# Anthony Mason (basketball)
**Anthony Mason** (December 14, 1966 – February 28, 2015) was an American professional basketball player, a physical 6'8" power forward who played 13 NBA seasons for six teams and was most identified with the [New York Knicks](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-knicks) teams of the mid-1990s that reached the 1994 [NBA Finals](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-finals).[1](https://www.nba.com/player/193/anthony-mason) • [2](https://time.com/3706422/anthony-mason-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/) • [3](https://www.nba.com/knicks/anthony-mason-dies-age-48) He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1995, was named to the All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive Second Team in 1997, and played in the 2001 All-Star Game as a member of the [Miami Heat](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-heat).[2](https://time.com/3706422/anthony-mason-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1966; February 28, 2015, at age 48, of heart complications[1](https://www.nba.com/player/193/anthony-mason) • [4](https://www.tnstate.edu/publications/documents/AlumniLife_2015.pdf) |
| Size and position | Forward, 6'8" (2.03 m), 255 lb (116 kg)[1](https://www.nba.com/player/193/anthony-mason) |
| Draft | 1988 NBA Draft, third round, 53rd overall, by the Portland Trail Blazers[5](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/masonan01.html) |
| College | Tennessee State; the school's first All-Ohio Valley Conference player in 1988[4](https://www.tnstate.edu/publications/documents/AlumniLife_2015.pdf) |
| NBA career | 13 seasons, 6 teams, 882 regular-season games[2](https://time.com/3706422/anthony-mason-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/) • [6](https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/draft.cgi?college=tennst) |
| Career averages | 10.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists per game on .509 field-goal shooting[6](https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/draft.cgi?college=tennst) |
| Major honors | Sixth Man of the Year (1995); All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive Second Team (1997); NBA All-Star (2001)[2](https://time.com/3706422/anthony-mason-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/) |
## College career
Mason attended [Tennessee State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/tennessee-state-university), and in 1988 he became the school's first All-Ohio Valley Conference Player.[4](https://www.tnstate.edu/publications/documents/AlumniLife_2015.pdf) A Tennessee State publication records him as a junior forward listed at 6'7" averaging 18.0 points per game in that era of the program.[7](https://gseagles.com/documents/download/2013/9/19/MBBALL_MG_8687.pdf)
## NBA career
The [Portland Trail Blazers](https://www.edgepedia.org/portland-trail-blazers) selected Mason in the third round of the 1988 NBA Draft, 53rd overall, but he did not establish himself in the NBA immediately; his NBA playing career ran from 1989-90 to 2002-03.[5](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/masonan01.html) • [8](https://hoopsmatic.com/nba-born-died/player/anthony-mason/) Before and between NBA stops he also played for clubs outside the league, including Anadolu Efes in Turkey and the Tulsa Fast Breakers.[9](https://hoopsmatic.com/nba-career-map/player/anthony-mason.html)
**New York Knicks, 1991-1996.** Mason played for six NBA teams over his 13-year career but was most famous for his time as a valued role player for the New York Knicks in the mid-1990s, where he teamed with [Patrick Ewing](https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-ewing) and [Charles Oakley](https://www.edgepedia.org/charles-oakley) to form one of the most bruising frontcourts in NBA history.[2](https://time.com/3706422/anthony-mason-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/) He was a critical member of the Knicks squad that reached the 1994 NBA Finals, where New York lost to the [Houston Rockets](https://www.edgepedia.org/houston-rockets), and he became an iconic member of the franchise during his five-year stint with the club.[2](https://time.com/3706422/anthony-mason-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/) • [3](https://www.nba.com/knicks/anthony-mason-dies-age-48) • [10](https://time.com/3708614/anthony-mason-nba-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/)
In 1994-95 he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, receiving 47 of a possible 105 votes from a nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters; [Dell Curry](https://www.edgepedia.org/dell-curry) of the Hornets was second with 18.[11](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/05/09/mason-1st-among-6ths/dc72117e-63bd-43ac-9137-e9ae52ccf8bb/) That season he played 77 games, averaging 9.9 points and 8.4 rebounds in 32.4 minutes while shooting 56.6 percent from the field.[12](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/1995-sixth-man-of-the-year) The award recognized more than scoring; a contemporary report noted that it was not points that got Mason the honor.[13](https://www.deseret.com/1995/5/9/19174330/sports-briefly/) In September 1995, after rejecting a three-year, $9-million offer from the Knicks, he signed a reported six-year, $24-million contract to remain with the team.[14](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-22-sp-48770-story.html)
