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Rivers Recalls Anthony Mason’s Toughness, Loyalty

Rowan Kavner

CHICAGO – The word “toughness” comes to mind when Clippers head coach Doc Rivers thinks of his old Knicks teams and teammate Anthony Mason, in particular.

Rivers said in a statement how sad the news of Mason’s passing was this weekend at just 48 years old, and Rivers followed up on his comments Sunday afternoon before the Bulls game. 

“I loved him,” Rivers said. “I really did. He was such a great teammate. He was just so tough and he was so loyal. He was the most loyal teammate.”

Mason played for the Knicks from 1991-96, while Rivers was a teammate from 1992-94 toward the end of his career. The Knicks went to the playoffs each year they were together, including one NBA Finals appearance, while Mason won a Sixth Man of the Year award during that time for the Knicks.

Following up on Mason’s loyalty, Rivers specifically remembered one time after both players finished their stints with the Knicks. 

“When I started coaching and Anthony was with Milwaukee, I remember in the game he looks over to me and he starts yelling to me, ‘You’re a Knick, you shouldn’t be sitting over there,” Rivers said. “I’m like, he’s running around in a Milwaukee uniform, and he’s yelling at me. But that’s who he was. I’ve never seen a guy buy into a team more than he did, and he was awesome to play with.”

Rivers joked that he felt like “the saint” on those Knicks teams with Mason, John Starks, Greg Anthony, Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Anthony Bonner, but he said it was a great group of guys that bought into head coach Pat Riley’s beliefs. 

“They changed the rules because of us, probably to make the league better, if you think about it,” Rivers said. “It was just a tough-minded group. When you look at that team, you had to be. It wasn’t like they were going to be scoring 120 points. I think Coach Riley saw that. He was who we were as a group and decided that’s who we had to be to win, and the group of the guys bought in.”

Here was Rivers’ full statement on Saturday: "The passing of Anthony Mason is so sad. He was a true warrior and a great teammate. He embodied what it meant to be a KNICK. I loved him and my prayers go out to his family."