Alonzo Mourning's name will always live in infamy in Toronto.On December 17th, 2004, Mourning was involved in one of the worst trades in NBA history: Vince Carter, the poster boy for crybaby athletes, was sent to the New Jersey Nets for Zo, Aaron and Eric Williams, and two first-round picks.
Mourning proceeded to leave the Raptors with no choice but to buy him out, as he refused to report to Toronto.
A season and a half later, Mourning was a champion for the first time with the Miami Heat.
Mourning has always found ways to survive during his NBA career. In his first year in the NBA, he flourished as the No. 2 pick in the draft behind Shaquille O'Neil. He set a Charlotte Hornets franchise record for blocks by the 49th game of the '92-'93 season, and carried the club to a 3-1 first-round playoff victory over the Celtics by hitting a series-clinching buzzer-beater in Game Four.
As Mourning and Larry Johnson began to hit their strides in the league, though, unrest between them became untenable, and Zo was sent to Miami for his first tour with the Heat.
He flourished in Florida.
As in Charlotte, Mourning led the team in points-per-game, field goal percentage, rebounds, and blocked shots. He was named to seven NBA All-Star teams, won two Defensive Player of the Year awards, earned recognition on the First and Second All-NBA teams, and got two nods as a member of the NBA All-Defensive team.
Then Mourning's health caught up with him.
During the 2000-01 season, Mourning missed the first five months with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a condition which would plague him throughout his career. Mourning returned to play 75 games in the 2001-02 season, but his condition worsened, and he didn't play at all in 2002-03.
Upon leaving the Heat, Mourning joined the Nets, but his time in New Jersey was short-lived. Despite signing a four-year contract, Mourning played all of 30 games with the Nets in two seasons, mainly due to his illness.
There was a small ray of hope in 2003. Due to the state of his kidneys, Mourning was eligible for a transplant—and received a donation from his cousin, former Marine Jason Cooper, on December 19th, 2003.
After his return from surgery, Zo openly complained about his playing time with the Nets, forcing the team to deal the disgruntled star to the Raptors. But Mourning wasn't happy with Toronto and refused to report to the team, leaving them with no option but to release him.
We all know the story from there: Mourning went back to Miami, and although he didn't enjoy any of the personal success he did early in his career, he finally claimed that elusive NBA Championship.
It's unfortunate that it's an injury that looks to have ended Alonzo Mourning's NBA career, as he's battled back from so much. But while here's no denying his talent on the court, his attitude will determine how he's remembered around the league.
Don't expect Toronto fans to look upon Zo too favorably. I can't speak for his other NBA stops.
That said, the best thing about Mourning was that he always found a way to beat the odds. Love him or hate him, you've got to admire the man's grit.
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