How a Texas basketball player became an Australian football star
In short: In 2014, Mason Cox knew almost nothing about Australian rules football. Yet, the 211 cm Oklahoma State graduate transitioned from the NCAA basketball courts to the AFL, eventually becoming a premiership player and a symbol of international sporting crossover.
Mason Cox's journey began far from the Australian stadiums. A graduate of Oklahoma State University with an engineering degree, Cox was a basketball player who once served on the university's 'scout team' to simulate the presence of Brittney Griner. During his time in the Big 12 Conference, he even famously defended against future NBA MVP Joel Embiid. Standing at 211 cm, he remains the tallest player ever measured at an AFL Draft Combine. Before his professional career, he was a standout soccer player at Edward S. Marcus High School in Texas, where he helped his team win a state championship.
His path to the Australian Football League (AFL) was remarkably rapid. After attending the US International Combine in Los Angeles in April 2014, Cox was signed by the Collingwood Football Club on May 30, 2014. He made his professional debut on April 25, 2016, during the Anzac Day match against Essendon, scoring a goal with his very first kick in the league. His arrival in the AFL was highly contested, as clubs including Richmond, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, and Fremantle all expressed interest in recruiting him.
Cox's career has been defined by both physical dominance and significant hardship. While known for his accuracy and contested marking, he has endured six eye surgeries following retinal injuries sustained during matches. Despite these setbacks, he achieved premiership success and became a naturalized Australian citizen in June 2022. After 139 matches with Collingwood, he moved to the Fremantle Football Club in late 2025, continuing his impact on the sport. His transition to Fremantle followed a period of significant personal commitment to Australia, having officially completed his journey to citizenship at a ceremony held at the MCG.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Mason Cox
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