Anthony Mason Of New York Knicks FIGHTING For His Life! [Watch]

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NEW YORK -- Former 13-year NBA veteran forward 

Anthony Mason is "literally fighting for his life" because 

of a serious heart ailment, a source close to Mason 

confirmed to ESPN.com. Mason suffered a heart 

attack several days ago and has since had multiple 

surgeries at a New York hospital, the source said.

"We're just hoping for the best at this point," the 

source added. The New York Knicks, one of the six 

teams Mason played for, tweeted out a message of 

support for the 48-year-old on Wednesday evening.

Longtime New York-based NBA writer Peter Vecsey 

first reported details of Mason's condition. Some of 

Mason's former teammates were bracing for the worst 

on Wednesday night, sources told ESPN.com. Ex-

Knick Mark Jackson tweeted his support for 

Mason.Mason played in the CBA and USBL in addition 

to his years in the NBA. The 6-foot-7 forward was 

perhaps best known for his five seasons with the 

Knicks. Mason teamed with Charles Oakley, Patrick 

Ewing and John Starks to help lead the Knicks to the 

NBA Finals in 1994.

He won the NBA's Sixth Man Award in 1994-95 while 

playing for Pat Riley. His rugged play epitomized the 

nature of Riley's Knicks teams. Later in his career, 

Mason was reunited with Riley while playing for the 

Miami Heat. He was named to his one and only All-

Star team in 2001 with the Heat and finished his 

career with the Milwaukee Bucks.