Anthony Mason (basketball) facts for kids

Anthony George Douglas Mason (born December 14, 1966 – died February 28, 2015) was an American professional basketball player. He played for 13 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was known for his strong play as a power forward.

Mason played for several NBA teams. These included the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat. During his career, he averaged about 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1995. This award goes to the best player who usually comes off the bench. He also led the NBA in minutes played for two seasons. In 1997, he was chosen for the All-NBA Third Team and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. These awards recognize top players in the league. He was also an NBA All-Star in 2001. Mason was part of the 1993-1994 New York Knicks team that made it to the NBA Finals.

Before joining the NBA, Mason played college basketball for Tennessee State University. He also played professionally in other countries like Turkey and Venezuela. He played in minor leagues in the U.S. too.

Anthony Mason's Basketball Journey

Starting His Career

Anthony Mason was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1988. He was the 53rd pick overall. However, he was released by the team soon after.

After that, he played for teams overseas. He played for Efes Pilsen in Turkey and Marinos de Oriente in Venezuela. He also had short times with the New Jersey Nets and the Denver Nuggets in the NBA.

In 1990–1991, Mason played for the Tulsa Fast Breakers. This was a team in the CBA league. He was very good, averaging almost 30 points and 15 rebounds per game.

In 1991, Mason played for the Long Island Surf in the USBL league. He was named to the All-USBL First Team. He averaged 27.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. He even set a league record with 28 rebounds in one game. People saw his great potential.

Playing for the New York Knicks

Mason joined the New York Knicks in 1991. He became a key player under coach Pat Riley. He played alongside stars like Patrick Ewing and Charles Oakley. On March 26, 1993, he scored a career-high 30 points. He also grabbed 16 rebounds in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers.

In 1994, the Knicks made it to the NBA Finals. This was their first time since 1973. They played against the Hakeem Olajuwon-led Houston Rockets. The Knicks lost in a close seven-game series.

Mason won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1995. This showed how important he was coming off the bench. In the 1995–96 season, he played the most minutes in the entire league. He set a Knicks team record for minutes played. In 1996, Mason was traded to the Charlotte Hornets.

Time with the Charlotte Hornets

Mason started strong with the Charlotte Hornets. In his first game on November 2, 1996, he had 18 points and 15 rebounds. On February 17, 1997, he scored a season-high 28 points. He also had 12 rebounds and 9 assists in a big win.

In the 1996–1997 season, Mason had his best year. He averaged career highs in minutes played (43.1), points (16.2), rebounds (11.4), and assists (5.7). He led the league in minutes for the second year in a row. After this great season, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team. He also made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.

In the 1997-98 season, Mason continued to be a strong starter. He helped the Hornets get past the first round of the playoffs. They beat the Atlanta Hawks. However, they were then eliminated by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

Mason missed the entire 1998–99 season due to an injury. He returned for the 1999–2000 season. He averaged 11.6 points and 8.5 rebounds. On March 31, he achieved a triple-double. He had 31 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Hornets were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs that year.

Playing for the Miami Heat

In 2000, Mason was traded to the Miami Heat. He joined the team with Eddie Jones. The Heat coach, Pat Riley, wanted Mason to be a key role player. However, a teammate, Alonzo Mourning, was sick. This meant Mason had to become a starter for the team.

Mason stepped up and played very well. He finished second on the team in scoring. He averaged 16.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. In 2001, Mason was chosen to play in the 2001 NBA All-Star Game. This was his only time being an All-Star. He helped the Heat win 50 games that season. Mason left the Heat after that season.

Final Years with the Milwaukee Bucks

Mason signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2001–02 season. His numbers went down a bit, averaging 9.6 points and 7.9 rebounds. The Bucks missed the playoffs that year. Mason played one more season with the Bucks. He retired from the NBA in 2003.

Anthony Mason in Media

Anthony Mason also appeared in TV shows and movies. He was in two episodes of the TV series New York Undercover. He played himself in one of them. He also appeared in the 1996 movie Eddie. He played a pickup basketball player. He was also in Woody Allen's 1998 film Celebrity.

Mason was also mentioned in popular music. The Beastie Boys song "B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak" from 1994 mentions him. The lyric says, "I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason."

Anthony Mason's Family Life

Anthony Mason was born in Miami, Florida. He grew up mostly in Queens, New York City.

His son, Anthony Mason Jr., played basketball for St. John's University. He later tried out for the Miami Heat. He also played for other professional teams. Another son, Antoine, also played college basketball. He played for Niagara University and Auburn University.

Sad News: Anthony Mason's Passing

In early February 2015, Anthony Mason had a heart attack. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He sadly passed away on February 28, 2015. He was 48 years old.

See Also

In Spanish: Anthony Mason para niños

• List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders