young player. However, he wouldn’t let that hold him down and used it as fuel to get better.
“My basketball idol was Russell Westbrook. I would always tell myself: I am going to turn into Russell Westbrook,” explained Bouricer. “At the time, I wasn’t very athletic. I could barely touch the rim. Then, in college, I was putting up triple-doubles because I was obsessed with getting better.”
Despite being fresh out of university and surrounded by guys with NBA, NBA G-League and overseas experience, Bourcier knows he belongs here and deserves to be here. And he is right. Mason Bourcier will be a strong player in the Canadian Elite Basketball League for many years. His confidence has pushed him to get to where he is now, but he remains grounded and humble in the position he is in.
“I remember one of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten from anyone was from a homeless man in Los Angeles. I was shooting on the outdoor courts of Venice Beach during a vacation. Knowing me, I was getting frustrated missing shots. This guy comes over and says: ‘You look like a good player, just relax and throw the ball up there,” Bourcier recalled.
“I don't care if you’re a 30-year-old NBA veteran or a younger U SPORTS player. Everybody knows something you don't. I think everyone here with the Surge appreciates that way of thinking.”
In his third CEBL season, the 23-year-old is only getting better. His philosophical mentality has unlocked the potential for a long professional basketball career. His invaluable skills and leadership have solidified him in the Surge’s lineup and will be crucial for Calgary’s playoff push.