“We just put a saddle on the man and we rode him. Because he had it going, he had the utmost confidence, D-Wade at that particular time.” Previously, Alonzo Mourning explained how Dwyane Wade’s exuberant attitude helped the team win the championship in 06. It was the first ring for both players, one who began his career in 92, and the other who was a young gun from the 03 draft. Over the years, they have developed a bond that transcends the hardwood.
That’s why D-Wade was quick when it was time to appreciate the Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning. On his Instagram story, he shared with his 19.7 million followers, “Legacy! Proud of our big bro Zo!” From one Heat legend to another, this is a sign of respect. After all, Zo teamed up with Miami-based Housing Trust Group to build an affordable senior housing complex in Bradenton, Florida. The 55-year-old played in the league for over 16 years, and after helping his teammates on the court, it’s time to help older adults in society.
The complex opened its doors in May, and according to Business Observer, it cost $37.4 million to build. Despite the considerable investment, the cost of living is quite affordable. That was Mourning’s aim when he spoke about the project.
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“There’s a shortage of 7 million affordable housing [units] across our country,” Mourning said. “This shortage disproportionately affects certain groups: our seniors, people with disabilities, people of color [and] people that are serving our armed forces.”
To reside in Astoria on 9th, one must be at least 55 years old and earn at or below 22%, 30% or 60% of the area median income. The lowest rent is just $322 monthly, while the highest is $1,316. And with these rents, Heat Legend’s new project provides plenty of amenities.
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A clubhouse, a dog park, a fitness center, and a cyber cafe with a kitchen and bar. There are other programs for residents as well. Such as adult literacy training, and they are also provided with assistance with daily activities.
Zo’s help directly contributes to society, so appreciating him is the least people can do. That’s why Dwyane Wade made sure to share it. Speaking about sharing it, the two met during the Hall of Fame weekend in Springfield. Mourning even added a post from the event, with the caption:
“Always good seeing these two men @dwyanewade and @shaq . We’ve created a bond and some of the best moments in Heat History. Truly a blessing to share the floor with them both. #HEATNATION.”
3 members of the ’06 championship team, Shaq, D-Wade, and Zo, met with each other. Even in the post, Wade commented with love. “Love you Big Zo!”
Not just Dwyane Wade, but even Shaquille O’Neal credited Alonzo Mourning for his contributions in the championship
We all know O’Neal wanted to win a ring after leaving the Lakers to prove he was not reliant on Kobe Bryant. And betting on D-Wade to help you get there was not a wrong bet. After all, the Flash led the underdog Miami Heat from a 2-0 hole to win the championship. But Mourning’s contributions to the team have not been forgotten; even Big Diesel remembered them. Previously on his podcast, the 4x NBA champion stated, “I’m quick to brag about how I got four rings. I played terribly in the Finals; I was going through a divorce. This man saved my s—. That was not Shaq…You stepped up.”
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Scoring and dominating the finals are what many expected from Shaq. His numbers were 13.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest in six Finals games. Not bad, but a shadow of his previous exploits. On the other hand, Zo didn’t have stat sheet-dominating numbers, but in limited minutes, he left his mark defensively. In fact, in the final game of the series, Mourning, in 14 minutes, was able to block 5 times.
That’s why recalling the championship win once Zo said it was like successfully climbing Mount Everest. Let’s not forget that the 55-year-old once was the Heat’s all-time leading scorer as well– a total of 9,459 points in 11 seasons with the team. A year after his retirement, Dwyane Wade passed him as the Heat’s greatest scorer.