EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- While Jason Kidd will open the season on the injured list for the New Jersey Nets, center Alonzo Mourning will be on the active roster less than a year after getting a kidney transplant.
Kidd, who had surgery on his left knee in July, was placed on
the injured list on Monday along with two other players.
The All-Star point guard just started running on Monday, and has
not practiced with the team.
"He came here and shot, and then his rehabilitation was at
noon," said Lawrence Frank, who will begin his first full season
as coach on Wednesday when the Nets open at home against Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat.
Frank said there is no timetable for Kidd's return.
"This is going to be a long process," Frank said.
The Nets also placed center Jabari Smith (left ankle sprain) and
Awvee Storey (left ankle sprain) on the injured list.
Center Kyle Davis, who did not play in the Nets' eight preseason
games, was waived.
The moves mean that Mourning will be in the lineup, probably in
a backup role to Jason Collins.
The 34-year-old Mourning appeared in a game for the first time
since the transplant on Thursday night, scoring 12 points in 19
minutes.
"It is going to be a process," Frank said of Mourning. "We
have to keep things in perspective. He is 11 months removed from
Dec. 19, his kidney transplant."
Mourning has made great strides, Frank said, adding that he was
"shocked" that Mourning was able to play 19 minutes in his first
game. "At the same time, you can't go from zero to 150. Every day
he keeps getting better and that's what we are looking at."
Mourning will face a major test on Wednesday going against
O'Neal, who is one of the biggest players in the league.
Frank has not set a time limit on how much Mourning will play.
He intended to use the seven-time All-Star eight to 10 minutes on
Thursday and he played twice that amount.
"We all support Alonzo in getting out on the floor," Frank
said. "The game does not discriminate, in the sense that once he
steps on the floor he understands the risk involved and, as a
coach, I understand the risk involved. That doesn't mean we don't
care any less about him. The guy is such a special individual, but
at the same time we all assume the same risk. You are going to do
what's best for him and, what's more important, best for the
team."