Anthony Mason obit

Anthony Mason dead at 48; former New York Knicks standout

Former NBA power forward Anthony Mason, who played a strong supporting role in the New York Knicks' rise to prominence in the 1990s, died early Saturday morning, the team confirmed to the Associated Press. He was 48.

Mason's death was first reported by the New York Daily News, which said he had suffered a heart attack earlier this month. In a statement to the newspaper, Anthony Mason Jr. confirmed his father had been battling heart problems:

"Overnight New York City and the world lost a legend, a friend, a brother ... but more than anything our father, Anthony Mason. As you all would expect our father -- Big Mase -- put up an incredible fight, dealing with a severe heart issues. I'm wishing this was something else I was writing, but Pops we've got to let you know, 'we love you and know you'll  always be with us.'"

The majority of Mason's NBA career was spent in New York, where he emerged as a defensive leader backing up frontcourt stars Patrick Ewing, Charles Smith and Charles Oakley. In 1993-94, he was part of the first Knicks team to reach the NBA Finals since 1973. He won the NBA's Sixth Man award in 1995.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement praising Mason's career:

Freddy Avila, a Queens barber and the man behind many of New York Kicks Anthony Mason's buzzcuts reflects on the life of his friend.

 

"Anthony Mason exemplified perseverance for all players fighting for their chance in the NBA. With a gritty style of play and a distinctive skill set, he blossomed from a third-round draft pick into a Sixth Man award winner, All-NBA selection and, at age 34, an All-Star. NBA fans and players around the league admired his tenacity on defense and playmaking on offense. Our deepest sympathies go out to the Mason family during this difficult time."

Knicks president Phil Jackson, who coached the Chicago Bulls during their 1994 Eastern Conference semifinal loss to New York, said in a statement that "as a competitor, none was fiercer than Anthony Mason."

The 6-foot-7 Mason played for the Knicks from 1991 to 1996 before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets. In his first season with the Hornets, he recorded career bests in points (16.2), rebounds (11.4) and assists (5.7).

Mason reunited with former Knicks Coach Pat Riley while playing for the Miami Heat during the 2000-01 season. He played in his first and only NBA All-Star game that season. Mason then played two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks before retiring in 2003.

Over his career, Mason averaged 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

Born in Miami on Dec. 14, 1966, Mason played high school basketball at Springfield Gardens in Queens before attending Tennessee State. He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1988.

Mason played overseas and had stints with the New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets before joining the Knicks.

Mason's teammate and Hornets assistant coach Patrick Ewing weighed in. Ewing and Mason were Knicks teammates from 1991 through 1996.

    Patrick Ewing: "My heart is heavy after learning we lost Anthony Mason last night. We were teammates on the Knicks for five great seasons..

Charles Oakley, another longtime teammate of Mason, was impactful in his Twitter sentiments:  MY MAN MY MAN A. MASON R.I.P, WE GONNA MISS U BROTHER

Knicks fan Spike Lee became famous as a basketball fan during Mason's heyday with the Knicks, and he paid his respects on Twitter:

    Mr ANTHONY MASON-May He Rest In Power. Once A Knick-Always A Knick. https://t.co/MU3RkseBr2

    — Spike Lee

Reggie Miller, who battled Mason and the Knicks in epic Pacers-Knicks series in the mid-90s, expressed the right tone, with the loss of so many notable former players in the last year.

    Been such a heavy heart lately in the NBA family, especially now with the passing of Anthony Mason. Thoughts and prayers to the family..

    — Reggie Miller

Two more big NBA names:

  R.I.P Anthony Mason

    — Isiah Thomas

Stephen Curry is a second-generation player, and his father Dell Curry played with Mason. Curry also paid is respects on Twitter.

    #RIPAnthonyMason played with my pops in Charlotte & always treated me like his son when I was around. Prayers up for the family!

    — Stephen Curry

J.R. Smith, who despite the acrimonious end to his time there, loved playing for New York, gave a thoughtful reflection for Mason, who was a mentor to Smith. Man I don't even know what to say... Thank you for your inspiration! Thank you for your guidance! Thank you for this long conversations! Thank you for holding me down at all times! Real life Uncle shit you did for me! Nothing but love for you an the family! Not only did we loose one hell of a player but a person as well! Never forget you boss! #RIPMASE p.s. He Made It Cool For Us To Put Designs In Our Head!

RIP to Anthony Mason, those Knick days with you and the rest of the guys had me glued to the TV as a youngster, prayers up for the family. – Kevin Durant

It's a sad day to hear the passing of Anthony Mason. #Knicks fans please pray for his family. It's hard losing a loved one. – Walt Frazier

Sad & shocked to hear about Anthony Mason passing at 48. I had a chance to play against him. Fierce competitor. #NBAFamily #RIPAnthonyMason – Pau Gasol

#RIPAnthonyMason - gone too soon. I'm sending prayers to his family, friends and the @nyknicks. #6thMan – Horace Grant

Mason attended Tennessee State University and was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the third round of the 1988 NBA draft (53rd pick), but was cut shortly afterwards. He then played for the Efes Pilsen basketball club in Turkey and Marinos de Oriente in Venezuela and had brief NBA stints with the New Jersey Nets and the Denver Nuggets.

