Stoudemire, 35, last played professionally in Israel in 2017.

ICYMI: @Amareisreal joins the guys in-studio to discuss everything from his time with the #Knicks to the evolution of Mike D'Antoni to the possibility of him making a comeback… enjoy!

https://t.co/1CrXeOT0QY pic.twitter.com/PThKSsikgn

— The Michael Kay Show (@TMKSESPN) May 23, 2018

STAT was named to six All-Star teams during a 14-year NBA career.

Per ESPN:

In an interview on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN 98.7 FM, Stoudemire said that he’s in great shape and training as if he were returning to the NBA.

When asked if it were accurate to say that he is contemplating an NBA comeback, Stoudemire said, “That would be reality.”

Stoudemire, who will play in Ice Cube’s Big3 basketball league this summer, averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in 846 career games over 14 NBA seasons. He played for the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Contemplating an NBA Comeback appeared first on SLAM.

Stoudemire will serve as a captain of the Tri-State team, alongside Jermaine O’Neal and Nate Robinson, per a source. An official announcement is expected later Wednesday.

Stoudemire spent fourteen years in the NBA, making stops in Phoenix, New York, Dallas and Miami. For his career, the big man averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

He last played professionally in Israel in 2017.

RELATED
Greg Oden To Participate In BIG3 Draft Combine

The post Report: Amar’e Stoudemire To Join BIG3 League appeared first on SLAM.

After winning the Israeli League championship this season with Hapoel Jerusalem, Stoudemire, 34, thinks he could provide “quality veteran leadership” to an NBA team.

Amar'e Stoudemire is the KING of Jerusalem, folks. Thousands here at his title celebration. pic.twitter.com/vNSEsnwR7b

— David Pick (@IAmDPick) June 15, 2017

Via the NY Post:

“To play and win a championship my first year there, I could just call it quits and leave as a champion.

 

“That could be an option. Another option is maybe to play with a team that needs quality veteran leadership here in the NBA. That could be an option.

 

“Or I could go back and defend the title for a back-to-back. I have time to think about it. Those are my three options.”

https://youtu.be/DXwMmbXQAQ0?t=14s

RELATED:
Amar’e Stoudemire Apologizes for Homophobic Comments

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Considering NBA Comeback appeared first on SLAM.

“I want to apologize for my offensive comments against the LGBT community. These remarks were taken from a larger interview where a reporter was asking me hypothetical questions, and all my answers had a comedic undertone.

 

“The answers I gave were meant to be taken as jokes & I am deeply sorry for offending anyone. I am open to creating a dialogue to assist the fight the LGBT community encounters daily and will continue focus on playing basketball.”

Stoudemire made headlines when the Israeli website Walla Sport asked about his reaction to potentially playing with a gay teammate. Stoudemire said he would “shower across the street” and “take a different route to the gym.”

Since he made the comments, gay former NBA players including John Amaechi and Jason Collins spoke out against Stoudemire.

THIS is what I think of Amar'e Stoudemire.#RoleModelFail @espn @LeBatardShow pic.twitter.com/43KuuJ27WL

— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) March 1, 2017

Very sad & troubling to think that @Amareisreal was just given this award. His homophobic comments have no place in sport or in our society. https://t.co/A81sTzItOi

— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins98) March 1, 2017

RELATED:
Amar’e Stoudemire on Potentially Playing With a Gay Teammate: ‘I’m Going to Shower Across the Street’

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Apologizes for Homophobic Comments appeared first on SLAM.

“I’m going to shower across the street, make sure my change of clothes are around the corner, and drive, take a different route to the gym.”

When asked if he was joking, STAT said:

“I mean, there’s always a truth within a joke.”

Stoudemire is averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds in 15 games played.

h/t Business Insider 

The post Amar’e Stoudemire on Potentially Playing With a Gay Teammate: ‘I’m Going to Shower Across the Street’ appeared first on SLAM.

The two combined for a series of monstrous dunks, including Blake’s now famous slam over Timofey Mozgov. Griffin finished with 44 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists while STAT dropped 39 points and 11 boards to lead the Knicks to a win.

Watch the unreal highlights above.

Related
WATCH: Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan Dunk All Over the Nets

The post Throwback: Blake Griffin and Amar’e Stoudemire Combine For 83 Points (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Stoudemire invited children from Israel, Ethiopia, Israelites from Dimona and Arab Israeli children to hopefully promote peace and unity. Check out the photos above from the camp.

The post Amar’e Stoudmire and Hapoel Jerusalem Host Basketball Peace Camp in Israel appeared first on SLAM.

Throughout his 14-year NBA career, it certainly was STAT’s mission to create as many posters as possible.

As a key member of the paradigm-shifting Phoenix Suns from 2004-08, and an MVP candidate with the Knicks in 2010-11, STAT proved that he was more than just a dunker.

He developed a reliable mid-range shot, and became a solid rebounder and rim protector.

With the news of Stoudemire’s retirement, we put together some of STAT’s craziest highlights from his time as a Sun and Knick.

