Palm Beach Post Staff Writer HOLLYWOOD, FLA.
&mdash In the Heat's team picture almost nine years ago, two of the tallest and strongest players were centers Alonzo Mourning and Brian Grant. But before the 2000-01 season began, Mourning was found to have kidney disease, an ailment that led to a transplant three years later. He played until a knee injury ended his career in December 2007. Grant, who played four seasons with the Heat, retired during training camp with Boston in 2006. Just this week, at age 37, he revealed that he is suffering from Parkinson's disease. "He definitely has my support," Mourning said Thursday, "and if he ever needs anything to get him through this process, I'm there for him. "He's a fighter. If he takes the attitude he had on the court, he's definitely going to get through this."
Grant had to step in for Mourning as the Heat's center when Zo's illness was diagnosed upon his return from the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.