Anthony Mason (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Anthony George Douglas Mason (born December 14, 1966) 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 averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 13-year NBA career. During the prime of his career in the mid-1990s, he earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
in 1995 and then led the NBA in minutes played in the subsequent two seasons. In 1997, he earned All-NBA (3rd team) and NBA All-Defensive Team
(2nd team). He would go on to be selected to the 2001 NBA All-Star Game
.
Mason, who played primarily the power forward
position despite his relatively diminutive stature (he stood at 6' 7" (2.01 m)) in comparison to the opposition he faced , compensated for 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. He was also known for shaving logos and words into his hair.
Mason played collegiately for Tennessee State University
and played professionally in Turkey
, Venezuela
, the Continental Basketball Association
(CBA) and the United States Basketball League
(USBL).
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
, the CBA and the USBL 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. Mason then signed with the New York Knicks
in the summer of 1991.
Under 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 in 1996 to the Charlotte Hornets with Brad Lohaus
for Larry Johnson. In 2000, he was sent to the Miami Heat
with Eddie Jones
, Ricky Davis
and Dale Ellis
for Jamal Mashburn
, P.J. Brown, Tim James, Rodney Buford
and Otis Thorpe
, and finished his career with the Milwaukee Bucks
. He retired in 2003, and fixed residence in Memphis, Tennessee
.
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).
His first season with the Hornets was the 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 a ruptured biceps injury http://assets.espn.go.com/nba/preview99/cha.html, then averaged 11.6 points and 8.5 rebounds the following one.
In Miami, although Mason had been brought over by Miami coach Pat Riley to be a role player on a contender Heat team, the kidney ailment of Alonzo Mourning
forced him to sit out and made Mason a primary contributor for the team. Mason would respond by finishing second on the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game and would also average 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, and it would be his first and only selection to an All-Star team. Mason helped the Heat make the playoffs with a surprising 50 win season for the injury ravaged Heat. 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 not-resigned and was let go during the offseason.
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. Chemistry problems plagued the Bucks, who had reached within one game of the 2001 NBA Finals just prior to the acquisition of Mason, and the blame largely fell on Mason, who, according to ESPN, had entered training camp 30 pounds overweight and openly criticized fellow Bucks players on and off the court. His vociferous criticisms were combatted by then-Bucks coach George Karl, who reminded Mason he was not a coach and needed to tone down his speech. Karl's directions were relayed to the media during an interview; nevertheless, Mason insisted during an interview with an ESPN contributor, "No, not really [did anyone tell me to tone down his speech]." 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. Milwaukee was quick to rid itself of Mason, dismissing him after the 2002-2003 season.
Mason's son, Anthony Mason Jr., played on the St. John's University
Red Storm basketball team. His other son, Antoine plays basketball at Niagara University
.
, 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.
He also appears in the Beastie Boys
music video "Root Down".
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player with the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
and Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
. He averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 13-year NBA career. During the prime of his career in the mid-1990s, he earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the league's most valuable player for his team coming off the bench as a substitute . A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from throughout...
in 1995 and then led the NBA in minutes played in the subsequent two seasons. In 1997, he earned All-NBA (3rd team) and NBA All-Defensive Team
NBA All-Defensive Team
The NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; the coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team...
(2nd team). He would go on to be selected to the 2001 NBA All-Star Game
2001 NBA All-Star Game
The 2001 NBA All-Star Game was a basketball matchup between the Eastern and Western Conference All-Stars of the NBA. It was held in front of a sellout crowd at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. This was the 50th edition of the annual event....
.
Mason, who played primarily the power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
position despite his relatively diminutive stature (he stood at 6' 7" (2.01 m)) in comparison to the opposition he faced , compensated for 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. He was also known for shaving logos and words into his hair.
Mason played collegiately for Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
and played professionally in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
(CBA) and the United States Basketball League
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
(USBL).
Basketball career
Mason attended Tennessee State UniversityTennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
and was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
in the third round of the 1988 NBA Draft
1988 NBA Draft
The 1988 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1988 in New York City, New York. The length was reduced from seven rounds in the previous year to three rounds.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Notable undrafted players:...
(53rd pick), but was cut shortly afterwards. He then played for Efes Pilsen basketball club in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Marinos de Oriente in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, the CBA and the USBL for about a year. He had brief stints with the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, where he averaged 1.8 points, and the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, where he played only 3 games. Mason then signed with the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the summer of 1991.
Under coach Pat Riley
Pat Riley
Patrick James "Pat" Riley is an American professional basketball executive, and a retired coach and player in the NBA. Currently, he is team president of the Miami Heat. Widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time, Riley has served as the head coach of five championship teams...
