Mourning’s Surgery Deemed Successful

The Miami Heat reported on their team website that backup center Alonzo Mourning underwent successful surgery Thursday after tearing the patella tendon, as well as the quadricep tendon in his right knee. The surgery was said to have taken 2 hours and was performed by team doctor Dr. Harlan Selesnick at a Coral Gables, Florida hospital. Mourning suffered the injury Wednesday night during the game in Atlanta between the Heat and the Hawks. The 15 year veteran who has played 11 seasons with the Heat, was trying to keep Mario West for scoring a layup for the Hawks. Mourning’s knee gave way as he crashed to the ground writhing in pain. A stretcher was brought out to the court, Mourning was put on it, but then sat up and a couple of his teammates helped him make his way to the Miami bench. Michael Lissack speaking for Miami said an examination was held at the arena, and the torn patella showed up on X-rays.

The Heat in their release Thursday said that no time table has been set for Mourning’s return but he will miss the rest of the season. Lissack, when he first spoke to the media on Wednesday night said that the typical recovery time for the injury was 3 months, however at that time only the patella tendon was known to be torn. Possibly the quadricep tendon being torn , may have added time to the recovery process. Another factor is that Mourning will be 38 years old in February, young in most professions but would be perceived as “aging” in professional sports. There is a very real possibility, that the veteran has played his last NBA game. Mourning of course battled with injuries through the first half of the decade, as he played just 13 games in the 200-2001 campaign, and 12 games in 2003-2004. The Hawks ended up winning the game in overtime defeating Miami 117-111.