Los Angeles  - In the end, Alonzo Mourning chose his health rather than another comeback, and the seven-time All-Star centre officially retired Thursday.

"That's what it's all about, it's my health," Mourning said during a press conference at Miami's American Airlines Arena. "My health is more important than anything.

"So many of us take it for granted, underestimate it until something seriously happens to us. I've gone down with something seriously physically happening to me, and I can surely appreciate my health at this particular state that I'm in right now."

Mourning has not played since suffering a torn patella tendon in his right knee and a torn quadriceps in the same leg during a game against Atlanta on December 19, 2007.

"I'm able to walk, I'm able to run, and I'm able to chase after my kids without a limp," he said. "God willing, I'll be able to live another 40 or 50 years, and I want to do it in a comfortable state. Right now I'm there."

A former two-time NBA defensive player of the year, Mourning made a comeback after undergoing a kidney transplant in 2003 and was rumoured to be attempting another return. Doctors, however, told the 38-year-old that he would not be able to recover from the devastating knee injury.

Mourning, who was a member of Miami's 2006 championship team, says it is a not a sad day but happy one for him.

"There are a million people who would have loved to walk the path that I walked the past 16 years," he said. "The ups and the downs, that's what made it even more joyous."

During his 15 NBA seasons, Mourning, the second overall pick in the 1992 draft, averaged 17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.81 blocks, while shooting 52.7 per cent from the floor in 838 games with the Heat, Charlotte Hornets and New Jersey Nets.

In more than 11 seasons with Miami, Mourning leaves as the franchise career leader in games played (593), points scored (9,459), minutes (17,700), free throws made
(2,558) and attempted (3,896), offensive rebounds (1,505), defensive rebounds (3,302), total rebounds (4,807) and blocked shots (1,625). (dpa)