“ It is with great sadness that I make this announcement,” said Thorn.  “Alonzo is a true champion and a very courageous athlete who attempted to defy the odds with his comeback to the NBA.  Unfortunately, his medical condition will not allow him to continue his basketball career. Our thoughts and prayers are with him as he continues his fight against this disease.”

Mourning, who was in his 12th season in the NBA, was signed by the Nets as a free agent on July 16, 2003. He had played in all 12 games for the Nets this season, averaging 8.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 17.9 minutes of action. Mourning brought career stats of 20.3 ppg and 9.8 rpg into the campaign, which included three years with the Charlotte Hornets and eight (seven active) years with the Miami Heat. 

Drafted by Charlotte in the First Round (2nd overall pick) of the 1992 NBA Draft and selected to the All-Rookie First Team, Mourning was a seven-time NBA All-Star, a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1998-1999, 1999-2000), a member of the All-NBA First Team in 1998-99 and Second Team in 1999-2000, a two-time member of the All-Defensive First Team (1998-99, 1999-2000) and was the winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2001-02.

Mourning was also a member of the gold medal winning 2000 Team USA Olympic Team and was named the 2000 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.

STATEMENT FROM DR. GERALD APPEL
Columbia University Medical Center
Kidney Specialist

Alonzo Mourning has had a kidney disease due to focal glomerulosclerosis for three years. Although through treatment he experienced a partial remission of the disease and was able to return to vigorous physical activity and playing professional basketball, in recent weeks, his kidney function has rapidly deteriorated. I, in consultation with team physicians, have concluded that it is no longer medically safe for him to play basketball.  Although he still feels well, the chemical imbalances in his blood make it dangerous for him to play. Alonzo will need a kidney transplant in the near future to correct his progressive renal failure, and a nationwide search is currently underway to find a prospective donor.