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Mourning plans to return to NBA Heat next season
MIAMI (AFP) - Alonzo Mourning, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2003,
will return to play for the Miami Heat next season in a bid to capture an
elusive National Basketball Association championship. "We feel his decision to come back is going to be critical toward our success and goal of winning an NBA championship," Heat president Pat Riley said. "He deserves to be part of this championship run." Mourning will again serve as a backup to star center Shaquille O'Neal. Last season he managed 7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 37 games. "I am very excited about returning to the Heat this season and I remain more committed than ever to bring a championship to Miami," Mourning said. All-Star guard Dwyane Wade suffered a hip injury with Miami one game from reaching the NBA Finals, but the Heat lost the Eastern Conference finals in seven games to Detroit. Diagnosed with focal glomerulosclerosis in 2000, Mourning missed most of that season and all of the 2002-03 campaign with the disease. New Jersey signed Mourning as a free agent in July 2003. Five months later, he had a kidney transplant and missed the rest of the season.
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