**Charlotte and later career.** Mason made the All-NBA Third Team and the All-Defensive Second Team in 1997 while with the [Charlotte Hornets](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlotte-hornets), and he was an NBA All-Star in 2001 as a member of the Miami Heat.[2](https://time.com/3706422/anthony-mason-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/) Across his career he also appeared for the [Denver Nuggets](https://www.edgepedia.org/denver-nuggets), New Jersey Nets, and [Milwaukee Bucks](https://www.edgepedia.org/milwaukee-bucks), finishing his NBA playing days in 2003.[5](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/masonan01.html) • [9](https://hoopsmatic.com/nba-career-map/player/anthony-mason.html)
## Playing style
Mason was a physical power forward with ball-handling skills unusual for his size, described as a left-handed big man with immense ball-handling ability.[10](https://time.com/3708614/anthony-mason-nba-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/) His career line reflects that two-way, high-minute role: 882 regular-season games with averages of 10.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, shooting .509 from the field, .167 from three-point range, and .709 from the free-throw line.[6](https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/draft.cgi?college=tennst) In the postseason he played 69 games across 8 NBA postseasons and 14 series, of which his teams won 6 and lost 8.[15](https://www.askscores.com/nba/player/anthony-mason)
## Death
In February 2015 Mason suffered a massive heart attack and was reported in critical condition, undergoing multiple surgeries, one of which lasted nine hours; he was known to have heart issues and was at the hospital for a checkup when the attack occurred.[2](https://time.com/3706422/anthony-mason-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/) • [10](https://time.com/3708614/anthony-mason-nba-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/) He died on February 28, 2015, at the age of 48.[3](https://www.nba.com/knicks/anthony-mason-dies-age-48) • [4](https://www.tnstate.edu/publications/documents/AlumniLife_2015.pdf) The NBA issued a statement on his passing, and the Knicks, for whom he had become an iconic figure, noted his role on the 1994 Finals team.[3](https://www.nba.com/knicks/anthony-mason-dies-age-48) • [16](https://pr.nba.com/anthony-mason-statement-adam-silver/)
## Family
Mason's sons Anthony Mason Jr. and Antoine both pursued careers in basketball; Anthony Jr. played professionally in Europe and Antoine played at [Auburn University](https://www.edgepedia.org/auburn-university).[2](https://time.com/3706422/anthony-mason-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/)
## References
1. [Anthony Mason, NBA.com player profile](https://www.nba.com/player/193/anthony-mason)
2. [Former NBA All-Star Anthony Mason Is 'Fighting for His Life', Time](https://time.com/3706422/anthony-mason-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/)
3. [Anthony Mason Dies At Age of 48, New York Knicks](https://www.nba.com/knicks/anthony-mason-dies-age-48)
4. [TSU Basketball Legend, Tennessee State University Alumni Life (2015)](https://www.tnstate.edu/publications/documents/AlumniLife_2015.pdf)
5. [Anthony Mason Stats, Basketball-Reference](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/masonan01.html)
6. [Draft Picks From Tennessee State, Basketball-Reference](https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/draft.cgi?college=tennst)
7. [Tennessee State men's basketball media guide](https://gseagles.com/documents/download/2013/9/19/MBBALL_MG_8687.pdf)
8. [Anthony Mason (1966-2015): NBA Career, Birth and Death, HoopsMatic](https://hoopsmatic.com/nba-born-died/player/anthony-mason/)
9. [Where Has Anthony Mason Played? HoopsMatic](https://hoopsmatic.com/nba-career-map/player/anthony-mason.html)
10. [Former NBA All-Star Anthony Mason Has Improved Slightly After His Heart Attack, Time](https://time.com/3708614/anthony-mason-nba-heart-attack-new-york-knicks/)
11. [Mason 1st Among 6ths, The Washington Post (May 9, 1995)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/05/09/mason-1st-among-6ths/dc72117e-63bd-43ac-9137-e9ae52ccf8bb/)
12. [1995 Sixth Man Of The Year, StatMuse](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/1995-sixth-man-of-the-year)
13. [Sports Briefly, Deseret News (May 9, 1995)](https://www.deseret.com/1995/5/9/19174330/sports-briefly/)
14. [Mason's Big Season Pays Off, Los Angeles Times (September 22, 1995)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-22-sp-48770-story.html)
15. [Anthony Mason Career Stats and Season Totals, AskScores](https://www.askscores.com/nba/player/anthony-mason)
16. [NBA statement regarding the passing of Anthony Mason](https://pr.nba.com/anthony-mason-statement-adam-silver/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › NBA players, 1980–1995 › NBA forwards, 1980–1995*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license