Alonzo Mourning has been taking a risk. A huge risk. And he knows it.
But Mourning will look you in the eye and tell you with all sincerity that he is, first and foremost, a basketball player. Even though he is living and working with a transplanted kidney, it always comes back to basketball. So he has taken his initial steps toward a comeback . . . without the padding he's supposed to be wearing to protect the organ.
"I've been just in and out, some possessions. But to tell you the truth I'm taking a risk now, because I still don't have my protection. So anything can happen as far as a blow to that area," Mourning said yesterday.
While Mourning is simply doing what he's done his entire life, every day he goes without the padding – for which he was fitted three weeks ago – puts his doctor on edge.
While the Nets could certainly use Mourning – they were easily pushed around by the Knicks Thursday – he's unsure how long it will be before he's game-ready.
Mourning compared himself to an infant learning to walk. If his comeback is to be complete, one day he'll just play. But his body is re-learning the whole process.
When the Nets signed veteran point guards Jacque Vaughn and Travis Best over the summer, Zoran Planinic became determined to win it back. "Last year, I took things for granted," he said. "I didn't deserve it and I took it. This year everything I want to be deserved." Planinic started preseason opener, but Frank will probably try different combos tonight in Albany against the Celtics.