Greatest shot blocker in each NBA team’s history

Best shot blocker from Charlotte Hornets: Alonzo Mourning

For all the terrific perimeter play the decade has brought us, the NBA was built on a foundation of big men. Guys like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Patrick Ewing among others are the most talked about and find themselves on many top-10 lists. However, one such player that has never been much of a talking point is Alonzo Mourning.

During the early part of his career with the Charlotte Hornets, “Zo” was a ridiculous inside force on both ends of the court. His shoulders and biceps appeared sculpted out of clay, giving him a terrific physical advantage, which led to plenty of rebounds for the seven-time All-Star.

Mourning’s size allowed him to back down pretty much anyone matched up against him. He possessed a soft touch from the mid-range area, leading to a points per game average that hovered around 20 a night.

Then, there’s his prowess on the defensive end, where he proved to be just as good if not better than what he could do with the ball in his hands.

A two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Mourning’s physicality and toughness were a welcome sight. His athleticism and timing made him a two-time leader in blocks per game, averaging close to four swats a night in those two seasons.

Mourning may not have the statistical success or the accolades of some of his other seven-foot brethren. That being said, when it came to his prime, not many could match his energy combined with a massive physique and skill set that made him one of the best two-way players in the game.