Hall of Famer and Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning recently shared a revealing story about a pivotal moment in his NBA career when he had the opportunity to team up with his former Georgetown teammate, Patrick Ewing, on the New York Knicks. However, he ultimately took a different path after receiving unexpected advice.
Speaking on The OGs Podcast, Mourning recalled a career-altering decision in the mid-1990s. At the time, he was a rising star with the Charlotte Hornets and was expecting a lucrative contract extension, especially after the team had just rewarded Larry Johnson with a major deal. However, Hornets owner George Shinn had other plans.
“The owner, George Shinn, had paid LJ. And I was next up. My agent told me, ‘I can get you this deal with five different teams. You just have to choose where you want to go.’ I said, ‘No, I want to stay in Charlotte.’”
“David Falk [Mourning’s agent] said, ‘I don’t think Charlotte’s going to pay you that number.’ I told him I’d even take less money to stay. So we started talking with George Shinn, and his exact words were, ‘You’re not worth that.’”
Alonzo Mourning #33 of the Miami Heat reacts after a basket in the second half against the Dallas Mavericks
The conversation with Ewing
With his future in Charlotte in doubt, Mourning reached out to Ewing, hoping for some insight—maybe even an invitation to join the Knicks. But Ewing had a different response.
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“When [Shinn] told me that, I knew I had to leave. During that process, I reached out to Patrick. I asked him about playing under Pat Riley. I said, ‘I heard his practices are tough, man.’ And Pat was like, ‘Boy, you went to Georgetown. As hard as our practices were, you ain’t gonna be intimidated by that.’”
“Then I told him, ‘Patrick, I had a chance to come to New York and play with you.’ And he was like, ‘Nah, I don’t want you here. Go to Miami.’” Alonzo said. “That sealed it for me. That was the deciding factor. I spoke with [Georgetown coach] Big John and Patrick, and they both told me to go to Miami.”
The best decision of his career
Mourning ultimately joined the Miami Heat in 1995 and became the face of the NBA franchise. Over 11 seasons with Miami (across two stints), he averaged 16.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. He was a seven-time All-Star, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year (1999, 2000), and a key pillar of the Heat’s culture under Pat Riley.
He later returned to Miami in 2005, playing a crucial role off the bench during the Heat’s historic 2006 championship run—the first title in franchise history. Looking back, Mourning’s decision to follow Ewing’s advice and take his talents to South Beach proved to be one of the best moves of his Hall of Fame career.
