Anthony Mason

Lore & Background

Mason played collegiately for 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 afterward. He then played for Efes Pilsen in Turkey, Marinos de Oriente in Venezuela, the CBA's Tulsa Fast Breakers, and the USBL's Long Island Surf. He signed with the New York Knicks in the summer of 1991 and was part of the 1993–94 Knicks team that reached the NBA Finals. In 1996, Mason and Brad Lohaus were traded to the Charlotte Hornets for Larry Johnson. He played for the Hornets from 1996 to 2000, playing 51 games in the 1998–99 season. In 2000, he was traded to the Miami Heat as part of a multi-player deal. He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2001–02 season and was waived after the 2002–03 season, retiring from the NBA in 2003.

In Their Own Story

The arena hums with the electric tension of a playoff game, the hardwood polished to a mirror sheen under the bright lights. In the corner of the key, Anthony Mason crouches low, eyes locked on the rim as the ball swishes through the net. Before the opposing big man can react, Mason explodes upward, snatching the board with a thunderous grunt. He doesn't pause; he immediately pivots and sprints down court, his jersey flapping in the wind of his own making, embodying the relentless engine that kept Charlotte's dreams alive.

Reader's Guide

Mason's tenure with the Charlotte Hornets spanned from 1996 to 2000. He made his Hornets debut on November 2, 1996, recording 18 points and 15 rebounds. In the 1996–97 season, he averaged career highs in minutes (43.1), points (16.2), rebounds (11.4), and assists (5.7), led the league in minutes, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive Second Team. He was selected to the 2001 NBA All-Star Game as a member of the Miami Heat. Mason was not a teammate of Alonzo Mourning on the Hornets; Mourning was traded to Miami in 1995, before Mason joined Charlotte.

Did You Know?

• Mason led the NBA in minutes played in both 1995–96 and 1996–97.
• He recorded a triple-double with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists on March 28, 2000, against the Chicago Bulls.
• Mason was named to the All-USBL First Team in 1991 while playing for the Long Island Surf.
• He appeared in the Beastie Boys song 'B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak' and the Notorious B.I.G. song 'I Got a Story to Tell'.