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PRE-NBA
Young Zo
College
Years
Charlotte
NBA Rookie
All-Star Reserve
Superstar
Miami
Heat
First
Season
61 Win Season
Suspension
Master of Rejection
Defensive Expert
Medical Defense
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The Charlotte Hornets drafted Alonzo Mourning with their number 2 overall selection in the 1992 NBA Draft. With Larry Johnson, Hornets’ fans expected one of the best young frontcourts in the NBA.
In Mourning’s rookie season he averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.47 blocks per game. Mourning, along with the number one 1992 NBA Draft pick, Shaquille O’Neal, were the two unanimous selections to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team. After only 49 games in Charlotte, Zo had become their all-time leading shot-blocker.
On April 16, 1993, Zo made his presence known by scoring 36 points and
grabbing 22 rebounds against Detroit, in only 28 minutes. With Zo in charge,
Charlotte gained their first franchise playoff birth since entering the
league as an expansion team in 1988. Charlotte faced Boston in round one and
led the series 2-1, but was about to lose game 4, which would send Charlotte
to Boston for the decisive game 5. Knowing it was now or maybe never,
Mourning hit an unforgettable 20-foot shot at the buzzer to win the series,
3-1. Although Mourning averaged 23.8 points per game during the playoffs,
Charlotte lost 4-1 to New York in round two.
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