MIAMI -- Miami center Alonzo Mourning announced Wednesday that he will return for another season with the Heat.
The 35-year-old Mourning had been contemplating retirement since the Heat were eliminated by the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals two months ago.
"I remain more committed than ever to bring a championship to Miami,'' Mourning said in a statement released by the team.
The former All-Star center was due to become a free agent after last season, but the Heat picked up the option on his contract in June.
"We feel his decision to come back is going to be critical toward our success and goal of winning an NBA championship,'' team president Pat Riley said. "We have the utmost respect for Alonzo and he deserves to be part of this championship run.''
A win away from the NBA Finals last season, Mourning's return is just the latest move for the Heat. In the last month, the Heat signed Shaquille O'Neal to a five-year deal and dealt awayEddie Jones, Rasual Butler and Qyntel Woods in a 13-player, five-team trade that brought Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, James Posey and Andre Emmett to South Florida.
"I'm thrilled with all the improvements the team has made this summer and can't wait to get on the court and start playing,'' Mourning said.
Mourning averaged 5.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.74 blocks in 19 games backing up O'Neal last season, after he signed with the Heat in March as a free agent after playing two seasons with New Jersey.
He averaged 7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 37 games with the two teams last season.
In his 14 NBA seasons, Mourning has averaged 19.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.93 blocks in 671 career NBA games. He ranks sixth in NBA history in blocks per game, 14th in total blocks and 29th in field goal percentage.
good news for miami. This team is really overloaded. If they get Finley only a internal breakdown can stop them like what happened with the Lakers a couple years ago
