Alonzo Mourning Quotes (61 Quotes)


    I can still play this game at a high level; I've proven that. I want to be home. I want to be close to my family. I want to be close to my foundation and my business interests.

    I think we got to play with a sense of urgency every night for the simple fact that, I think, teams are gunning for us every night, ... People know that, 'Hey, this is the team that is expected to win it all. This is the team with Shaq and D-Wade and all these guys - G.P. and Antoine and myself - all these big names. This is the team to beat.' We're like a measuring stick for a lot of teams.

    You know what We've still got a whole summer. So, that's not really etched in stone. He's at an age right now, man, where I wouldn't put any guarantees on the future.

    I think he has a huge upside. He has a great NBA body and now it's just a matter of him incorporating his talents into a system.

    I'm coming close to being back on the court. I'm making a tremendous amount of progress.


    Come on, man. He's 24 years old. When I was 24 years old, I could play all year round. I was always looking for a run. Always.

    We know we have to improve defensively to be a contender down the stretch. I just hope we don't run out of time.

    Miami, meanwhile, is so built for the playoffs, from Shaq to Wade to Mourning, who enjoyed a triumphant homecoming. The former Georgetown star returned to Miami as an insurance policy, a guy in the twilight of his career who would spell Shaq for 10, maybe 12 minutes per night. Yet, he played 35 minutes in Game 3 and scored 14 points. It's difficult to imagine a sweeter outcome for Mourning, who retired after a kidney transplant and had to miss most of two seasons. At shoot around this morning, ... Shaq came to me . . . on the bus and said, 'I'm going to need you tonight.' And I said, 'Okay, I haven't forgotten how to play this game.'

    I just jumped straight up in the air. I really didn't jump too much. They could have called a foul, but hey, fortunately enough, the play went our way.

    The only ways for teams to keep Shaquille from getting good position is to hold him and to grab him.

    Words can't express how good it is to see him back out there. I know how frustrating it was for him to be out.

    I'm going to make sure that I'm healthy before I come back. It's important for me to be right before I step back on the court, especially going into the post-season. I don't want to risk coming back too early and injuring it again. It wouldn't be worth it.

    Always treasure the opportunity. He's got another opportunity to play again when he's 28, 29. Enjoy it. Enjoy it while you can.

    He didn't have to do that, ... He's already heavy enough. Good gracious.

    This is his therapy . . . Basketball always has been his refuge.

    The series isn't over. I've just got to wait and see. I've got to keep progressing. As long as I keep progressing, I'll keep feeling positive.

    There's a disappointment there because I still feel there's an emptiness in my career that just wasn't filled.

    It's a matter of when my leg is ready. We're talking about 16 games we've got to win (en route to the NBA championship), and I want to make the right decision. As we progress, I want to be 100 percent instead of 75 percent or 65 percent.

    roast me because that was the first time in my career that I've been dunked on in a game four times.

    Either it's going to be a great dunk or a great block, ... I think statistics work in my favor. I don't like getting dunked on.

    Didn't weigh into it at all. My health is the No. 1 concern and my longevity is the No. 1 concern.


    I've been around him 10 years with him. You never ever know what he's going to so you can expect anything.

    I'll carry the torch until it needs to be passed. Hopefully, God willing, I plan on finishing my career here, if it be this year or maybe next year.

    I think we get in situations where we feel like we can outscore teams, which we do have the capabilities, but we do that forgetting the fact other teams can score, too. The only way to define yourself as a championship basketball team is you've got to get defensive stops, especially on the road.

    What I'll say is this I respect his consistency. Never missing a game in 31 years, that's something.

    It felt better just putting on that jersey, and at the end of all this just coming out with a win. That's what this is all about.

    When we get our minds to playing defense, we can turn any game around. I hope we get to a more consistent level of play.

    It's not too many other players in this world who can do what he does at the level he does it. He has an impact on a team with his presence alone. He doesn't have to score a point and he can impact a team. His presence increases the level of any team. He's worth every dime he gets.

    It's an unfortunate circumstance. But if I had to pick a time to get injured, I'd have picked this time, before we go into the post-season.

    Once my doctor began treating my kidney disease, my greatest challenge was the constant exhaustion. Fortunately, my doctor explained that anemia was causing my exhaustion and that people with serious illnesses, like kidney disease, may be at increased risk for anemia.

    When I saw his height and the potential he had, I knew good things were going to happen. If he stayed two more years, he'd be the first pick in the (NBA) draft.

    I hate to use excuses, but... I haven't been able to do anything for five weeks. I'm a step off. The good thing about it is that I won't have any setbacks by playing. The doctor said the only way for me to get it stronger is to play.

    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.

    Did you see me play last year OK, enough said. I'm not sick. There's nothing wrong with me. If I couldn't play this game at a high level, I wouldn't be here. So don't question my abilities. Please don't do that.

    I'm going to have a long conversation with Stu. He was once a player. He knows the intensity in the playoffs. I thought he would have made better judgment in his decision.

    I'm sure these two years have given him some time to reflect and think differently. But at the same time, I know we'll get into some intense situations on the court. And if we're not playing up to our potential, we're going to see the old Riles.

    He would hit me and I wouldn't even be looking and I would fumble the ball. Now I keep my eyes on him all the time, because there's no telling when it's going to come.

    You play this game to provide for your family, No. 1. After that, it's about winning. ... We're in good hands.

    Everything is just falling into place. I do feel great. I feel good, thank God. I'm very, very appreciative of this opportunity that I have. And I play the game like I'm appreciative, because I truly am. I know a couple years ago, I didn't think I was going to be able to do this again.

    Does this game matter coming up You're damn right it does. It does matter. It matters a lot to us, but we have to continue to focus on getting better.

    The effort that we put forth, it's not his fault. He put the guys in that he trusted, that he thought would get the job done.

    There were a lot of people that contributed to my success as a person as well as a player. Without those people, I wouldn't be sitting in the position that I'm sitting in today. I think that it's extremely important for people to realize all of the things that other people do for them.

    You can hardly touch a guy. If anybody has any athletic ability and quickness, with the first step he's going to get to the basket. They don't want you to touch guys on the dribble. I remember when I came into the league, you could touch guys. You can't do that anymore.


    I've been around for nine or 10 years with him. You never ever know what he's going to do, so you can expect anything. Hey, as long as we're collecting wins when he's doing it, that's all that counts.

    I want to live 50 more years. I'm 33 years old... and I want to live to at least be 80 and see my kids grow up and see my grandkids. That's important to me.

    I've got to worry about Alonzo Mourning, because a year or two ago there was a chance that Alonzo Mourning wouldn't be standing here talking to you. That's the cold reality of it.

    Sometimes you are going to ruffle some feathers and things are going to be said that initially they wouldn't have said to you, but it is all about business. Once you get to the level of understanding that, then hey, it is no hard feelings.

    I was hurting. I had some ailments I was dealing with. It's not like I was holding out.


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