Anthony Mason (basketball)

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Anthony George Douglas Mason (born December 14, 1966 in Miami, Florida) is a retired American National Basketball Association player with the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat. He played small forward and power forward and averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his career, over 13 seasons.

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 Efes Pilsen basketball club in Turkey, Marinos de Oriente in Venezuela and in the CBA for about a year. He had brief stints with the New Jersey Nets, where he averaged 1.8 points, and the Denver Nuggets, where he played only 3 games then signed with the New York Knicks in the summer of 1991.

Under legendary coach Pat Riley, Mason blossomed in New York, where he made up a strong front court alongside Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Charles Smith. 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 was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 for Larry Johnson. In 2000, he was sent to the Miami Heat, earning his first and only All-Star Game appearance, and finished his career with the Milwaukee Bucks. He retired in 2003, and resides in Memphis, Tennessee.

Mason played the power forward position despite his relatively diminutive stature (he stood at 6' 7" or 201 cm), compensating his lack of size by his impressive musculature, which made him one of the most feared defensive players in the league. In addition to his physical strength, he could rely on a very good court vision and was a precise and effective passer.

Mason won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 1995. He was named to the 1996-'97 All-NBA Third Team and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He led the league in minutes played in 1995-'96 (3,457), also setting a Knicks record with the number. He also led the league in minutes played per game in 1996-'97 (43.1).

In the summer of 1996 Mason was traded to the Charlotte Hornets. His first season with the team was his best in his NBA career. He recorded career-highs in minutes played (43.1), points (16.2), rebounds (11.4) and assists (5.7) and also 4 triple-doubles (the first in his career). He missed the entire 1998-'99 season due to an injury, then averaged 11.6 points and 8.5 rebounds in the 1999-2000 season. He was then traded to the Heat after the season and averaged 16.1 points and 9.6 rebounds.

He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2001-'02 season. The team was full of stars already and, adding Mason to the front line, seemed like The force in the East. Due to chemistry and other problems though, the Bucks failed to meet the expectations and didn't even make the playoffs. Mason's numbers went down as well: 9.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg.

Mason's son, 6'7", 203 lb, Anthony Mason Jr., is currently a sophomore on the St. John's University Red Storm basketball team.

Mason was regarded as a flamboyant character (and was notorious for shaving logos and words into his head). Perhaps it was for that reason that he made a cameo in Woody Allen's movie Celebrity.