, Mason blossomed in New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, where he made up a strong front court alongside Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic. He played most of his career with the NBA's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle...
, Charles Oakley
Charles Oakley
Charles Oakley is a retired American professional basketball player and is currently an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats of the National Basketball Association...
and Charles Smith
Charles D. Smith
Charles Daniel Smith is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.- College career :...
. In 1994, the Knicks reached the NBA Finals
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
for the first time since 1973 but lost in seven games to the Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
-led Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. Mason was traded in 1996 to the Charlotte Hornets with Brad Lohaus
Brad Lohaus
Bradley Allen "Brad" Lohaus is an American retired professional basketball player who was selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 1987 NBA Draft...
for Larry Johnson. In 2000, he was sent to the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
with Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones (basketball)
Eddie Charles Jones is an American former professional basketball player. Jones played college basketball at Temple University and was the 1993–94 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year...
, Ricky Davis
Ricky Davis
Tyree Ricardo Davis , better known as Ricky Davis, is an American professional basketball player.-Biography:...
and Dale Ellis
Dale Ellis
Dale Ellis is a retired American professional basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association....
for Jamal Mashburn
Jamal Mashburn
Jamal Mashburn is a retired American professional basketball player. A small forward, Mashburn was a prolific scorer in his 12 seasons in the league, with a career scoring average of 19.1 points per game...
, P.J. Brown, Tim James, Rodney Buford
Rodney Buford
Rodney Alan "The Sheriff" Buford, is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada....
and Otis Thorpe
Otis Thorpe
Otis Henry Thorpe is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.-Early years:...
, and finished his career with the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
. He retired in 2003, and fixed residence in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
.
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).
His first season with the Hornets was the 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 a ruptured biceps injury http://assets.espn.go.com/nba/preview99/cha.html, then averaged 11.6 points and 8.5 rebounds the following one.
In Miami, although Mason had been brought over by Miami coach Pat Riley to be a role player on a contender Heat team, the kidney ailment of Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. is a former American professional basketball player, who played most of his 15-year NBA career for the Miami Heat....
forced him to sit out and made Mason a primary contributor for the team. Mason would respond by finishing second on the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game and would also average 9.6 rebounds. With Mourning and Grant Hill
Grant Hill (basketball)
Grant Henry Hill is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Phoenix Suns. As a collegian with Duke University and early in his professional career with the Detroit Pistons, Hill was widely considered to be one of the best all-around players in the game, often...
selected but unable to play due to injury in the 2001 NBA All Star Game, Mason was chosen to represent the Heat, and it would be his first and only selection to an All-Star team. Mason helped the Heat make the playoffs with a surprising 50 win season for the injury ravaged Heat. 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 not-resigned and was let go during the offseason.
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. Chemistry problems plagued the Bucks, who had reached within one game of the 2001 NBA Finals just prior to the acquisition of Mason, and the blame largely fell on Mason, who, according to ESPN, had entered training camp 30 pounds overweight and openly criticized fellow Bucks players on and off the court. His vociferous criticisms were combatted by then-Bucks coach George Karl, who reminded Mason he was not a coach and needed to tone down his speech. Karl's directions were relayed to the media during an interview; nevertheless, Mason insisted during an interview with an ESPN contributor, "No, not really [did anyone tell me to tone down his speech]." 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. Milwaukee was quick to rid itself of Mason, dismissing him after the 2002-2003 season.
Mason's son, Anthony Mason Jr., played on the St. John's University
St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
Red Storm basketball team. His other son, Antoine plays basketball at Niagara University
Niagara University
Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...
.
TV/film/music appearances
In the TV series New York UndercoverNew York Undercover
New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to...
, Mason appeared in two different episodes, playing himself in one. He also plays a pickup player in the 1996 film Eddie
Eddie (film)
Eddie is a 1996 comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Frank Langella. It was a moderate success, grossing $31,387,164 in the US.The film was directed by Steve Rash.- Plot summary :...
, and himself in Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
's Celebrity
Celebrity (film)
Celebrity is a 1998 comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. The screenplay focuses on the divergent paths a couple takes following their divorce.-Plot:...
.
In addition, Mason appears in the Diamond D
Diamond D
Diamond D is a hip hop producer and MC from the Bronx, New York City, and one of the founding members of the legendary D.I.T.C. crew. He started out as a DJ for Jazzy Jay back in the late 1980s and was at the same time perfecting his skills in beat making and turntablism, and together with rhyme...
rap video "Best Kept Secret," dunking his way through the video on a New York City playground basketball court.
The Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
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.
He also appears in the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
music video "Root Down".