JBOMB Basketball Blog

USAToday.com reports that Alonzo Mourning, retired Miami Heat Center, has been announced as one of three recipients of 2009 National Basketball Hall of Fame‘s “Mannie Jackson Basketball’s Human Spirit Award.” The other two recipients are Ken Hudson, NBA Observer of Officials, and Bob Lanier, former 8-time NBA All-Star.

As a player, Alonzo Mourning is well known for his tenacity in defending the basket. He was picked 2nd by the Charlotte Hornets in 1992 NBA Draft, behind the Orlando Magic’s Shaquille O’Neal. He won NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards on 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 NBA season. He was undergoing a kidney transplant and make a comeback that later earned him his first and only NBA Championship title with the Miami Heat (source: Wikipedia)

The award, which ceremony will be held on September 11, 2009, honours ballers who use the game to make changes in the communities. As in Alonzo’s case, he runs Alonzo Mourning Charities, as well as several community relations programs. He is also the spokesman for the National Kidney Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

‘Talk about good deeds! Kudos to the ballers who use their talent and resources to give back to the community.