NBA: Each team’s greatest comeback from injury in franchise history

Greatest injury comeback in Miami Heat history: Alonzo Mourning

Kidney disease

Alonzo Mourning had quite the resume prior to his days with the Miami Heat. He entered the league as the second overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. From 1992-95, Mourning averaged 21.3 points, 10.1 points and 3.2 blocks per game while making two All-Star appearances during 1994 and 1995.

During his third season, he was traded to the Miami Heat in November 1995 in a blockbuster deal. He flourished with the Heat in his early years, making two more All-Star appearances before the injury bug hit in 1997. In 2000, Mourning played all but 13 games following a diagnosis of focal glomerulosclerosis, a disease that disrupts the filtering process in the liver.

He sat out the 2002-03 season, citing an early retirement due to the disease, but things changed when he was able to get a kidney from his cousin. He made his comeback in 2003-04 with the New Jersey Nets but soon found himself back on the Heat in 2004-05.

Mourning was a member of the 2006 NBA Championship team alongside Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal, showing that he could still maintain himself on a roster despite his age and condition.

He put up 4.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest in 11.0 minutes per game through six appearances as a backup to Shaq. His contribution isn’t to be denied as Mourning is a current Hall of Famer now.

He suffered a career-ending left knee injury a few seasons later in 2007-08 and called it quits soon after. It marked a final chapter in the grueling process to stay healthy in the NBA.