Desmond Mason Talks OSU Tragedy In 2001 at NBA Dunk Contest

This Desmond Mason interview shortly after the 2001 plane crash is certainly the interview that most stuck with me throughout my childhood. Craig Sager talked to Mason after he won the 2001 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and No. 34 got emotional when talking about his alma mater (7:20 mark).

“It’s been hard,” said Mason. “I’ve been thinking about it every day. It’s hard to get off your mind. There’s so much speculation. There’s a little closure on the situation, me having the opportunity to go back, but it’s still hard to lose some friends in that manner.

“I’m trying to deal with it the best way I can. My teammates are helping me in Seattle. My family back at Oklahoma State, my family in Texas — they’re helping me out ….”

The reason it’s one of my favorite interviews ever is because of what happened after this video got cut off. Mason got choked up at the very end of the interview with Sager. You could tell how much it affected him. How much it affected all of us.