Ewing Offers a Kidney to Mourning

MIAMI (AP) â€” Patrick Ewing has offered to donate one of his kidneys to Alonzo Mourning if the ailing Miami Heat center ever needs a transplant. <br><br>``You know I will always be there for him,''

Wednesday, November 8th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) â€” Patrick Ewing has offered to donate one of his kidneys to Alonzo Mourning if the ailing Miami Heat center ever needs a transplant.

``You know I will always be there for him,'' Ewing said Tuesday after a shootaround in Miami. ``If my kidney matches, I'll be happy to donate one. If it comes down to that. He knows that.''

Mourning has a common but serious kidney disease that is forcing him to miss this season. It is not yet known whether he will need a kidney transplant.

Ewing and Mourning both played at Georgetown and remain close friends despite their fierce NBA battles. They work out together during the offseason, and Ewing is the godfather to Mourning's newborn daughter, Myka Sydney.

They spoke Monday when Ewing arrived in Miami and planned to spend time together Tuesday night at Mourning's home.

Ewing said he and Mourning have not approached doctors, nor have they gone through any tests to determine if the former New York Knicks and current Seattle center would be a match for Mourning.

Mourning's kidney disease, focal glomerulosclerosis, initially will be treated with medication but could eventually require dialysis or a transplant. The disease was discovered during a routine physical after Mourning returned from leading the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in Australia.

``I haven't even talked to the doctors yet, but I'm just saying if it comes down to that, if we match up, I'll be happy to give him one,'' Ewing said.

Seattle plays Miami on Wednesday night.