#33 Alonzo Mourning
Player File
Alonzo Mourning is a 6' 10" center from Georgetown entering his 11th season in the NBA.

Birthday: February 8, 1970
Birthplace:
High School:
Drafted: 2nd overall in the 1992 Draft, by the Charlotte Hornets.
Contract: Signed through the 2006 - 2007 season.
Nicknames: He's simply 'Zo to fans around the NBA. You've taken 'Zo to your hearts, though, and have seen it fit to give him such affectionate names as "AFLAC", "Kidd's $20 Million Play Pal", "The Barber", "Van Gundy Leg" and much more.

Alonzo Mourning – C
Known For: Freakish intensity, willpower and determination; low-post moves; rebounding; shot-blocking; defensive presence.

The Real Deal: Alonzo Mourning was once feared and revered down in Miami for being a dominating presence in the paint. Since his illness, and subsequent absence from the game, he's become more fragile, and well, human. The player the Nets are getting as they open the 2003 - 2004 season clearly isn't that fond memory, but, in the Nets best case scenario, he's a terrific part-time player who can handle the interior like no Net ever has. At worst, he was an expensive insurance policy to assure Kidd's return. The man can still play, though only in limited spurts, with that fierce warrior spirit. He can still score, rebound, and defend. When he gets in game shape, and get the proper rest, he'll be used no more than 25 - 30 minutes per night, tops (but likely as the starter). And with Jason Collins and Kenyon Martin right by his side, that should be enough to improve these Nets tremendously.

Joe's Update: Staredown at the Continental. If anyone needed a dose of 'Zo, it was Kenyon Martin. Doing battle in the paint all season long, defending the best scorer, and generally causing havoc is wearying. Martin's got some competition in the intensity department and someone to help out inside, blocking shots, rebounding and throwing some weight around. If 'Zo keeps his health, and Martin gets minutes with him and Kidd (and hell, Jefferson too), this could be an insane team to watch come playoff time. He's a great fit with this always running, always defending team. Keeping 'Zo at his 25 minutes, 10 points, 8 rebounds pace would be fine by everyone involved. Really, at this point, having Zo is like winning the lottery. Or dreaming about it, anyway. Stay healthy, man, and treat us to some maniacal effort.

Alonzo Mourning's Zoran Planinic's stats and bio: click here.

The 2003 - 2004 Roster

Brandon Armstrong - G
Jason Collins - C/F
Lucious Harris - G
Richard Jefferson - F
Jason Kidd - G
Kerry Kittles - G
Kenyon Martin - F
Alonzo Mourning - C
Zoran Planinic - G
Rodney Rogers - F
Brian Scalabrine - F
Tamar Slay - G/F
Aaron Williams - C/F

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