New York Knicks: How We Should Remember Amar’e Stoudemire
Amar’e Stoudemire chose to retire as a player for the New York Knicks. When looking back, how should we remember his career with the Knickerbockers?
According to ESPN reporter Ian Begley, Amar’e Stoudemire signed a one-day contract with the New York Knicks and officially retired as a player for the organization.
Stoudemire spent eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns, four and half years with the Knicks, a half-season with the Dallas Mavericks and one year with the Miami Heat. In his 14-year career, he earned six All-Star invites, one with the Knickerbockers.
Related Story: Stoudemire Signs Ceremonial Deal With Knicks, Announces Retirement
The now-retired center-forward, spoke glowingly about his decision to join the team after opting out of his contract with the Suns after the 2009-10 season and the organization’s direction going forward in statement to ESPN:
"I came to New York in 2010 to help revitalize this franchise and we did just that. Carmelo [Anthony], Phil and Steve have continued this quest, and with this year’s acquisitions, the team looks playoff-bound once again. Although my career has taken me to other places around the country, my heart had always remained in the Big Apple. Once a Knick, Always a Knick."
The new Knicks fans won’t understand this, but Stoudemire made it cool to play at Madison Square Garden again. Before he arrived, New York failed to win 40 games in the previous nine seasons, only reaching the postseason once in that span.
Stoudemire left the team that drafted him (the Suns) and one of the best passing guards in league history, Steve Nash, for New York. He signed a five-year, $99 million to play for a team in the ruins, reuniting with former head coach Mike D’Antoni. Immediately, the juice came back to Madison Square Garden.
In Stoudemire’s first year with the team, during the 2010-11 season, he earned a starting spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team—the first player to accomplish this feat in a Knicks uniform since Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing.
A few days after the All-Star game, the Knicks executed a trade to acquire forward Carmelo Anthony, who looked forward to joining forces with Stoudemire to bring the team back to prominence.
It’s fair to ask the following question. Would Anthony have forced his way out of Denver to play in New York with such haste without Stoudemire already playing a huge role in the frontcourt?
Stoudemire essentially initiated the bustle back in the Big Apple. As he mentioned in his retirement statement, the quest to put the Knicks back on top continues with the current regime and Anthony as the centerpiece.
When it comes to Stoudemire, many fans will remember the goggles, explosive dunks and red wine baths, but he meant much more to the organization’s rejuvenation. His first three seasons with the team came with playoff appearances, albeit with Anthony’s help.
Although the Knicks have dropped below .500 for the past three seasons, Anthony carries the torch that Stoudemire initially lit with his decision to go east.
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As for the 14-year pro’s decision to retire with the Knicks as opposed to the Suns, it shows how much bringing prosperity back to the city meant to him. He took a huge step and likely sacrificed going to a winning team and chasing an NBA title. Instead, he chose to build in a tough market.
Despite the talk about all the games missed due to injuries, we must remember who chose the big city instead of a Big 3 in his prime. In today’s NBA climate where players chase rings, Stoudemire decided to help rebuild a proud franchise.