Who's The BEST

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Who's The BEST?!
Bareun Park Literatue of Sports and American
Culture Period 8
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Born Feb 8, 1970 Height 6-10  Weight 261
 lbs. College Georgetown Years Pro 13
Position Center Number 33 Team Miami
Heat Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the
1992 NBA Draft (second overall pick)
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About Alonzo

• Born on February 8, 1970 in Chesapeake, Virginia
• Full name is Alonzo Harding Morning, Jr.
• Nickname is Zo
• Attended Indian River High School in Chesapeake
  Virginia
• Played for Georgetown University Hoyas
• Currently married to Tracy with a son, Alonzo
  Mourning III (Trey), and a daughter, Myka
  Sydney
• Founded Alonzo Mourning Charities (foundation
  that supports abused and neglected children)
• Formed Zos fund For Life (effort to raise four
  million dollars for kidney research and help aid
  families that cannot afford it)

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More About Alonzo...

• Honored with the Outstanding Community Service
  Award in 2003
• Named NBAs 2002 Good Guy by The Sporting News
• Named Hometown Hero by the Florida Sports Award
  in May of 2002
• His wife Tracy founded Honey Shine (mentoring
  program for girls)
• During 2000-2001 season, Mourning was diagnosed
  with focal segmental glomerular sclerosis, a
  kidney disorder which caused him to miss first 69
  games of the season
• On December 19, 2003 Mournings cousin, Jason
  Cooper, donated his left kidney to him

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Career High Lights

• NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2000, 1999
• All-NBA First Team 1999
• All-NBA Second Team 2000
• NBA All-Defensive First Team 2000. 1999
• NBA All-Rookie First Team 1993
• NBA All-Star 2000, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1995
• NBA Champion 2006
• Won bronze at the 1990 World Championship with
  the US Team
• Won gold at the 1994 World Championship and the
  2000 Olympic Games with the US Team

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More Highlights...

• NBA Champion 2006 with Miami Heat
• Mourning was the only high school player invited
  to the 1988 Olympic Trials (The nations top high
  school player)
• At Georgetown University Mourning led the nation
  in blocked shots and graduated as the all-time
  Division I leader in rejections
• As a senior at GU, Alonzo averaged 21.3 points,
  10.7 rebounds, 5 blocked shots per game
• First player in Big East Conference to earn
  Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the year,
  and Tournament Most Valuable Player all in one
  season

• As a rookie, Mourning averaged 21.0 points and
  10.3 boards
• Posted highest scoring average of any rookie in
  Hornets history
• Mourning, alongside of ONeal, became the first
  NBA rookies since David Robinson to average 20
  points and 10 rebounds in first seasons

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Career Statistics
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P.R.A.B.S.T

• PRABST is a formula or equation that analyzes
  each individual player statistically using the
  players averages to create a final score used to
  rank the players
• P R 2A B 2S 2T
• P Points
• R Rebounds
• A Assists
• B Blocks
• S Steals
• T Turnovers
• According to the PRABST equation, Alonzo Mourning
  would have a career score of 27.6

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PRABST Rankings
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Critique

• The PRABST is an equation that is used to rank
  individuals strictly through a statistical
  matter. The equation does not measure leadership,
  humbleness, self-presentation, etc. As precise
  and accurate the equation is, it is impossible to
  derive the best player of the NBA this way.
  Numbers do mean a lot but its more than numbers
  that makes you who you are in the NBA.
• The top ranked players consist of James
  (43.66), ONeal (41.84), Iverson (41.58). There
  is no doubt that these top 3 players are stars of
  the NBA. But stars such as Steve Nash, who is so
  graceful on the court, ranked towards the bottom
  of the list. Ranking players in such a way
  eliminates other important factors such as style
  of play and personality. Gilbert Arenas and
  Carmelo Anthony who are currently the leading
  scores of the NBA did not rank as high as many
  people would expect, and players like Chris
  Webber who many people assumed retired ranked
  5th. A major factor plays in the career averages.
  Arenas and Anthony are fairly new to the NBA
  compared to Webber who has been in the league for
  the many years. It is not fair way to rank and
  assume which player is better. Kobe Bryant who
  may be the most known player only ranked 10th,
  and the average of most points scored in a game
  in the NBA comes nowhere near Bryants 81 points.
  PRABST is not reliable to rank players.

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Critique Con't

• Alonzo Mourning ranked 3rd to last in the
  PRABST rankings but was clearly much better. From
  seasons 1992-1993 to 1999-2000 Mourning averaged
  21 points, 11.11 rebounds, and 3.11 blocks per
  game. He started every game he played with
  exception of 2 through 8 seasons playing 534
  games. All of his career highlights, except the
  2006 NBA Championship, occurred during those
  seasons. Before the season of 2000-2001 Alonzo
  Mourning suffered a severe kidney disorder which
  caused major damage to his career. From then on
  the NBA never saw the same Mourning ever again.
  Only playing 284 games and starting 171, he
  averaged 9.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.11
  blocks per game. But during the prime of Alonzos
  career, there is no question he was one of the
  top players in the league. His career highlights
  say it all. A very small handful of players can
  achieve what Mourning achieved.
• We also must take into account the type of
  person Alonzo Mourning is. He founded Alonzo
  Mournings Charities and Zos fund for Life. A
  heart like Alonzos is what creates a great image
  of an NBA player. His ability to bring that heart
  onto the court is what makes him special. The
  will to play is what separates him from the rest
  of the NBA players. His comeback to the league
  after his kidney transplant proved to everyone he
  belonged. Then winning a championship in 2006
  proved he was worthy enough to wear the ring.
• In the end, ranking players through PRABST only
  brings us to the conclusion of numbers. It cannot
  measure the influence any player has had to the
  NBA.