[steviechillzParticipant]

STAT is officially retiring and announced his retirement in a Press Release with the Knicks! Amar’e signed a one-day contract w/ the Knicks today to get this done…he six-time all star was quite the enigmatic player…what will you remember most about him?

[benny15Participant]

 stephon marbury pick n roll with amare and dunked on olowokandi as a rookie

[BleedGreen808Participant]

Anybody else surprised he asked to retire with the Knicks and not the Suns?  When I think of Stat I remember of those Phoenix teams with Nash, Diaw, Bell, Barbosa.  

[steviechillzParticipant]

In all seriousness, I do believe Amar’e holds a grudge against the Phoenix Suns for not believing in him. They thought his production was mainly due to the greatness of Steve Nash, which is why he left AZ for NY and that crazy(at the time) $99.7 million dollar contract he got. But to his credit, his first season there was probably his best season and he somehow made New York relevant again. The combo of Raymond Felton, Danillo Galanari, Wilson Chandler, and Amar’e was tough to beat. He was getting MVP votes, and everything was going well until NY management decided to swing for the fences and give up a whole lot for Melo. STAT’s numbers his first season in NY: 25.3 PPG 2.6 APG 9.1 RPG 2 BPG

[BleedGreen808Participant]

 I remember the Suns were also concerned with his history of knee problems.  They didn’t want to give him a fully guarenteed deal but the Knicks were willing to.  I can understand why he would hold a grudge but they weren’t wrong about his body breaking down.  

I liked that Knicks team and you have to wonder how good they could have been if they didn’t gut the team for Melo midseason.  He could have been added in free agency to join Stat, Felton, Wilson Chandler, Gallo, and Mozgov.  

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

 I don’t blame the Suns. Believe the Knicks medical staff said he has at best five good years left with his knees before they took him anyway. I’m paraphrasing. But it was known he had degenerate knees.

[HayatoKanzaki1Participant]

 In My opinion, the best Suns were the 04-05 Suns (Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Quentin Richardson, Joe Johnson, Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa) While they were beat in the first round of the playoffs that year, If they stuck together I’m sure they would have at least reached the conference finals. 

[HayatoKanzaki1Participant]

 In My opinion, the best Suns were the 04-05 Suns (Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Quentin Richardson, Joe Johnson, Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa) While they were beat in the first round of the playoffs that year, If they stuck together I’m sure they would have at least reached the conference finals. 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Don’t know Stoudemire and haven’t heard this so I’m just kind of projecting but could it be that Stoudemire just wants to retire a Knick because its New York, its a big market and in some way that might impact "his brand"

I don’t know, he just seemed like a guy that would rather play in a big market – kind of like Melo – even if it meant sacrificing success. 

Tell you what though…him and Nash were a hell of a pick n roll duo and it feels like that combo almost on its own brought back pick n roll basketball. Now every single team basically runs nothing but pick n roll…maybe I was young and I never realized it but I don’t remember teams being as reliant on pick n roll before Nash and Stoudemire brought it back. 

Always thought Stoudemire was overrated because of Nash and D’Antoni’s system but you can’t deny how effective he was playing in that structure. He was terrific and was very good in his first year with the Knicks before they went all Knicks on the bit and effed it all up by trading for Melo. 

 

 

 

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

 Prime Amare was the greatest pf force in the league during his time. He could drop 30pts on anyone even against the elite’s. It didn’t matter who he was playing against. 

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

He also played alot of C in his prime, I always considered him the best offensive center in the league during his prime.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 A hall of fame talent that would of been first ballot had injuries not significantly killed his production

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 As a Suns fan it feels like a slap in the face. He was disappointed in the Suns for not fully guaranteeing his contract but the fans in Phoenix were not mad at Amare at all, there was no jersey burning or resentment. He should be retiriing a Suns for the fans. Lets also not forget it was the Suns medical staff that gave him the opportunity to get that 100mil.  Aaron Nelson and his staff were known to be the cream of the crop in the NBA and dealing with multiple microfacture knee surgeries and still getting him that contract? Hope Amare at least hooked up those guys. 

