2019 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Alonzo Mourning

MIES (Switzerland) - Alonzo Mourning, a world and Olympic champion from the United States and a long-time star in the NBA, is being inducted into the 2019 class of the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Mourning is among eight former players being enshrined into the Hall of Fame alongside Janeth Arcain (Brazil), Margo Dydek (Poland – posthumously), Atanas Golomeev (Bulgaria), Fabricio Oberto (Argentina), Jose "Piculin" Ortiz (Puerto Rico), Mohsen Medhat Warda (Egypty) and Jiri Zidek (Czech Republic). Joining them are coaches Natalia Hejkova (Slovak Republic), Bogdan Tanjevic (Montenegro) and Mou Zuoyun (China - posthumously). They were selected from a list of more than 150 candidates. 

A tall and powerful center who played for American coaching great John Thompson Jr. at Georgetown University, Mourning was a member of the last USA team at a FIBA Basketball World Cup, in 1990, to be made up of college players. That side reached the podium after a thrilling 107-105 triumph over Puerto Rico in the Third-Place Game, one in which Mourning poured in 20 points.

Mourning played for Dream Team II and won the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1994 in Toronto

Four years later and, having already established himself as a ferocious and talented competitor in professional basketball with the Charlotte Hornets, Mourning was a key man in the first USA World Cup team made up entirely of NBA players. That American side, with Mourning averaging almost 11 points and more than 5 rebounds per game, rolled to the title in Toronto with eight wins in as many games.

Mourning wasn't done with international basketball. In 2000, he again suited up for the national team, at the Sydney Olympics, and rose to the occasion. In the USA's closest game, a Semi-Final escape against Lithuania, he made all 5 of his shots from the floor and all 6 of his free-throw attempts en route to 16 points and his team prevailed, 85-83. He then had 9 points and 7 assists in an 85-75 victory over France in the Gold Medal Game.

Mourning remembers very well his time with USA Basketball. Speaking in the "History of the FIBA Basketball World Cup" documentary, released in 2019, Mourning said: "My first experience of international basketball was at high school in '88. I tried out for the Olympics and made the last cut and I was on the Olympic select team that went over and played in Helsinki.

"That was my first experience, understanding the physicality and the style of play of international basketball. Then my second experience was in college. Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) from Duke (University) was my coach and we played in the World Champs (in Argentina). We had an amazing squad of young, talented, prominent college players.

"COMPETING IN MY SECOND WORLD CUP WAS A TREMENDOUS HONOR. WE HAD ADAPTED TO THAT INTERNATIONAL STYLE OF PLAY AND ENDED UP DOMINATING."- Mourning

"But we ran into some very experienced teams. They dominated us with their overall experience. We ended up winning the bronze during that time. We ran into (Toni) Kukoc, (Vlade) Divac; (Drazen) Petrovic was on that team. It was a very talented squad, we obviously gave them the best level of competition that we could. But you know they just out experienced us. Really they did."

After the United States sent an all-conquering "Dream Team" to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, a side made up of NBA superstars, the country did the same at the World Cup two years later in Toronto. "Dream Team II", as it was dubbed by the media and fans, rolled to the title and Mourning was a big part of that.

"We came out and we just blew everybody out by 30," Mourning said. "Competing in my second World Cup was a tremendous honor. We had adapted to that international style of play and ended up dominating."

Mourning's presence was crucial for the USA in their 85-83 Semi-Final win over Lithuania at the 2000 Olympics

A native of Chesapeake, Virginia, Mourning, nicknamed "Zo", was a seven-time NBA All-Star. Twice he received one of the top accolades in the league, the Defensive Player of the Year (1999, 2000). In those same seasons, he was the ultimate rim protector, leading the league in blocked shots.

He captured the 2006 NBA title with the Miami Heat, a team he had two stints with. Mourning first joined the Heat in 1995 and played for the club until 2002, before signing a free-agent contract with the New Jersey Nets in 2003. Forced to retire owing to complications to kidney disease, he showed what a tremendous fighter he was. Mourning received a kidney transplant and played professionally again, re-signing with Miami  in 2005.

With unrivaled tenacity on defense and steady performances on offense, Mourning became an indispensable part of the Heat.

Following his retirement in late January of 2009, the Heat retired his No. 33 jersey. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.

FIBA