NBA | Anthony Mason, New York Knicks star for hometown, dies at 48

Anthony Mason, a mainstay on the defensive- minded New York Knicks team that finished one win from a National Basketball Association title in 1994, has died. He was 48.
The Knicks announced his death on the team’s website Saturday, calling him “an iconic member of the franchise during his five-year stint for the orange and blue.” The 6-foot-7, 250-pound forward known as “Mase” underwent surgery at a New York Hospital following a heart attack last month.
Mason, who played high school basketball in the city, starred on his hometown Knicks for five of his 13 NBA seasons and became known as a relentless defender.
He was an integral part of the 1993-1994 Pat Riley-coached team that included Patrick Ewing and John Starks. Mason’s haircuts, often featuring “Mase” or “Knicks” shaved into the side of his head, reflected his on-court flair.
New York rap trio Beastie Boys mentioned him in their 1994 song “B-Boys Makin’ With the Freak Freak,” singing “I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason, then I ride the IRT right up to Penn Station.” Mason also was featured in the group’s “Root Down” music video.
Anthony George Douglas Mason was born on Dec. 14, 1966, in Miami. He was raised in Queens, New York, by his mother, Mary Mason, who worked as a switchboard operator in Manhattan’s garment district, according to a 1995 profile in Newsday.
A left-hander with a passing touch uncommon in players his size, Mason became a fan-favorite in New York for his background and bruising play both offensively and defensively. The Knicks defense allowed the fewest points in the NBA in 1992-93 and 1993-94.
“As a competitor there was none fiercer than Anthony Mason,” Knicks President Phil Jackson said in a statement.
Over his career, Mason averaged 10.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He played in 96 postseason games with four different franchises. Bloomberg