How Antoine Mason Developed his Killer-Mindset and Became Mr. Hurricane
Written by Carson Deveau | Photography by Paul Morris
Antoine Mason has always had a killer-mindset. It's the way he was raised, and the way he was trained to play every single basketball game.
"My dad wouldn't let me be any other way. He was constantly pushing me, wanting me to be the best I could be, because he knew I could be great."
Mason's father is of course, New York Knicks icon and NBA legend, Anthony Mason – who played for the Knicks during the Pat Riley coached "bad boys" era in the mid-90's, and played with NBA star Patrick Ewing, and known-NBA tough guy, Charles Oakley.
"My dad use to play in the NBA when the league was tough, and had to have a killer instinct and mindset. He taught me how to be that kind of player, and persevere through adversity."
Mason recalls his father instilling this killer-mindset into him during the NBA lockout season in 2011/12. His father was still a member of the Knicks at the time, and had access to their training facilities, and took Mason there to train with him.
"He would constantly push me, and push me, and push me, even further. He was testing my limits to see how far I'd go, or if I'd give up. I'd never give up though, no matter how many sprints or free throws he'd make me do. I use to love it. It made me tougher, and prepared me for moments later on in my career."
Through his father's career as well, Mason gained first-hand exposure to other players, and their mindsets. From this, he learned from an early age what it took, both mentally and physically, to be the best that you could be on the court.
One of his first times he saw this was in 2001, when his father was playing for the Miami Heat, and was selected as an All-Star starter for the Eastern Conference. Along with his father, Mason got to see how NBA legends, such as Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Allan Iverson, and Shaquille O'Neill, prepared themselves before a game.
"That whole experience was crazy. I was only like eight at the time, but my dad made sure I got to experience the whole weekend up-close – I was there for the three-point and dunk contest, and for the game as well. It was amazing for a young person trying to learn the game."
And, he never forgot what he learned from those experiences, and from his father, during every stop in his career thus far.
From being benched on his AAU team, to becoming the his high school's athlete of the year, to transferring to Auburn and suffering injuries that caused him to miss the majority of his one year there, to signing with the Halifax Hurricanes in 2016 and falling short of the championship in his first two years with the team. Mason never quit, as to him, that option was not even on the table.
"I was taught to not run from a tough situation, but to fight through it. That's not only from my dad either, my mom always pushed me to be great as well. So, I'm doing it for them."
And that ability to not quit is what is leading Mason to have his best season ever as a professional this season. After going from 17.5 points in his first year in the NBLC, to 20 points in his second, Mason is averaging 25.5 points per game this season, which leads the entire league. Entering him into the Most Valuable Player conversation this season.
But, even if he doesn't come away with that piece of hardware, he's got another one in his trophy case already from this season – on February 25, after hitting a free throw against the Moncton Magic to notch his 10th point of the game, Mason passed Billy White to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer, with 2,485 total career points.
And in this moment of great celebration, what did the new "Mr. Hurricane" do? Well, he first had to figure out why the crowd at the Scotiabank Centre was cheering so loudly over a made free throw.
"I'm going to be honest, I had no idea that I made history with that shot. I had no idea that I was approaching the record, or how many points I needed to break it. I just made it, then the crowd erupted, and I was like "Why's everyone getting so excited, I make free throws all the time?" then it came over the PA and I realized what I had just accomplished."
But those who are fans of Mason, whether it's from his two and half years with the Hurricanes, or from his play elsewhere, this does not surprise you. Mason has never been a "me-first" player, or one that values his own personal stats. He has always been a player that's been obsessed with winning, and will do whatever it takes to accomplish it.
"It was really cool that I broke Billy's record, because whenever I first came into this league, he was on the team and was one of my veterans that showed me the ropes. He showed me love online as well congratulating me, but at the end of the day we lost the game which was not the outcome that I wanted."
It's that killer-mindset coming through that his father passed down to him from a young age. Mason will not be satisfied until he reaches the top of whatever he's doing, which now, is raising the NBLC trophy in front of a city that has adopted him, and made him feel welcomed. – Halifax.
And for fans wondering if Mason will still bring that killer-mindset to every game now that he has become "Mr. Hurricane", I think you already know the answer.
"My dad taught me to always play hard, no matter what. He said to do this because you never know if there's someone watching you for the first time. So, I'm going to keep bringing it each, an every time, I step on the court wearing a Halifax Hurricane's jersey."