Hoops Habit
Fansided

Charlotte Hornets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Hornets

By Phil Watson

Jan 23, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; General view of the court during the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets won 97-84. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; General view of the court during the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets won 97-84. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
24 of 26
Next
CHICAGO, IL – FEBRUARY 11: Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman (L) tangles with Charlotte Hornets forward Anthony Mason (R) in the first quarter, 11 February at the United Center in Chicago. Both were called for fouls on the play. (TIM ZIELENBACH/AFP/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – FEBRUARY 11: Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman (L) tangles with Charlotte Hornets forward Anthony Mason (R) in the first quarter, 11 February at the United Center in Chicago. Both were called for fouls on the play. (TIM ZIELENBACH/AFP/Getty Images) /

3. player. 170. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, New York Knicks, July 14, 1996.. PF-SF. 1996-98, 1999-2000. Anthony Mason

Anthony Mason came to the Charlotte Hornets in a trade that made many Hornets faithful unhappy.

He was acquired along with Brad Lohaus from the New York Knicks in July 1996 in exchange for Larry Johnson, another of the team’s young stars that was dealt away in a whirlwind nine months for the franchise.

CHA_03_MASON
CHA_03_MASON /

Mason made fans forget all of that really quickly.

He was an All-NBA and All-Defensive performer for the Hornets, who won a franchise-record 54 games, in 1996-97. Mason led the NBA in minutes per game and was third in rebounding.

Mason missed the entire 1998-99 season due to a ruptured biceps and was traded in August 2000 along with Eddie Jones, Ricky Davis and Dale Ellis to the Miami Heat for Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown, Otis Thorpe, Rodney Buford and Tim James.

In three seasons in Charlotte, Mason averaged 13.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 39.9 minutes per game, shooting .506/1-for-8/.715.

Mason put up big numbers as a senior at Tennessee State, 28.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, but stayed on the board until the third round of the 1988 NBA Draft, when he was taken by he Portland Trail Blazers at No. 53 overall.

Mason opted to play in Turkey and Portland renounced his rights in June 1989.

He signed with the New Jersey Nets in September 1989 and spent a season with them before being waived in October 1990.

After a brief stint in the Continental Basketball Association, Mason signed two-10 day contracts with the Denver Nuggets, heading to Venezuela when the deal expired.

His big break came in July 1991 when he signed with the Knicks. He was the Sixth Man of the Year in 1994-95 and led the NBA in minutes per game in 1995-96.

Mason was an All-Star for Miami in 2001 and signed with the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent in October 2001.

Waived by the Bucks in October 2003, Mason retired.

He died from congestive heart failure Feb. 28, 2015, in Manhattan at the age of 48.

Next: Grandmama Met Expectations Initially

Home/Charlotte Hornets