Say it aint’ Zo: Alonzo Mourning calls it a career…

The 7-time NBA All-Star ended speculation of a possible comeback on Thursday by announcing his retirement, which ends a 16-year playing career.

Mourning’s last NBA game was on December 19th, 2007 against the Atlanta Hawks. That’s the night when Mourning suffered a fatal knee injury that wound up ending his career.

Alonzo will finish his professional career as the NBA’s 10th all-time leader with 2,536 blocked shots & is the Miami Heat’s career leader in points, rebounds & games played.

Mourning’s career started in 1992, when he was taken with the 2nd overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets.

He was the runner-up to Shaquille O’Neal in 1992-93 Rookie of the Year voting & hit a buzzer-beating fallaway jumper in the 1st round of the NBA Playoffs against Boston, which helped Charlotte clinch the series.

Mourning then went to Miami, where he won NBA Defensive Player of the Year twice & was involved in a on-court fight with former teammate Larry Johnson during the 1st round of the 1998 NBA playoffs.

Mourning then battled his kidney disease for several seasons before retiring from the NBA in  November of 2003 as a member of the New Jersey Nets.

Mourning un-retired before the start of the 2004-05 season & played his first game back against his former team Miami, where he scored 7 points & grabbed 5 rebounds in 14 minutes.

Mourning was traded to the Toronto Raptors in December of 2004, but never reported to the team which resulted in his buyout for $9 million.

‘Zo finally become a world champion in his 14th season when the Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games in the 2006 NBA Finals.

Mourning & his family will remain in the Miami area, where he has been known to provide excellent charity & community service work.

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