Basketball Career
Mason attended 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 afterwards. He then played for Efes Pilsen basketball club in Turkey, Marinos de Oriente in Venezuela, the CBA and the USBL for about a year. He had brief stints with the New Jersey Nets, where he averaged 1.8 points, and the Denver Nuggets, where he played only 3 games. Mason then signed with the New York Knicks in the summer of 1991.
Under coach Pat Riley, Mason blossomed in New York, where he made up a strong front court alongside Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Charles Smith. In 1994, the Knicks reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973 but lost in seven games to the Hakeem Olajuwon-led Houston Rockets. Mason was traded in 1996 to the Charlotte Hornets with Brad Lohaus for Larry Johnson. In 2000, he was sent to the Miami Heat with Eddie Jones, Ricky Davis and Dale Ellis for Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown, Tim James, Rodney Buford and Otis Thorpe, and finished his career with the Milwaukee Bucks. He retired in 2003, and fixed residence in Memphis, Tennessee.
Mason won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 1995. He was named to the 1996-'97 All-NBA Third Team and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He led the league in minutes played in 1995-'96 (3,457), also setting a Knicks record with the number. He also led the league in minutes played per game in 1996-97 (43.1).
His first season with the Hornets was the best in his NBA career. He recorded career-highs in minutes played (43.1), points (16.2), rebounds (11.4) and assists (5.7) and also 4 triple-doubles (the first in his career). He missed the entire 1998-'99 season due to a ruptured biceps injury, then averaged 11.6 points and 8.5 rebounds the following one.
In Miami, although Mason had been brought over by Miami coach Pat Riley to be a role player on a contender Heat team, the kidney ailment of Alonzo Mourning forced him to sit out and made Mason a primary contributor for the team. Mason would respond by finishing second on the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game and would also average 9.6 rebounds. With Mourning and Grant Hill selected but unable to play due to injury in the 2001 NBA All Star Game, Mason was chosen to represent the Heat, and it would be his first and only selection to an All-Star team. Mason helped the Heat make the playoffs with a surprising 50 win season for the injury ravaged Heat. Mason however virtually disappeared in the playoffs, taking only 13 shots and averaging a mere 5.3 points and 3 rebounds in three games. Mason was not-resigned and was let go during the offseason.
He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2001-02 season. The team was full of stars already and, adding Mason to the front line, seemed like "the force" in the East. Chemistry problems plagued the Bucks, who had reached within one game of the 2001 NBA Finals just prior to the acquisition of Mason, and the blame largely fell on Mason, who, according to ESPN, had entered training camp 30 pounds overweight and openly criticized fellow Bucks players on and off the court. His vociferous criticisms were combatted by then-Bucks coach George Karl, who reminded Mason he was not a coach and needed to tone down his speech. Karl's directions were relayed to the media during an interview; nevertheless, Mason insisted during an interview with an ESPN contributor, "No, not really ." In Mason's first season with the Bucks, the team stumbled to a 41-41 record (11 games worse than the previous season) and missed the playoffs altogether. Mason's numbers went down as well: 9.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg. Milwaukee was quick to rid itself of Mason, dismissing him after the 2002-2003 season.
Mason's son, Anthony Mason Jr., played on the St. John's University Red Storm basketball team. His other son, Antoine plays basketball at Niagara University.
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