Watching some Hornets games with Mason running the break, crossing guys over, going between the legs with ease, just running the show somehow with that weird ass build and dribble of his, it's amazing to me how he was able to do it and I was wondering if there was ever a big man before him who did what he did? Was he the first real big man PG w/ handles like that? Olajuwon could handle the rock, but he was no Anthony Mason, that's for sure. And has there been a big guy like him since? Did he start the big man point forward running plays trend that made Adelman so successul in the years following with the Kings?
Lemme get this straight. You randomly watched "some games" and then thought to ask if this dude was the first 6'7'' NBA player in NBA history to assist somewhat well?
If you've just now heard of anthony mason you probably haven't been a rockets fan for very long. He was a big part of the New York Knicks that we beat in 94. Welcome to Clutchfans.
Yes he was. Derrick Coleman maybe? But Mason was definitely the first I saw that big that could initiate the offense. He was also tough asf. Another reminder how the game has been watered down in the super-team Lebron era
If you're talking about the first point fowards, they were probably Paul Pressey, and with the Rockets, Rick Barry and Robert Reid back in the 70's. If you're just talking about strong or tallish guys who could handle the ball, there were others before Mason like Barkley, Danny Manning, Derrick Coleman, etc. John Williams out of LSU back then would've been great if he hadn't eaten himself out of the league. Ralph Sampson could handle the ball well for a 7'4" guy and still thought he was a point guard. Since those days, you could say KG could handle the ball pretty well. BTW, Mason wasn't a "big man" in terms of height. He was a tweener big man. He was only around 6'7" but built like an ox.
Mason played for the Knixies in the Finals v The Dream's Team. He endeavored, but failed, to induce Hakem into a fight or otherwise to get them both ejected. He was tough, actually pretty good, but would FAIL in the latter day NBA.
magic, in his rookie season, help his team to reach the Finals against Dr. J’s 76ers in the summer of 1980 Kareem was injured, not suited up for game 7. Magic replaced him as the starting Center. He jumped center, rebounded and started fast breaks, awa dishing out assists / defending the opposing center. This was more than 10 yrs before Anthony Mason’s arrival to the NBA
The day Magic Johnson stepped in at center and dropped 42 points on Philly A year after leading Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA championship over Larry Bird and Indiana State and being drafted by the Lakers with the No. 1 overall pick, Johnson stepped into the starting center role. On May 16, 1980, Johnson went off for 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, leading Los Angeles to its first championship since 1972. He averaged 21.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 8.7 assists for the series and was named Finals MVP. https://theundefeated.com/features/...in-at-center-and-dropped-42-points-on-philly/