In the 1990–1991 season, Mason played 26 games for the CBA's Tulsa Fast Breakers, with whom he averaged 29.9 points and 14.8 rebounds per game in his only season in the league.

Also in 1991, Mason played as a power forward for the Long Island Surf of the USBL.

Mason signed with the New York Knicks in the summer of 1991. Under coach Pat Riley, Mason blossomed in New York, where he became part of a strong frontcourt alongside Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, John Starks, Rolando Blackman, Derek Harper, Greg Anthony and Charles Smith. Mason played for the Knicks until 1996. In 1994, the Knicks reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973, but lost in seven games to the Hakeem Olajuwon-led Houston Rockets.

Mason won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1995. He led the league in minutes played in 1995–96 with 3,457, setting a Knicks team record. In 1996, Mason and Brad Lohaus were traded to the Charlotte Hornets for Larry Johnson.

Charlotte Hornets

In the 1996-1997 season, Mason recorded career highs in minutes played (43.1), points (16.2), rebounds (11.4) and assists (5.7). He led the league in minutes. Following the season, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Mason missed the entire 1998–99 season due to a ruptured bicep, then averaged 11.6 points and 8.5 rebounds in the 1999–2000 season.

Miami Heat

In 2000, Mason was traded to the Miami Heat along with Eddie Jones, Ricky Davis and Dale Ellis for Jamal Mashburn, P. J. Brown, Tim James, Rodney Buford and Otis Thorpe In Miami, although Mason had been brought over by Miami coach Pat Riley to be a role player on what was thought to have been a contender Heat team, the kidney ailment of Alonzo Mourning forced Mourning to sit out and made Mason a starter for the team. Mason would respond by finishing second on the team in scoring, with 16.1 points per game, and averaging 9.6 rebounds. With Mourning and Grant Hill selected but unable to play due to injury in the 2001 NBA All-Star Game, Mason was chosen to represent the Heat in his only selection to an All-Star team. Mason helped the Heat make the playoffs with a 50 win season for the injury-ravaged squad. Mason, however, virtually disappeared in the playoffs, taking only 13 shots and averaging a mere 5.3 points and 3 rebounds in three games. Mason was waived during the offseason.

Milwaukee Bucks

Mason signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2001–02 season. In Mason's first season with the Bucks, the team stumbled to a 41–41 record (11 games worse than the previous season) and missed the playoffs altogether. Mason's numbers went down as well: 9.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg. Nonetheless, Milwaukee stuck with Mason for another year, waiving him after the 2002–03 season. Mason retired from the NBA in 2003.

Media appearances

In the TV series New York Undercover, Mason appeared in two different episodes, playing himself in one. He also plays a pickup player in the 1996 film Eddie, and himself in Woody Allen's Celebrity.

In addition, Mason appears in the Diamond D rap video "Best Kept Secret", dunking his way through the video on a New York City playground basketball court.

The Beastie Boys song "B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak" from 1994's "Ill Communication" LP mentions him with the lyric "I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason"—the Beasties being NY Knicks fans.

The Notorious B.I.G. song "I Got a Story to Tell" tells of the rapper sleeping with the girlfriend of a New York Knick in the player's home. This player was revealed, decades later, to be Mason.

Some of his other teammates, coaches, managers and club owners include: Mookie Blaylock, Sam Bowie, Derrick Gervin, Roy Hinson, Chris Morris, Charles Shackleford, Stanley Brundy, Purvis Short, Dennis Hopson, Leon Wood, Lester Connor, Paul Westhead, Bill Fitch, Bernie Bickerstaff, Michael Adams, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (Chris Jackson), Cadillac Anderson, Kenny Battle, Orlando Woolridge, Blair Rasmussen, Reggie Williams, Pat Riley, Mark Jackson, John Starks, Gerald Wilkins, Xavier McDaniel, Charles Oakley, Kiki Vandeweghe, James Donaldson, Mark Jackson, Paul Silas, Jeff Van Gundy, Bo Kimble, Doc Rivers, Tony Campbell, Rolando Blackman, Charles D. Smith, Hubert Davis, Herb Williams, Derek Harper, Anthony Bonner, Doug Christie, Charlie Ward, Greg Anthony, Don Nelson, J. R. Reid, Gary Grant, Don Chaney, Dave Cowens, Bob Bass, George Shinn, Tom Chambers, Dell Curry, Glen Rice, Ricky Pierce, Vlade Divac, Muggsy Bogues, Matt Geiger, T. R. Dunn, Vernon Maxwell, B. J. Armstrong, David Wesley, Randy Pfund, Micky Arison, Ricky Davis, Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Dan Majerle, A. C. Green, Anthony Carter, Cedric Ceballos, Greg Foster, Glenn Robinson, Michael Redd, Ray Allen, Jason Caffey, Sam Cassell, Gary Payton, Desmond Mason, Tim
Thomas and Toni Kukoc.