Alonzo Mourning, Miracle Warrior

He is one of the greatest warriors of the 90’s and 00’s and a man who recovered from a terrible disease… Former Heat center, 2006 champion. Alonzo Mourning will go down as one of the biggest bullies in NBA history. A two-time defensive player of the league, Mourning was a fighter in the manner of his great opponents, Patrick Ewing and the late Singh Mutombowho, like him, graduated from Georgetown.

A fighter in life, too, because after a kidney transplant, he will return to the field!

Drafted in 1992 like Shaquille O’Neal, Charlotte selected Alonso Mourning and he formed a duo with Larry Johnson that was as explosive as it was popular. This is the era when the Hornets are the sexiest team in the NBA, a sport in a league with flashy play and highlighted stars. Stars who, behind the scenes, are jealous of each other… even if Mourning blames her departure on the avarice of the then owner.

“I never wanted to leave Charlotte, but the business aspect stopped me”Grieving remembered in Charlotte Observer. “There was another guy who had other intentions. It was George Sheen. He wanted something else. His priority wasn’t to keep the team intact. If that was the case, he would have agreed to make that investment.”

In 1995, Mourning caught the eye of Pat Riley, then a master in Miami. “Mr. Gomina”, he does not count his money and throws 105 million to recruit him! Under his guidance, “Zo” then became one of the best pivots in the league and formed a duo with Tim Hardaway that led the Heat to the top.

In 1999, he was a clear candidate for the title of MVP of the season with more than 20 points, 11 rebounds and almost 4 blocks per game. But the Knicks and Bulls will have the Heat’s skin every season.

Drama…

In 2003, a man nicknamed “Bad Zo” was on the hook for a kidney transplant. For many, it was synonymous with the end of their careers. “It took a lot of patience and sacrifice to get to this point. Without health, it is difficult to do anything with your life. Not only for you, but also for your family. After what I’ve been through, today I enjoy every minute of my life and don’t forget to never underestimate the heart of a champion” declares Mourning, using the famous phrase of Rudi Tomjanović, the coach of the Rockets at the time.

But on the field, as in life, Mourning is a fighter. A seven-time All-Star and Olympic champion, he announces to his loved ones that he is ready to make all possible sacrifices in order to return to the highest level, and try to win this ring that is missing from his collection.

In November 2004, he signed with New Jersey. Exceptional for courage and professionalism, he meets the expectations of his leaders with an average of 10 points and 7 rebounds.

But the NBA is a business, and to bring back Vince Carter, New Jersey is sending Zoe Mourning to Toronto. Disgusted, former King Charlotte sulks. He refuses to play for the Raptors and manages to get out of his contract.

…and the resurrection

At the end of the same season, a phone call from Pat Riley, the president of the Heat. He already had Zo under his command and offered him a job as Shaquille O’Neal’s backup. Zo’ accepts even if he has difficulty being profitable for ten minutes.

“It was an amazing experience just because it was all about winning” he remembers with nostalgia. “He had three titles, I wanted to get there. He verbally committed to the city of Miami, that he would bring home a title. He knew deep down that he could do it on his own. He surrounded himself with hungry players, who had been there 10 or 12 years. We were all hungry to win. We took this opportunity together and that made it better.”

At the start of the 2005/06 season, the O’Neal-Mourning duo was renewed. Shak, despite a big summer diet, is not at his best. More than ever, he deserves the nickname Diesel. It’s Mourning’s luck, and Zo’ is seeing his playing time increase and he’s almost becoming the Heat’s No. 6 player. Defensively, he became the intimidator he once was. As proof, he finished as the 3rd best blocker in the league at 2.7 cts/m in just 20 minutes of play.

Its performance is bumpy, but it is necessary. In the playoffs, he will play little (10 minutes on average). He has a hard time keeping up and against the Bulls and Pistons he will have almost no impact on the game. But deep down, only one thing matters: winning this title, and he’s pushing Shaq to his limits in… training.

“It was a struggle. Sometimes it was funny. He didn’t want me to beat him and I didn’t want him to beat me. We were always on different teams, I was in red, he was in white. We fought in training, but it was fun. He got the best of me once again. I did everything I needed to do to be ready. There were times in training when he told me to slow him down and I slowed him down too much. He said: ‘Look man, I don’t want to hear that because when you make a mistake, I’m going to have to replace you’.

The hero of the 6th game of the final

And therefore, in Game 6 of the finals, Mourning will have his best match. 8 points, 6 rebounds and above all 5 cts in 14 minutes. He is the one who will allow the Heat to break in the 3rd and 4th quarters. He is the one who will cover Jason Terry in the second curtain at the very end of the match. After this counter, he will gesture on the ground. As an academic. Both filled with rage and joy.
And then there’s this picture. There are a few seconds left in the game. Heat fends off Mavs final push. On the side, Zo’ stands. He closes his eyes and puts his hands on his face. He looks at the score.
He can’t believe his eyes. He’s finally holding his first ring. He’s not even jumping for joy. Everything is in him. He inspects his operation. He relives the retirement announcement in 2002. Everything goes through his head as his teammates jump around.

And then, in the dressing room, Zo’ breaks free. “I enjoy this title more than anyone. I thank God for giving me a second life. I thank him for allowing me to join such a team with such passionate people.“, he concludes, drinking a glass of village wine.

It’s his first drop of alcohol in six years…

A victim of a ruptured hamstring in December 2007, he retired from the field on a stretcher, notably ranked as the 11th best blocker in history. Still in the heat, Shaq is on the verge of tears: “I lost a brother. I lost a teammate. I lost a bodyguard.”

With the exception of Michael Jordan’s No. 23, remarkably retired in Miami, a year after becoming the first player to see his jersey was retired in Miami. Today, he serves as the Heat’s vice president of player development, and his influence on the franchise remains immense.

Two years ago he discovered that he beat prostate cancer. Another battle won against disease.

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.