It seems the Stat Era is over. It was announced today that Amar’e Stoudemire is signing a one-day contract with the New York Knicks and end up retiring as a Knick. He ended up playing for fourteen years from 2002 to 2016. He played for the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and finished up last season with the Miami Heat. He was a six-time All-Star, five time All-NBA, 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year, and 2002 NBA All-Rookie team.
What didn’t make sense was why the Knicks? I am aware the Suns threw him out of Phoenix and the Knicks signed him to an insane deal. As a Knicks fan, it makes no sense because he didn’t do anything major for the Knicks in his five years of being a member. When he signed with the Knicks in 2010, he was the second option. What people forget was that was the summer when Lebron James left the Cavaliers the first time and the Knicks were in the running. When he ended up signing with the Miami Heat during “The Decision.” During his time in NY, they had one winning season and made the playoffs that year. By the time his time was winding down in NY, Knicks fans wanted him out of the picture.
When I think about Amar’e, I think of his time in Phoenix. I think of his early career when Steve Nash was there, and the Suns were a tough team. I am scratching my head to why he picked to retire as a Knick. He didn’t have a good time in New York, and I am surprised. Good luck to Amar’e in his post-NBA career.