Alonzo Mourning, who was forced to miss the 2002-03 NBA season with a kidney ailment, said doctors have given him clearance to resume playing next season.

Mourning did not say whether he definitely planned to return, but told Sporting News Radio on Tuesday that doctors have given him "the thumbs-up to possibly go out there and play the game again."

"Up until September, they'll continue to monitor my body chemistry to see if I will be able at that time to play,'' Mourning said. "But right now, they're giving me the thumbs-up to play.''