By Joseph Staszewski
Former Springfield Gardens and New York Knicks star Anthony Mason is in a fight for his life after suffering a massive heart attack, according to multiple reports.
The 48-year-old Mason, who helped lead Springfield Gardens to the 1983 PSAL boy’s basketball city title, is suffering from congestive heart failure and had four surgeries in a span of nine hours, according to former New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey, who first reported the story on Twitter. He later reported that should the now 6-foot-7, 350-pound Mason pull through, he would still need a heart transplant.
Former Knicks teammate and St. John’s guard Mark Jackson tweeted, “Praying for me former teammate Anthony Mason!!!” The Knicks did not release a statement, but put on their official Twitter account that “our thoughts and prayers are with Anthony Mason and his family”
Mason played 13 seasons in the NBA, including five for the Knicks, from 1991-96. He averaged 9.9 points and 7.7 rebounds during his years with New York. The colorful Mason won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1995 and was an All-Star with the Miami Heat in 2001. His son Anthony Mason Jr. played basketball at St. John’s University for Mason’s high school teammate, Norm Roberts. Younger son Antoine Mason currently plays at Auburn.
Mason became known for his bruising style of play and agility even though he had a 6-foot-7, 260-pound frame. He helped the Knicks reach the 1994 NBA Finals. Mason gave himself the nickname “The Locksmith” because he boasted he could lock up anyone defensively. He also became famous for the every changing writing in his hair. Mason would have words like “Ready,” “Mase” and “In God’s Hands” buzzed into it.
