Mason's funeral draws Knicks greats

NEW YORK -- Friends, former teammates and a former head coach of Anthony Mason's gathered at a Queens church Friday morning to say goodbye to the NBA veteran, who died last week.

Pat Riley, the Miami Heat president who coached Mason with the New York Knicks, joined former Knicks players John Starks, Patrick Ewing and Charles Oakley at Mason's funeral at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York in the Jamaica section of Queens.

Riley and Starks spoke at the private three-hour service that was attended by more than 200 people.

"He's one of the best players that I've ever coached in my life," Riley, who coached Mason for four years in New York and one season in Miami, said afterward. "He had something that was special and unique, and not many players had it, and he engulfed all of that with his competitive desire to win and to separate himself from the pack.


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