Best Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee from each NBA franchise

Best Miami Heat Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee: Alonzo Mourning

When Alonzo Mourning was traded to the Miami Heat in November of 1995, the franchise had only been in existence for six seasons with a single playoff appearance to show for it. When he eventually retired in 2008, the organization was a perennial playoff contender with a championship to its name,

A two-time All-Star in Charlotte, Mourning immediately became the best player on a Heat team trying to get off the ground. His elite two-way production continued upon arriving in South Beach, where he’d average 19.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game to go along with five All-Star appearances and two Defensive Player of the Year trophies.

Mourning’s presence kicked off a string of six consecutive playoff appearances, highlighted by a run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1996-97. It was during this run of success where Zo helped to foster an identity for Miami, one built on relentless physicality and effort the big man was happy to exude.

After roughly two years away from the Heat — one year spent dealing with kidney disease — Mourning returned to a team headlined by Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal. He took his new role in stride, and it worked out in his favor when he helped Miami capture its first-ever championship in 2006.

Since retiring following the 2007-08 season, Mourning remains a member of the Heat organization as the Vice President of Player Programs with his No. 33 jersey forever hanging in the rafters. Without him, Miami doesn’t establish a foundation of success with which it has only built off of since, and there’s no telling where the reputation of the franchise would’ve gone.