41 Facts About Alonzo Mourning

1.

Alonzo Mourning made a comeback after undergoing a kidney transplant and later won the 2006 NBA championship with the Heat.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,772
2.

Alonzo Mourning played for the Charlotte Hornets and New Jersey Nets.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,773
3.

On March 30,2009, Alonzo Mourning became the first Miami Heat player to have his number retired.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,774
4.

In 2010, Alonzo Mourning was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,775
5.

Alonzo Mourning was named Player of the Year by USA Today, Parade, Gatorade, and Naismith.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,776
6.

Alonzo Mourning played college basketball for John Thompson at Georgetown University.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,777
7.

Alonzo Mourning made an immediate impact as a freshman, starting all 34 games for the Hoyas, averaging 13.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,778
8.

Alonzo Mourning's scoring and rebounding improved over the next two seasons, but his shot-blocking declined significantly, as his taller teammate Dikembe Mutombo established himself as starting center for Georgetown, forcing Alonzo Mourning to play at power forward.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,779
9.

Alonzo Mourning was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year, which he had won twice previously.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,780
10.

Interestingly, Alonzo Mourning was never listed as the all-time leader in Georgetown history, as the school credits Patrick Ewing with 493 blocks during his college career, but blocked shots were not an official NCAA statistic at that time.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,781
11.

Alonzo Mourning was selected second overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, behind Shaquille O'Neal and before Christian Laettner.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,782
12.

Alonzo Mourning was named to the league's all-rookie team in 1993 after averaging 21.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,783
13.

Alonzo Mourning finished second to Shaquille O'Neal in rookie of the year voting.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,784
14.

Alonzo Mourning posted the highest scoring average of any rookie in Hornets history.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,785
15.

Alonzo Mourning shattered Charlotte's blocked-shots records, becoming the Hornets' all-time career leader in the 49th game of the season.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,786
16.

The following year, Alonzo Mourning played in just 60 games, posting almost similar averages of 21.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,787
17.

On November 3,1995, after Alonzo Mourning rejected Charlotte's contract extension offer worth an average of $11.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,788
18.

Alonzo Mourning played in the 1996 NBA All-Star Game and was joined by All-Star point guard Tim Hardaway who arrived through a mid-season trade.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,789
19.

In July 1996, Alonzo Mourning signed a seven-year, $105 million contract with the Heat.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,790
20.

Alonzo Mourning scored 28 points in Game 6, followed by a 22-point, 12-rebound performance in Game 7 to help Miami advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, a franchise first, to face Chicago.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,791
21.

The following season, the Heat won 31 games in a lockout-shortened 50-game schedule, and Alonzo Mourning won his first of two consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards after leading the league in blocks with 3.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,792
22.

Alonzo Mourning signed a four-year deal with the New Jersey Nets in July 2003 as a free agent.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,793
23.

On November 24,2003, after appearing in 12 games, Alonzo Mourning retired from the NBA due to complications from his kidney disease.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,794
24.

Alonzo Mourning did not play a significant role with the Nets and openly complained to the media that he wanted out of New Jersey, especially after the team traded away Kenyon Martin.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,795
25.

Alonzo Mourning never reported to the Raptors, and was bought out of his contract at a remaining $9 million on February 11,2005.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,796
26.

Alonzo Mourning then finished the season with the Heat being paid a second salary, the veteran's minimum.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,797
27.

Alonzo Mourning's role was reduced as a backup because of superstar Shaquille O'Neal, although he was called upon as a starter due to O'Neal missing stretches due to injury.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,798
28.

O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning even played together on the court at times, with Alonzo Mourning playing power forward.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,799
29.

Alonzo Mourning finished the regular season ranking third in blocked shots at 2.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,800
30.

Miami swept the Nets in the first round of the playoffs, with Alonzo Mourning recording 21 points and nine rebounds in just 16 minutes in Game 2.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,801
31.

Miami fell in seven games to the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, in the Eastern Conference Finals, with Alonzo Mourning leading the team in blocks with three per game for the series.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,802
32.

Alonzo Mourning continued to serve as the Heat's backup center, and early on stepped in to serve as the team's starting center after O'Neal suffered an injury.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,803
33.

Alonzo Mourning started in 20 games out of a total of 65 games played, averaging 7.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,804
34.

In 2007, Alonzo Mourning announced he would return for one more year with the Heat and his 15th season.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,805
35.

Alonzo Mourning announced his retirement from the NBA on January 22,2009.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,806
36.

Alonzo Mourning announced his return to the Heat in late June 2009; he holds the position of vice president of player programs and development, which covers community outreach and mentoring young players.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,807
37.

Alonzo Mourning played in a basketball game for Barack Obama's 50th birthday at the basketball court at the White House in 2011.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,808
38.

On March 26,2019, Alonzo Mourning was named to the FIBA Hall of Fame, and was inducted on August 30.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,809
39.

In July 2011, Alonzo Mourning was sued by Miami-based lawyer Spencer Aronfeld on behalf of Alberto Candoleria for crashing his car into another car and then leaving the scene of the accident.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,810
40.

Alonzo Mourning's father was present and informed Cooper that Alonzo Mourning was retiring that day from the NBA because of a life-threatening kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, the same problem that Sean Elliott had in 1999.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,811
41.

Cooper was tested for compatibility, along with many other family members and friends ; during his grandmother's funeral, Alonzo Mourning received the news that Jason Cooper was a match.

FactSnippet No. 2,015,812