MIAMI -- Alonzo Mourning, still stinging from the Miami Heat's first-round loss in the playoffs, was the winner in voting for NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
"Those individual awards just sit on my mantelpiece and collect dust," Mourning said. "I'd trade all that to be playing now."The Heat center was a lopsided choice for the honor Wednesday, three days after his team's season ended against the New York Knicks. Mourning received 89 of a possible 118 votes in balloting by a panel of sports writers and broadcasters from the United States and Canada.
Atlanta's Dikembe Mutombo, winner of the defensive award three of the previous four seasons, was second with 10 votes. Seattle's Gary Payton, who won it in 1995-96, was third with six votes.
"It's a tremendous honor, and one that I feel is deserved," Mourning said.
He had the best year of his seven-year career, anchoring a defense that allowed 84 points per game, second-lowest in the league. The 6-foot-10 center led the NBA in blocked shots with 3.9 per game, blocking at least six shots 10 times.
Mourning also averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds while shooting .511 from the field.
Against New York, Mourning had by far the best series of any Miami player, averaging 21 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.