Jul 16, 2007 2:18 am US/Eastern
Zo To Fans: I'll Be Back, One More Time
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MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The Miami Heat will have an enduring star for one more year, as center Alonzo Mourning announced his decision Sunday night to return to the Heat for one more season. Mourning made the announcement as his Zo's Summer Groove charity game ended, but he also promised this will be his final year on the boards for Miami.
Ending nearly three months of suspense about his future, Mourning announced a choice he kept secret to the end, insisting he was still deciding just hours before the actual announcement.
"I will be coming back," Mourning said.
This was the third straight summer Mourning considered retirement before choosing to keep playing. Next season will be his 15th in the NBA, not including a full year he missed with kidney problems that led to him getting a transplant in 2003.
"It will definitely be my last year," Mourning said.
Mourning averaged 8.6 points last season for the Heat, and his 5.44 blocks per 48 minutes led the NBA by a wide margin. He started more than half of Miami's games last season while Shaquille O'Neal recovered from knee surgery, and the Heat clearly wanted him back -- especially since his $2.8 million salary for next season makes the seven-time All-Star a bargain.
Some of his teammates weren't surprised by the decision.
Heat forward Dorell Wright, who played in the charity game along with a list of NBA players that included Carlos Boozer, Sam Cassell and Damon Stoudamire, predicted before the game that Mourning would be back, simply based on the weightlifting regimen he'd been following this offseason.
"I love having Zo in the locker room and out on the court," Wright said.
Mourning's decision suggests that Heat coach Pat Riley may be returning as well.
Mourning said repeatedly in recent weeks that Riley's status for next year would weigh heavily on his decision. Riley started a lengthy vacation this weekend and was not immediately available for comment Sunday night, but Mourning indicated that he expects the coach of five NBA champions to be on the sideline again."
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