J-Speaks: Former Knicks Forwards Passes Away

Back in the 1990s, the New York Knicks were a tough minded, hard noised, gritty, competitive defensive team that from 1991-92 to 1994-95 won over 50 games. While Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and John Starks were the headliners on those teams, it was a power forward who went from being undrafted to an integral part of those Knicks teams and had a solid career with a couple of other teams that was the heart and soul of those teams. He added a postseason award to his career resume, played in the mid-season classic and along the way earned the respect and appreciation from Knicks fans. Yesterday, that proud former Knick and native of Queens passed on way too soon.

Former Knick forward Anthony Mason, who also played for the then New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks passed away yesterday in Manhattan from congestive heart failure. He had suffered a massive heart attack earlier in the month of February. He was 48 years old. He averaged 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 13-year NBA career.

He is survived by his two sons Anthony Mason, Jr. who played for St. John’s University before playing for the likes of Sioux Falls Skyforce and Cholet Basket and Antoine, who plays basketball for the Auburn University Tigers after transferring from Niagara University, where he graduated concluding second in the country with 25.6 scoring average per contest.

“We would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt thoughts and strong prayers. Anthony felt each and every one. He fought like a warrior to the very end. Please keep your prayers and thoughts with us through this very hard time-it is a great loss for us,” The Mason family said in a statement. “We ask for privacy during this time.”

Before their contest last night versus their Atlantic Division rival the Toronto Raptors, which they won 103-98, they held a moment of silence for Mason.

Mason was born on Dec. 14, 1966 in Miami, FL and raised in Queens, NY. His basketball journey took him from aforementioned Queens, NY to Tennessee State University, where he was the school's first All-Ohio Valley Conference selection. In the 1987-88 season, Mason attempted a school record 247 free throws.  

He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the third round, 53^rd overall, but was cut.

For nearly a year, Mason played for the Efes Pilsen in Turkey, Marinos de Oriente in Venezuela and other teams in the CBA and USBL.

After brief stints with the Nets and Nuggets, Mason signed with the Knicks in the summer of 1991.

Under then head coach Pat Riley, Mason blossomed into a solid contributor alongside Ewing, Oakley and Charles Smith in his five-year career (1991-96) with the Knicks.

Mason helped the Knicks to their third consecutive Atlantic Division title in the 1993-9 season, where they went 57-25. They reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973, but fell to Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets in seven games. Mason averaged 7.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 73 games that season.

The next season, he won the Sixth Man of the Year Award averaging 9.9 points, 8.4 boards and 3.1 assists per game.

His final season with the Knicks would be his best as he averaged 14.6 points, 9.3 boards and 4.4 assists per contest.

“My heart is heavy after learning we lost Anthony Mason last night. We were teammates on the Knicks for five great seasons,” Ewing, now the Associate Head Coach of the Hornets said in a statement yesterday. “Mase came to play every night and was always ready to go to battle with me every time we stepped on the court together. I will remember him for his strength, determination and perseverance. My thoughts are with his family. May he rest in peace?”

It was also during this time in Mason’s career that he developed the competitive grit and hard noise play that became a hallmark of the Knicks during those seasons back in the early 1990s. No one understood that better than the Knicks arch rival the Chicago Bulls and their then head coach who led them to two separate three-peat championship runs Phil Jackson.

“As a competitor, there was none fiercer than Anthony Mason,” the current Knicks president said on Saturday. “Standing on the opposite end of the playing field, coaching in those great Chicago/New York battles, No. 14 in the Orange and Blue always stood out. On behalf of the entire Knickerbocker community, our condolences go out to Lahis family. Rest in peace, Mase.”

In the summer of 1996, Mason was traded to the Hornets along with center Brad Lohaus for All-Star forward Larry Johnson. Mason spent four seasons in Charlotte and his first season was the best of his career where he averaged 16.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists in leading the Hornets to a franchise best 54 regular season wins. He also garnered four triple-doubles that season, which were the first of his career.

In the summer of 2000, Mason was on the move again as he, All-Star guard Eddie Jones, swingman Ricky Davis and sharp shooter Dale Ellis were sent to the Miami Heat for forwards Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown, Tim James, Rodney Buford and Otis Thorpe.

It was thought that Mason would fill the same role in Miami alongside Hall of Fame center Alonzo Mourning as he did with Ewing and Oakley with the Knicks.

The unfortunate kidney ailment that forced Mourning to sit out most of that season made Mason the primary option at the offensive end for Miami. He finished second on the team in scoring at 16.1 and rebounding at 9.6 per contest and was selected to his first and only All-Star team that season.  

Mason helped the Heat garner 50 wins that season, but he disappeared in the playoffs with averages of just 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds as the Heat were swept by the Hornets 3-0.

“Anthony Mason was a very young man with a great family and friends… an All-Star with the Heat, and I also had the privilege of coaching him for four years in New York, where he helped take us to the brink of a championship…Our prayers and sympathies are with his family. May God bless his Soul?”

Along with being known for his grit, toughness and amazing ball handling ability, Mason was known for his unique haircuts, which he got for over 30 years at Cutty’s Salon in Jamaica Queens, NY.

In fact, Mason’s haircuts were mentioned in The Beastie Boys song “B-Boys Makin’ With The Freak Freak” from their 1994 album “Ill Communications.” “I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason,” was how the lyric went.

The barber who gave Mason those unique haircuts for over 30 years was Freddy Avila, who became a very close friend to not just him, but the entire family.

Whenever he came to Cutty’s it became an event. So much so that people would look through the window to see Mason.

Another frequent visitor to the barbershop was Mason’s longtime friend Matthew Benson, who used to play basketball with the ‘6’7” forward on local courts growing up.

“Usually stars don’t like being in the hood. Their scared of security, but he’s our security,” said Benson.

When Mason passed on Saturday morning, Avila was there with his family.

When asked how he would remember Mason, Avila said, “For his love for me. I love him and he loved me back.”

He was a fan favorite of many Knick fans. He took the hard road to get to “The Association.” His toughness, grit and ability to handle the ball made him a great value on all the teams he played on. He was a great example of if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. Anthony Mason made it and represented the Knicks and the city of New York very well. His passing is a great loss, especially at a very young age. He is one Knick that will never be forgotten.

“For five seasons, Anthony Mason proudly donned a Knicks uniform like no other of his era. His New York City roots, his passion for the City game, his desire to win and his tenacity for defense made him a fan-favorite across the five boroughs, and beyond for every Knickerbocker. All of us at the New York Knicks will remember Mase and cherish his legacy.

Information, statistics and quotations are courtesy of en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Mason_ (basketball); NBATV news crawl headlines section on 2/28/15 6 p.m.; 3/1/15 5:30 p.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime” with Matt Winer, Rick Fox and Mike Fratello; NBA Gametime App headline "Former All-Star Anthony Mason dead at 48," on 2/28/15 10:27 PM ET; Team By Team New York Knickerbockers section of Sporting News Official NBA Guide 2006-07.