A player is presented with a fork in the road. By them, or by the team that employs them, a career-defining decision is made, forever irreversible. The ending of one path and beginning of another, a player has met their crossroads. - #alonzomourning Thanks for watching! Thumbs up, leave a comment, share. Alonzo Mourning Full Highlights 1995 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference First Round Charlotte Hornets vs Chicago Bulls Game 4 - May 4, 1995 United Center Alonzo - 20 pts, 13r, 3a, 4b, 2s / 3-7 fg, 14-16 ft Selected 2nd overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1992 NBA Draft, Georgetown product Alonzo Mourning spent his first 3 seasons in teal. With debut averages of 21.0 ppg, 10.3 reb and 3.5 blk, he became just the 3rd player since blocks were made an official stat in 1973-74 to average 20 and 10 with at least 3 bpg as a rookie, joining fellow league-newcomer Shaquille O’Neal and Spurs’ big man David Robinson. Helping the Hornets to a franchise-best 44 wins, Zo was rewarded with an All-Rookie First Team nod, and placed 2nd to Shaq in Rookie of the Year voting. Following consecutive All-Star campaigns, Mourning and the Hornets found themselves unable to complete the terms of a contract extension amidst the fall months of 1995. A new labor agreement between the players union and league was reached in September, one that greatly diminished restricted free agency. Restrictions on player movement had been lifted and players with early termination options had more freedom. Alonzo’s original 7-year contract included an “out” after his fourth season. If not for the newly ratified agreement, Charlotte could have matched any offer Mourning received during the 1996 offseason. Their star center had refused the team’s previous proposals in the $10-11 million per year range and made vocal his intention to sign a deal providing north of $13 million annually. With Larry Johnson’s 12-year contract worth $84 million already in place, the Hornets struggled to meet Zo’s wishes. Restricted free agency no longer in play, Charlotte couldn’t afford to let him walk following the completion of 1995-96. Newly-appointed Heat head coach Pat Riley initiated Miami’s interest in trading for the big man. Possessing the assets to acquire and ultimately keep him long term, Mourning expressed no objections. On November 3rd, day one of the regular season, Alonzo was traded to the Heat in a 6-player transaction. The South Beach franchise inked him one year later to the massive amount he desired, $105 million over 7 years. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-04-sp-64760-story.html?_amp=true https://www.apbr.org/labor.html - All footage is property of the National Basketball Association (NBA). No copyright infringement is intended.