One story so far this NBA season has stood out among all others. Just 12 games into a heroic comeback to the league, Alonzo Mourning was forced into retirement. Despite his chiselled body and physical strength, the kidney disease that kept him off the floor in 2002-03 had worsened.

"God didn't bring me this far for me to fail," said Mourning on the opening night of the 2003-04 season. "He gave me another opportunity to play this game of basketball. He understands what I had to go through to get to this point. I don't see myself failing at all."

Alonzo Mourning, who played 12 games with New Jersey, has battled a kidney disease due to focal glomerulosclerosis for three years. Ray Amati NBAE/Getty Images

And let it be known, Mourning did not fail. Stepping onto the floor with the New Jersey Nets this season was success in itself. Twelve games or 80 games, it doesn't matter. Mourning was – and still is – an inspiration to many.

"He's one of the reasons I made it to the NBA because when I was in college he came and played with me during the offseason, and he didn't have to do that," said Chicago Bulls' forward Jerome Williams. "I've always had a big-brother relationship with him. He's always been somebody I could talk to. I'm sorry to see such a good player leave the game."

The Nets must move on without Mourning. But many who have played or coached with (or against) Zo will tell you that his impact in New Jersey will be felt throughout the coming weeks and months.

"When you're talking about Zo you're talking about a person who is fighting for his life," said Nets guard Jason Kidd on opening night. "We can learn from him. If we have a bump or bruise and he's out there working hard . . . those small intangibles will hopefully get us over that hump."

Mourning's last game in the league will be remembered as his best with the Nets. Playing against the Raptors on November 22, Zo scored 15 points in 16 minutes in an 81-80 loss. Days later, when Mourning announced his retirement, Toronto coach Kevin O'Neill paid the 33-year-old centre the ultimate respect.

"When our league loses a guy like that, we become a weaker league," he said. "Alonzo Mourning is a guy that this game needs. The way he plays; the way he practices; the way he prepares; the passion he brought to work every day; the passion he had for the game."

This isn't the first time the NBA has dealt with kidney disease. Former Spurs forward Sean Elliott battled kidney disease and received a transplant in 1999.

Mourning will need a kidney transplant in the near future and there is a nationwide search underway for a possible donor.

In his 12-year career, Mourning averaged 20 points and 9.7 rebounds.

"Alonzo has always been a strong person and I know he will find a way to overcome this setback," former Georgetown grad Patrick Ewing told Associated Press. "What is important now is that Alonzo focus his energies on getting healthy and living the rest of his life."

It's uncanny to look back at Mourning's opening-night statements and see how prophetic they were.

"Hopefully (the doctors) can continue to keep this thing under wraps so that I can continue to play this game," he said. "At the same time, they know – and I know – we're dealing with something that has a mind of its own so it's kind of beyond our control. I'm going to take advantage of this opportunity this year and make the best of it. Every moment that I'm out there on the court, I'm going to play it like it's my last – cause it just might be."

Veteran radio personality Eric Smith hosts a variety of hoops programming on THE FAN 590, the radio home of the Toronto Raptors, including live Raptors pregame, halftime and postgame shows, as well as magazine show NBA Hoops.