Inside force made grit his trademark
Power forward dies at 48 after battle with heart trouble.
NEW YORK — Anthony Mason’s game was grit over glitz, more force than flash.
That may not fit some New York stereotypes, but it was the perfect style for the Knicks of the 1990s, and made the rugged power forward a beloved bruiser by teammates and fans.
The Knicks announced Mason’s death Saturday. He was 48.
Former teammate Patrick Ewing said his “heart is heavy” after learning Mason had died after recent heart problems.
“Mase came to play every night and was always ready to go to battle with me every time we stepped on the court together,” Ewing said in a statement. “I will remember him for his strength, determination and perseverance.”
Mason was a defensive force who played for six NBA teams from 1989 to 2003, a popular protector of superstars like Ewing and respected by opponents who knew they were in for punishment when they played against him.
“As a competitor, there was none fiercer than Anthony Mason. 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,” said Knicks President Phil Jackson, who coached the Chicago Bulls during their many matchups against the ’90s Knicks.
Said Michael Jordan: “Mase was one of the toughest competitors of his era.”
He remained a fighter throughout his health problems, his family said.
“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,” the Mason family said in a statement.
Mason won a Sixth Man Award with the Knicks and later made an All- Star team, but it was the toughness he provided alongside Charles Oakley while surrounding Ewing that made him a fan favorite in New York.
The 6-foot-7 Mason won the NBA’s Sixth Man award in 1995 with a Knicks team that was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers. Mason also won all-defensive team honors two years later with the Charlotte Hornets.
Mason’s career averages — 10.9 points, 8.3 rebounds — don’t tell the full story of his game. A solid, muscular presence down low, Mason was there to play defense, and on coach Pat Riley’s bruising teams, he could shine.
Mason played for New York from 1991-1996, and then for the Hornets until 2000. He made his only All-Star team in 2001 with the Miami Heat after reuniting with Riley.
“Anthony Mason exemplified perseverance for all players fighting for their chance in the NBA,” Commissioner Adam Silver said.