[r377Participant]

Loved the Suns v Spurs playoffs

[Mr. JewboyParticipant]

 I remember when the Suns got Shaq in the middle of the season, Amare just dominated that season. When healthy (even with two bad knees) he was a scoring machine. Maybe best big man scorer in his 5-6 years along with Nowitzki.

Just loved seeing him play. So strong, athletic and great touch

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

Nash and amare were the most devastating pick and roll combo since Stockton and Malone. That 2005 season was just so much fun, as that team literally came out of nowhere and took the league by storm. Stoudemire was an absolute freak of nature in those days, before the knee problems. He was just relentless attacking the basket, had a great touch and a ridiculous motor. If I remember correctly he averaged something like 37 a game against the spurs in the 2005 playoffs, even though they lost the series.

Amare may have been the first player I can remember to successfully return from microfracture surgery and legitimately get back to a superstar level of play. He never really fully regained the freakish athleticism and explosiveness he had pre-surgery, but he was still a monster and compensated by actually improving his overall skills. Up until 2011, he was clearly one of the elite pfs in the game.

Amare was also the first high school player to go straight to the NBA and win rookie of the year. Overall, he had a pretty successful career and was a trailblazer in a lot of ways. If not for the knee problems, it’s likely we’d be looking at a hall of famer for sure. However, as it is, im not sure he accomplished quite enough to get in. 

 

[David..PaulsParticipant]

 SteveChillz-

 they didn’t want to sign him to a huge contract due to inury concerns. They never quetioned his talent in Phoenix, but he does hold a grudge there for sure. 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Sad that STAT has decided to retire at only 33 years old but he wasn’t the same player after 2011 possibly 2012 and it must have been disheartening for him still the right side of 30 to perhaps feel he had played his best basketball. Injuries sadly took their toll and for someone who relied on his athletic ability rather like a later career T-Mac he didn’t have a B-game good enough to prolong his career or re-invent himself.

His knees had a lot of injuries down the years, he has made a lot of money so it is probably not worth him playing on and risk issues in later life.

I’ll be interested to see if any team does come calling around play off time to see if he wants to hop onto a roster,a lot will depend if he stays in serious shape or not.

As a Suns fan – thanks for the memories STAT and all the best with the rest of a long and happy life.

 

 

 

[cabbycabParticipant]

 Huge fan of Amar’e.  I remember listening to an interview by a Suns assistant coach during his rookie year.  He said that he could tell opposing veteran players were intimidated by this rookie.  

I’ll remember STAT as a dunking machine and he developed a reliable jumper rather quickly in his career. Incredible combo of speed and power. 

 

[TyroberParticipant]

 The Suns were one of the biggest reasons I got into basketball. I wore a PHX Suns hat for years because watching Nash, Amare, and Marion out there was something special. Amare was one of my favorite players and I hate that injuries robbed him of a longer career.

[McDunkin]

My pops still resents him not going to his hometown team Memphis out of high school

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

 I know it’s always tricky playing what if scenarios. But I always wonder what would have happened had he gone to Memphis. He probably would have dominated his freshman season (given that he was NBA Rookie of the Year) and been a top prospect in that loaded 2003 class.

I still feel like Cleveland would have selected home town phenom Lebron at #1 but I think that Detroit would have probably taken Amare at #2 over Darko.

Even without Dantoni and Nash I think he would have been an All-NBA talent in Detroit. Maybe not quite as productive offensively but would possibly have become a better defender given his physical tools and the coaching and players around him. With that supporting cast I think they would have won another couple of championships besides 2004.

Probably 2005 whent they barely lost to the Spurs in 7 games. Maybe 2006 when they were upset by eventual champions Miami in 6 games in the ECF after a dominant 64 win regular season. Also maybe in 2008 when they lost to eventual champions Boston in 6 games in the ECF after 59 regular season wins. 

Adding Stat to that front court of  Ben and Rasheed Wallace, with Tayshaun Prince locking down opposing wings and Billups and Rip Hamilton in the backcourt might have put that Detroit team over the top in those three series’ 

They might have gone down in history as a dynasty and Stat as a legend. 

 

[kobedagoatParticipant]

 Amare will propably play next year for Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel (Where he is a shareholder).
Come visit to watch him play !

 

[kobedagoatParticipant]

And he is still playing (2020) !
In Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Israel

[Author]

Posts