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Mourning rejoins Nets after kidney transplant
Alonzo Mourning will try to revive his career with the New Jersey Nets after a kidney transplant but guard Jason Kidd may be sidelined until December because of a knee injury, it was announced on Wednesday. Mourning, a seven-time All-Star centre, will take part in the Nets 2004-05 training camp in a comeback bid, said Nets chief executive Rod Thorn. "We look forward to Alonzo joining the Nets in training camp," he said. "Hopefully he will be able to resume his career and play at the high level he has in the past." Mourning, 34, suffered renal failure last November and was forced to leave the game to undergo a kidney transplant. He had played in 12 games with the Nets, averaging 8.0 points and 2.3 rebounds. He believes he has recovered enough to contribute to the Nets this season. "I am feeling great and am excited about attending training camp and possibly resuming my career," he said. According to a report in the New York Post, Kidd, 31, may not play until December following left knee surgery he underwent two months ago. Kidd, who completed his third season with the Nets, missed 15 games with a bone bruise and sore left knee. He averaged 15.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 9.2 assists in 67 games last season. He led the league in assists for the fifth time and in triple-doubles with nine. Mourning left the Miami Heat and signed a four-year, US$22 million contract with the Nets last July despite missing the entire 2002-03 season with a kidney disease. But a return to vigorous physical activity caused rapid deterioration of his kidney function, according to Columbia University kidney specialist Dr Gerald Appel. In 2000, Mourning was diagnosed with focal glomerulosclerosis, a disease that causes chronic kidney failure within a decade in more than half of the people diagnosed. Mourning played 88 games over the next two seasons, but was unable to perform any longer at an All-Star level and the Heat sunk in the standings.After sitting out the 2002-03 campaign, Mourning received medical clearance to return and signed with the Nets because he wanted to play for a championship contender. The second overall pick in the 1992 draft, Mourning played his first three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets and the next eight with the Heat. He averaged 20.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in those 11 seasons and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. |
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