HEAT Re-Sign Alonzo Mourning

“It’s obviously great to have Zo back,” said HEAT President and Head Coach Pat Riley. “We know how important he is to the city, this franchise, and in helping us try to repeat as NBA champions. It’s a good day for the Miami HEAT.”

A seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Mourning is the HEAT’s all-time leader in games played (491), blocked shots (1,405), free throws made (2,328) and free throws attempted (3,512). Additionally he ranks second on the team’s all-time list in field goal percentage (.535), points scored (8,649), offensive rebounds (1,345), defensive rebounds (3,019), total rebounds (4,364), field goals made (3,155), field goals attempted (5,895), minutes played (15,739), double-doubles (203), double-figure scoring efforts (408) and starts (415).

“I’m very excited about re-signing with the HEAT,” said Mourning. “I love this organization, the fans and the whole South Florida community and I’m happy to have the opportunity to join my teammates and defend our championship this season. I look forward to one day retiring as a member of the HEAT, but right now, I feel great and can’t wait to get out on the court and try to repeat.”

Mourning, a key cog on the HEAT’s 2006 NBA Championship team, appeared in 65 games (20 starts) during the 2005-06 campaign and averaged 7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, a team-high 2.66 blocks and 20.0 minutes. The 6’10” center ranked third in the NBA in blocks per game and shot a career-high 59.7 percent from the floor. Mourning’s 173 total blocks ranked as the fifth best single-season total in HEAT history, giving him each of the top five single-season totals in franchise history. During the 2005-06 season Mourning topped the HEAT in blocks a team-high 44 times and in rebounds on 12 occasions.

He appeared in 21 postseason games this season and averaged 3.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.14 blocks and 10.8 minutes after returning from a partial tear of his right calf which occurred at Detroit on Mar. 22 and caused him to miss the final 14 games of the regular season and the first two postseason contests. The 13-year veteran also connected on over 70 percent of his field goal attempts for the second straight year in postseason play, connecting on 70.3 percent of his attempts. He has now converted 70.4 percent of his postseason field goal attempts since re-joining the HEAT on Mar. 1, 2005 as a free agent. Mourning made a major contribution in Miami’s championship clinching game at Dallas on June 20, finishing with eight points, six rebounds and a game-altering five blocks in 14 minutes of action. Mourning was originally acquired by the HEAT on Nov. 3, 1995 along with Pete Myers and LeRon Ellis in a six-player trade with Charlotte that sent Glen Rice, Matt Geiger, Khalid Reeves and a 1996 first-round draft pick to the Hornets.