This guy is such a beast
Anthony Mason is one tough dude. He once got into a fight with Charles Oakley and lived. A few years back there was an internet rumor going around that Wesley Snipes was going to play Mason in a made for T.V. movie in which Mason was to be portrayed as a young man who escaped the perils of the mean streets of Miami to become one of the most coveted mediocre NBA players of the 90′s and early 2000′s. Sadly, the movie was never made, but Anthony Mason is still remembered for his physical style of play and shaving pictures and words into his hair before games.
Mason played pro-ball in Turkey and Venezuela before making his debut in the NBA in 1989. From 1989 to 1991, Mason played for the New Jersey Nets and then the Denver Nuggets before landing a major role on a very good Knicks team that featured Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Charles Oakley and Derrick Harper. By 1994, Mason had began to show some promise as a smaller but extremely physical power forward. He backed up Oakley (who was the starter) as the Knicks made it to the 1994 NBA finals only to lose to the Houston Rockets (tear). The Following season Mason was awarded the NBA’s 6th man of the year award (which is arguably the most mediocre award in all of professional sports). That season Mason averaged 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists (big).
In the 1995-1996 season, Anthony Mason proved to the world that he was the most durable basketball player in the NBA by leading the league in minutes played per game (42.2) as well as a league high 3,457 total minutes played since he started in all 82 regular season games. Mason also managed to chip in 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Mason proved to be quite adept at working in space when he was down low. But the Knicks decided that Mason wasn’t worth keeping around and traded him off to Charlotte with Brad Lohaus for Larry “grandmamma” Johnson. In Charlotte, Mason had his best statistical season ever. In 1996-1997 big Tony put up a career best in both points (16.2), rebounds (11.4), and assists (5.7) in addition to once again leading the league in minutes played per game (43.1). The guy turned into a durable machine, but the fact that he played so many minutes and scored only 16 points per game demonstrates just how mediocre Anthony Mason truly was.
After two seasons with the Hornets, Mason was traded to the Miami Heat where he continued his mediocre caliber of work, averaging 16 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3 assists. Somehow (and I have no idea how), Mason made the only all-star team of his entire career. It is utterly mind-boggling that someone playing at such a mediocre level could make be an all-star. I guess 2001 was just a bad season for the NBA.
The Heat dropped their all-star PF after only one season, but Mason quickly signed with a star-studded Milwaukee Bucks team. The previous season, the Bucks made it within one game of the NBA finals but struggled mightily with the acquisition of Mason. Mason apparently came to the team 30 pounds overweight and openly criticized his teammates on and off the court. The Bucks failed to reach the playoffs in 2002 and Mason was heavily blamed for the team’s lack of success. Mason was let go after only two seasons in which he scored less than 10 points a game.
At the end of his 13-year career, Mason averaged 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists per game. He also made only two 3-point shots (going 2/12) in his entire career.
If there had actually been an Anthony Mason movie it would have sucked. The guy was so mediocre and such a poor teammate. He really encapsulates almost everything that makes a player mediocre: he played for 6 different teams in 13 years, won the 6th man of the year award, and was named to one all-star game. I can’t imagine anyone having a more mediocre career in the NBA than Anthony Mason.
What I’ll always remember about Mase growing up was his free throw shooting routine and shooting with one-hand. Used to emulate it in the driveway.
I don’t think Anthony Mason was a mediocre player, he was at most a decent basketball player. Not a superstar by all means, but he was good enough to be considered in the All NBA 3rd team in 1997 and 2001 NBA All Star. There are by far more mediocre Power Forwards/Forwards in the league during his time.
More power to you website. I hope you choose REALLY MEDIOCRE players ala Travis Knight / Dickey Simpkins calibre type players for your next review. Players who have lasted more than 10 seasons in the NBA but really suck. Hahaha.
As much as I love staring into Anthony Mason’s beautiful face, can we get a fresh post please?
[...] out some absolutely dazzling posts. He covered the career of Vinny Testaverde, Dan Cortese, and Anthony Mason. He revolutionized the site by bring some sex-appeal to the site with provocative posts about [...]
I agree with QT….Anthony Mason was NOT mediocre….he was a decent role player! look at his numbers….He did his job! He was not expected to start on most of his NBA teams- just contibute to winning games, and that’s exactly what he did. (see New York Knicks playoffs). HIS NUMBERS WERE EXCELLENT for a non starter and sixth man on a good team, and this is needed and appreciated on ANY team that needs a capable back up power forward.
If theres anything that mediocore, its this review. How you gonna call him medicore and stuff? Do you not realize his numbers?.
Sorry Mason… but you never won a NBA Championship…. unloyal player!!!