New York Knicks: The Brightest Stars from the Darkest Age

5) Amar’e Stoudemire

Getting Amar’e to sign on the dotted line instead of the likes of LeBron James was like hoping for an XBox 360 for Christmas but instead getting a $5 used DVD from the bin at Walmart.  But the truth is that Amar’e’s $100 million contract wasn’t too far off from what he was worth, and more importantly, he put it all on the line for a failing franchise in a city that chews up and spits out stars, with only shells of their former selves remaining.  He doubled down on the Knicks for his legacy, without any assurance that other superstars would follow him … that was more than his contemporaries can say. He put up huge numbers, played with heart and despite his unfortunate injuries, he embodied what it means to be a Knick.