MIAMI, FL, APRIL 7 – Miami HEAT Vice President, Player Programs Alonzo Mourning was selected today into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2014. Mourning is joined in the Class of 2014 by Nat Clifton, Bob Leonard, Sarunas Marciulionis, Nolan Richardson, Mitch Richmond, Guy Rodgers, David Stern, Gary Williams and the Immaculata University teams of the early 1970s. To earn induction into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, a finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee. The Class of 2014 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, MA on August 8, 2014.
Mourning’s NBA career spanned 15 seasons, including a key role in bringing the HEAT their first NBA Championship to Miami in 2006. The seven-time NBA All-Star and USA Basketball gold medalist was twice named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and had his number 33 retired by the HEAT in a ceremony on March 30, 2009. He is Miami’s all-time leader in blocks (1,625) and tied for offensive rebounds (1,505) and ranks second in points scored (9,459), free throws made (2,558), total rebounds (4,807), defensive rebounds (3,302), double-doubles (205) and double-figure scoring efforts (442) and third in minutes played (17,700), field goal percentage (.537), field goals made (3,445) and games played (593). Mourning is also the HEAT’s postseason leader in blocked shots (171) while ranking third in points (989), field goals made (346), free throws made (294), games played (82), offensive rebounds (137) and double-figure scoring efforts (46). He capped his career appearing in 838 games and averaged 17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.81 blocked shots, 1.1 assists and 31.0 minutes while shooting 52.7 percent from the field. He finished his professional career with 14,311 points, 7,137 rebounds and 2,356 blocks, the 11th-most rejections in NBA history.
Besides his on the court accomplishments, Mourning also works tirelessly in the community. He established the Mourning Family Foundation, a not-for-profit 501c3 public fundraising foundation, to inspire others through advocacy, education and enrichment services. The foundation has raised over 10 million dollars since 1997 for various programs that aid in the development of children and their families. In addition to his numerous community endeavors, Morning co-founded the Overtown Youth Center, a state of the art facility designed to inspire and empower youth and families by fostering hope through enrichment services. After having kidney transplant surgery on December 19, 2003, he formed the “Zo’s Fund For Life” in an effort to raise four million dollars for kidney research and to help provide medication to families that could not afford it. He has served as spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation and launched the “Donate Organs. Pass it On.” campaign with the Transplant Foundation which included a statewide license plate for organ donors. He was also awarded the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2002.
Mourning becomes the fourth person, including the second player, with HEAT ties to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. Current HEAT President Pat Riley was enshrined as part of the Class of 2008, current HEAT assistant coach Bob McAdoo was enshrined as part of the Class of 2000 and former HEAT guard Gary Payton was enshrined as part of the Class of 2013.