Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Anthony Mason was a versatile NBA point forward whose bruising defense, elite rebounding, and underrated playmaking made him a cornerstone for the rugged New York Knicks and later an All-Star with the Charlotte Hornets. His unique combination of physical strength, ball-handling, and multi-positional versatility allowed him to impact games as a defensive stopper, secondary creator, and relentless frontcourt presence.

Here is the detailed information about Anthony Mason, a former NBA player:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Anthony George Douglas Mason
  • Nickname: Mase
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on December 14, 1966 (passed away on February 28, 2015, at the age of 48)
  • Hometown: Miami, Florida, USA (raised in Queens, New York City, New York)
  • Height: 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm)
  • Weight: 250 pounds (113 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 8 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Number: #42 (Nets), #34 (Nuggets), #14 (Knicks), #14 (Hornets), #14 (Heat), #17 (Bucks)
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward
  • High School: Springfield Gardens High School in Queens, New York
  • College: Tennessee State University (1984–1988)
  • NBA Draft: Selected in the 3rd round (53rd overall pick) in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers
  • Teams Played For:
    • New Jersey Nets (1989–1990)
    • Denver Nuggets (1990)
    • New York Knicks (1991–1996)
    • Charlotte Hornets (1996–2000)
    • Miami Heat (2000–2001)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (2001–2003)
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA
  • Kids: Anthony Mason Jr. (played college basketball for St. John’s University)
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Anthony Mason’s player archetype was that of a point forward enforcer, a bruising, versatile frontcourt piece who could defend bigger players, handle the ball, and create offense without losing the physical edge that defined his game. At 6-foot-8 and 255 pounds, he paired uncommon strength with enough mobility and passing feel to operate as more than a conventional power forward, which helped him fill a defensive role as a rugged multi-positional stopper and interior tone-setter. Offensively, Mason functioned as a slashing playmaker, secondary initiator, and interior scorer who could push the ball, facilitate from the elbows, and punish defenders with power rather than finesse. His overall play style was forceful, unglamorous, and highly effective, built on toughness, rebounding, ballhandling, and connective passing that made him one of the more distinctive all-around forwards of the 1990s. (NBA)

Scouting Report

Anthony Mason played with the mentality of a power forward but often thought through possessions like a point guard, and that’s what separated him from most players built like him. Give him the ball at the elbow or above the break and he’d patiently wait for a cutter, flip the angle of a handoff, or back his defender down just far enough to force help before threading a pass into the space that opened. His handle was functional rather than flashy, yet it let him push the break after defensive rebounds and initiate offense without immediately giving the ball up. That’s where his game became difficult to defend because teams couldn’t simply treat him as a screener or interior scorer. He’d punish smaller defenders on post seals with strength and balance, but he was just as comfortable turning into a facilitator if the defense collapsed. The trade-off was that his scoring could become methodical to a fault. He wasn’t creating effortless separation against set defenses, and possessions occasionally slowed while he searched for the right angle instead of the quickest one. Defensively, he embraced physical assignments, absorbing contact on drives, switching onto wings when necessary, and using powerful hands to disrupt ball handlers without constantly gambling out of position. It’s easy to overlook how often he snuffed out actions before they developed by denying space rather than chasing blocks or steals. His size also made him valuable on the defensive glass because he cleared bodies as much as he collected rebounds himself. To me, Mason fits best in an offense that values multiple decision-makers, where he can flow between initiating from the high post, screening into DHOs, and attacking mismatches instead of being parked in one role. There are shades of Boris Diaw in the creative passing and offensive patience, while his bruising downhill style recalls a more physical version of Paul Pressey, though Mason consistently imposed himself with strength in ways few point forwards ever have.

Notes:

Sources:

NBA.com — Anthony Mason | Forward | New York Knicks
Basketball-Reference — Anthony Mason Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Sports Illustrated — Competitive edge, toughness made Anthony Mason one to remember