SEATTLE (Ticker) -- After learning that the career of center Alonzo Mourning is over, the New Jersey Nets commence a five-game Western Conference road trip Tuesday night when they face the Seattle SuperSonics.
On Monday, the Nets revealed that Mourning will soon need a kidney transplant and will no longer be able to play professional basketball.
The 33-year-old Mourning signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Nets in July after missing the entire 2002-03 season with a kidney disease. He played in all 12 of New Jersey's games this season and averaged 8.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 17.9 minutes. But a return to vigorous physical activity has caused "rapid deterioration" of his kidney function, according to Columbia University kidney specialist Dr. Gerald Appel.
Without Mourning, Jason Collins and Aaron Williams will play the pivot.
The Nets are trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season. On Saturday, Kenyon Martin had 26 points and seven rebounds for the Nets in an 81-80 setback to the Toronto Raptors.
Martin reportedly scuffled with Mourning at practice last Thursday. Mourning apparently took exception to a remark about his health from Martin and both players had to be held back.
Nets point guard Jason Kidd sat out Sunday with a sore left knee, but is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday.
Seattle is 1-2 on its current four-game homestand after Sunday's 88-85 win over the Washington Wizards. Vladimir Radmanovic scored nine of his 25 points in the final 3 1/2 minutes as the SuperSonics came back from a five-point fourth-quarter deficit.
The teams have split two meetings in each of the last three seasons, with the home team winning each.
