Alonzo Mourning was an NBA center that played for multiple teams including the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, and New Jersey Nets. He was known for being a hard working and passionate player who did whatever it took to win.
When he became an NBA talent, he was a seven-time all-star; two-time defensive player of the year, and an NBA champion in 2006.
In his career, Mourning had his best seasons with the Miami Heat. He was apart of the Heat in the late 1990’s with Tim Haradway, and then he was apart of the Heat’s first championship run with D-wade.
Because of the way he played the game, he is apart of the 2014 Naismith basketball Hall of Fame class. Here are 10 of his most memorable moments in his career.
[new page= 10. Number 2 pick in 1992 NBA draft]
10. Number 2 pick in 1992 NBA draft
As a kid coming from Georgetown University, he was one of the best players to be apart of the 1992 NBA draft. He was the second overall pick and the Charlotte Hornets took that opportunity to acquire a big man. At the time, it was a big man’s league, so adding Mourning was perfect for what the Hornets needed.
[new page= 9. 2006 NBA Finals]
9. 2006 NBA Finals
In the 2006 NBA finals, Mourning was apart of Miami’s first title run. He was a key contributor off of the bench. He blocked plenty of shots, and had timely dunks. He gave the team a burst of energy to give them an advantage over Dallas.
[new page= 8. Homecoming for Zo’]
8. Homecoming for Zo’
Mourning returned to the Heat after having kidney issues. He tried to make a comeback with the New Jersey Nets but that did not pan out so well for him. In 2005, he returned to Miami. He was welcomed to a standing ovation, and it typical Zo’ fashion he blocked a shot and grabbed a rebound.
[new page= 7. 50 point performance vs. Washington Bullets]
7. 50 point performance vs. Washington Bullets
On March 26, 1996, Alonzo Mourning had a special night. He dropped 50 points against the Washington Bullets. It was his first season with the Miami Heat. He was becoming a favorite in Miami, and this breakout performance gave a clear indication Mourning was a crowd favorite for the Heat.
[new page= 6. 1998 fight with Larry Johnson]
6. 1998 fight with Larry Johnson
In 1998, the New York Knicks had an intense rivalry with the Miami Heat. It had a lot of story lines from Patrick Ewing playing against Morning to coach Jeff Van Gundy going against Pat Riley; one story line that ended up exploding was Morning fighting his old Hornets teammate Larry Johnson. They ended in Charlotte on bad terms, so it got even worse during the rivalry between the Knicks and Heat.
[new page= 5. 1993 Buzzer Beater vs. Celtics]
5. 1993 Buzzer Beater vs. Celtics
This was a buzzer beater that beat the Boston Celtics in the 1993 NBA playoffs. Mourning was one of the key players on the team at the time. The Hornets were a team on the rise and this shot was a sign that Mourning was on the verge of greatness in his career.
[new page= 4. Jersey number 33 in the rafters]
4. Jersey number 33 in the rafters
His number 33 was the first number to be retired in Miami Heat franchise history. This night signified how important Mourning was to the Miami Heat organization. Many people were in attendance to witness his jersey being place in the rafters. Pat Riley was in attendance along with Tim Hardaway, Dwayne Wade, Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and former Georgetown coach John Thompson.
[new page= 3. Blocking Michael Jordan’s shot]
3. Blocking Michael Jordan’s shot
During Mourning’s younger days with the Charlotte Hornets, he blocked one of Michael Jordan’s shots as he was driving towards the basket. Mourning who is known for being a shot blocker, made sure that Air Jordan did not get the best of him on this particular play.
[new page= 2. 9 Blocks in one game ]
2. 9 Blocks in one game
In the later stages of his career, he did not pay that much to the offensive side of the ball. What he did do was pay a lot of attention to defense. In one game at home against the Knicks, he blocked nine shots that personified his hard working style of play.
[new page= 1. 2014 Hall of Fame selection]
1. 2014 Hall of Fame selection
This past April, Mourning was selected to be a member of the 2014 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a center that played in an era of great centers such as Patrick Ewing, David Robertson, and Hakeem Olajuwom. Now he will join those players becoming another member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.