Just two months after trying to resurrect his career after suffering from a serious kidney ailment, New Jersey Nets center Alonzo Mourning has retired. The Nets cited Mourning's focal glomerulosclerosis, an ailment he has had for three years, and said he will need a kidney transplant "in the near future." Dozens of people across the nation have offered to donate a kidney.
Early years: Mourning was born in Chesapeake Va., Feb. 8, 1970. At age 12, he was placed in a foster home. He started playing basketball seriously and took Indian River High school to the state championship. For college, Mourning chose Georgetown.
Career: Mourning was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round (second pick overall) of the 1992 NBA draft. He was 1992's rookie of the year. In 1995, Mourning was traded by the Hornets with Pete Myers and LeRon Ellis to the Miami Heat. He was selected for the 1999-2000 All-NBA Second Team and named the 2000 NBA defensive player of the year for the second consecutive season. He also was selected for the 1999-2000 NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Mourning was diagnosed in October 2000 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. He played in just the final 13 games for the Heat in 2000-01, but appeared in 75 games the following season. Last September, shortly before training camp, Mourning was advised by doctors to skip the 2002-03 season because test results indicated his condition had worsened. He received medical clearance for 2003-04, and in July he was signed as a free agent by the New Jersey Nets.
Family: Mourning and his wife, Tracy, have one son, Alonso III.
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In his words: "The writing's on the wall. It doesn't take a blind man to see that I need to stop... you need to listen and stop ignoring the signs."
Web link: www.nba.com/
Compiled by Carol Bradley Bursack
Sources: Associated Press, allsports.com, africanpubs.com, espn.go.com
