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Alonzo Mourning: Many people are biased because they love the way the game was played back then, but change is good. People need to embrace change. Change is good, and I think one of the biggest catalysts of that change has been Stephen Curry. I think he really revolutionized the game of basketball for us, stretching the court, really opening up the court, and so many teams kind of follow suit with those Golden State Warriors teams. And how well they played in such a long period of time and like I said, Steph Curry was pretty much the catalyst.
Now the hope is the same for his son, nicknamed Sky Khi, who measured in with a 35.5-inch max vertical and 30.5-inch no-step vertical at the G League combine in Chicago last week. Like father like son has been a Heat door of opportunity for years. Among those who have received. Heat tryouts over the years or have been given opportunities with the Heat’s G League affiliate have been Trey Mourning, the son of former Heat center and current team executive Alonzo Mourning; Anthony Mason Jr., the son of late former Heat forward Anthony Mason; Juwan Howard Jr., the son of former Heat forward and assistant coach Juwan Howard; and James Caron Butler, the son of current Heat assistant coach Caron Butler.
The odds aren’t on the Miami Heat’s side, but the Heat hopes luck is on its side this weekend. The Heat enters Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago (3 p.m., ABC) as the 13th lottery seed after missing the playoffs this season for the first time since 2019. The Heat will be represented by current team executive and former player Alonzo Mourning on stage during the televised portion of the unveiling of the lottery results, with Heat assistant general manager Adam Simon working behind the scenes at the actual lottery before the picks are announced to the public. “Listen man, I like to think I bought the team good luck,” said Mourning, who will serve as the Heat’s lottery representative for the fourth consecutive time after also doing so in 2019 (Tyler Herro), 2017 (Bam Adebayo) and 2015 (Justise Winslow). “Hopefully my representation will help us bring another franchise pillar for the organization. The draft is an opportunity for us to get that next player that we can grow and develop. That next piece.”
The Heat at Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at Kaseya Center will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise’s first championship, won in 2006. Expected in attendance for the night, which will offer a halftime presentation and other game elements of commemoration, are 2006 Heat champions Earl Barron, Michael Doleac, Udonis Haslem, Jason Kapono, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, Wayne Simien, Dwyane Wade, Antoine Walker, and Dorell Wright. Fellow Heat 2006 champions Jason Williams, James Posey, Derek Anderson and Shandon Anderson will not be in attendance.
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Tim Reynolds: Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware tonight ... -- 3rd set of Heat teammates with at least 12 rebounds and 3 blocks in a game (PJ Brown and Alonzo Mourning in 1998, Terry Davis and Rony Seikaly in 1990). -- 29 rebounds, ties their most in a game -- 7 blocks, their most in a game
One group of stars will represent the Miami Heat and the other the Orlando Magic, wearing the official NBA uniforms of both teams. As an added attraction, legends from both NBA franchises will be present at the celebrity game as part of the coaching staff that will lead each team. For the Heat, Alonzo Mourning and Glen Rice will be joined by Carlos Arroyo. Meanwhile, the Magic’s celebrities will be joined on the sideline by former All-Star Nick Anderson and former National Team center, José “Piculín” Ortiz.
Of Mourning, Arison said: “Zo became the foundation of Heat culture. Zo, your work ethic, your toughness became the blueprint for everything we wanted to be. No NBA team has made more playoff appearances than the Miami Heat since Zo arrived in Miami 30 years ago. Zo’s impact has extended beyond the court and he has become a pillar in the South Florida community.” Arison then called Wade “the greatest player in Miami Heat history.” “Dwyane, thank you for the three rings and for giving us so many unforgettable moments,” Arison added. “No matter where life takes you, you’ll always be Heat family.”
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“My first words to him were, ‘Welcome and let’s get to work,’” Mourning recalled regarding his first conversation with Ware after the Heat took him with the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft. “And I told him, I said, ‘You have the potential to be one of the greatest players in Miami Heat franchise history. You have that potential. But you got to put in the work.’ And that’s how we started off the conversation. “He’s done just that. You think about how he started the season and how he ended it, he’s made incredible strides. So if we can continue to see that type of progress, then we’re on our way as a franchise.”
“We noticed the physicality of the game affected him a lot, it really did,” Mourning said, looking back at Ware’s rookie year. “I could name several games where he got moved a little bit too easily at that center position. He got moved around a couple times and he just has to get a little bit more comfortable with his body from that perspective. “But outside of that, his shot is there and that’s improving and we just need him to be an ultimate defensive force in that paint, especially utilizing his length and athleticism. He can be a phenomenal defensive force. But again, his body has to get stronger. Once his body gets stronger, he’ll get a little bit more confidence in some of the things that he’s capable of doing.”
The Housing Trust Group developed this $37.4 million housing community for seniors in partnership with AM Affordable Housing, a nonprofit founded by NBA Hall of Famer and Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning. "Being able to have a safe environment where they can age with dignity is extremely important," Mourning said.
Jorge Sierra: Draymond Green tied Alonzo Mourning in playoff blocks for No. 21 in NBA history. Jimmy Butler passed Paul Pierce in playoff steals for No. 30 all-time.