NBA: Alonzo Mourning had prostate removed and is now cancer-free

FILE–Alonzo Mourning attends Haute Living Honors Their Haute 100 Miami With A Preview Of Queen Miami Beach at Queen Miami Beach on January 25, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida. Romain Maurice/Getty Images for Haute Living/AFP (Photo by Romain Maurice / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

MIAMI — NBA legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning has told ESPN that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had his prostate removed earlier this year.

Mourning, now an executive with the Miami Heat, said his prostate was removed in March and that he is now cancer-free.

He told ESPN that he intends to now be an advocate for men to get regular blood tests as part of their screening for prostate issues.

The American Cancer Society says prostate cancer is the second-most common type of cancer among men, after skin cancer. Prostate cancer will be the cause of death in about 1 in every 44 men, the group said.

Mourning had a kidney transplant in 2003, then returned to the NBA and helped the Heat win a championship in 2006.