Amar'e Stoudemire walks off the court during game four of the 2016 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. (Photo : Getty Images/Streeter Lecka)
Amar'e Stoudemire announced his retirement from basketball on Tuesday, July 26 as a member of the New York Knicks. According to the latest rumors, Stoudemire wanted to play one more season for the Suns but the Phoenix front office was not interested.
"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," Stoudemire said in a statement, via ESPN.
The six-time All-Star signed a one-day contract with the Knicks to officially retire as a member of the team. He signed with New York in 2010 and leading the team to three straight playoff appearances before being slowed down by injuries.
Many fans were surprised that Stoudemire retired as a member of the Knicks and not with the Suns. He made his name in Phoenix wherein he spent the first eight season of his career. He was the 2003 Rookie of the Year, beating Yao Ming and Caron Butler.
The 33-year-old also became a five-time All-Star with the Suns compared to just once with the Knicks. According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 Phoenix Radio, Stoudemire wanted to play one more season with the Suns but his former team was not interested in signing him
Hearing Amare wanted to come back to Suns for one final season. Suns weren't interested so could be reason he retired a Knick.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 26, 2016
Phoenix is currently on rebuilding mode and giving an injury-riddled, 33-year-old player a contract is not part of their plan. It would have been better if they just handed him a one-day deal to officially retire as a Sun, instead of a Knick.
However, it does not matter since the majority of basketball analysts and fans believe that Stoudemire will always be a Phoenix Sun, AZ Central reported. He was picked ninth overall by the Suns out of high school in the 2002 NBA Draft.
STAT went on to become one of the best power forwards of the mid-2000s until injuries derailed his once promising career. He had playoff battles with the likes of Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki. He left Phoenix in 2010 because the Suns were unwilling to increase guaranteed money in his $100 million deal.
In eight seasons with the Suns, Stoudemire averaged 21.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 blocks in 516 games played. On the other hand, he averaged 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals in five seasons with the Knicks. He also played for the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat.
Check out the video below for the Top 10 plays of Stoudemire's NBA career.