Stoudemire spoke to SLAM about his retirement and place in NBA history. Check out the story here.

Other SLAM Mixtapes:
Dwyane Wade Miami Heat Mixtape (VIDEO)
WATCH: Devin Booker Rookie Season Mixtape
Stephen Curry vs Kyrie Irving Mixtape

Video by Meir21. Follow him on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

The post WATCH: Amar’e Stoudemire Suns/Knicks Mixtape appeared first on SLAM.

OFFICIAL: Six-time NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire joins Hapoel Jerusalem! https://t.co/tAEQWbLr9e #ShalomAmare pic.twitter.com/DVAKmcDy7R

— Hapoel Jerusalem B.C (@JerusalemBasket) August 1, 2016

Stoudemire, 33, announced his retirement from the NBA last week.

STAT has long been infatuated with Israel, and says he’s thrilled to play hoops in Jerusalem.

Per the AP:

Shortly after signing a five-year, $100 million contract with the New York Knicks in the summer of 2010, Stoudemire traveled to Israel to explore what he believed might be “Hebrew roots” through his mother, Carrie. Stoudemire has a Star of David tattoo and knows multiple Hebrew phrases.

 

“My interests in playing in Israel, at this moment that dream has come true,” Stoudemire said. “I’m now able to play for Hapoel Jerusalem. A team that I’m looking forward to playing with.”

 

“My wife and I always talked about living abroad and experiencing different cultures, and what better culture to experience for us than living in Jerusalem?” Stoudemire said. […] This isn’t Stoudemire’s first interaction with Hapoel Jerusalem. The 6-foot-10 forward was part of an ownership group that purchased the team in 2013. As part of his new contract with Hapoel Jerusalem, he will sell his shares to majority owner Ori Allon.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire to Play in Israel on Two-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

He mentioned Vince Carter. Someone brought up Julius Erving. He agreed on both. An MSG cameraman said that Amar’e was up there.

“Me, Vince, Dr. J?” Amar’e said out loud. “Top-3 posterizers? That’s pretty good.”

Pretty good doesn’t do Stoudemire’s rim assaults justice. His dunks were career-altering. Maybe even career-ending. His one-handed tomahawks were a thing of intense beauty. When he set picks for Steve Nash, defenders could’ve just let Nash shoot his awkward floaters. But they often decided to meet Stoudemire at the rim. They never learned.

Throughout his 14-year NBA career, STAT had 1,593 dunks, a number that ranks second behind only Dwight Howard between 2002-2016. It was Amar’e’s mission to create as many posters as possible.

“I’m getting bodies every game,” he said after his presser at Madison Square Garden.

But he can’t pick a favorite. There were just too many.

The former ninth-overall pick was able to choose a specific moment in his career that pushed him closer to retirement than people may realize. In October 2005, right before the season started, Phoenix Suns doctors found out the All-Star had a severely damaged left knee. They operated after a few weeks of trying to treat the knee. On the Knicks podium in 2016, STAT said the injury, surgery and recovery was a pivotal moment in his career.

“I felt like giving it up,” he said.

Eleven years after the injury, his voice still carried the weight of it. “I felt like saying I’m done with the game of basketball.”

His passion pushed him through, though, and he said that was the moment he truly realized how much he loved the game.

After that he outplayed Tim Duncan in the 2007 playoffs. Even though the Spurs won the series and eventually the title, Stoudemire announced his arrival as more than a dunker in that playoff series.

“Outplaying Tim Duncan in the playoffs is not an easy task,” Stoudemire said. “This guy is the greatest power forward to ever play the game and at that moment I was willing to take the title. I wanted to become the best. Those moments and those games were fierce battles. Extreme focus. Supreme determination. It was truly a remarkable experience.”

He put the League on notice. He had began to develop a deadly midrange jumper. His help side defense was getting better by the game. He stepped up as a leader and a reliable clutch performer, and he was still putting people in the rim.

Before he left Phoenix, STAT helped guide the Suns to the Western Conference Finals in 2010. Over 16 games that postseason, he averaged 22 points a night. The game he flashed in 2007 was now fully developed and the Knicks were watching.

In his first Knicks press conference, he famously declared “the Knicks are back!” It didn’t really work out on the court the way he and the Knicks wanted it to, but when it comes to the Blue and Orange, it’s absolutely all love for Amar’e.

“When I first signed with New York, that experience goes unmatched,” Stoudemire said. “The red carpet was laid out, the doors were open. I didn’t pay for any meals. It was a dream come true.

“We started playing well,” he continued. “Everyone in Madison Square Garden really standing up and yelling MVP chants. I was scoring 30 points every night, 40 points here. That run was probably the most exciting time of my career.”

A career that saw him make six All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams. It saw him become a $100 million man. It saw him establish himself as an on-court force and an off-court favorite.

And now Amar’e Stoudemire is done with the NBA. He’s taking the poster dunks and catch-and-shoot middies over to Israel, in what he calls a “spiritual journey.” He said he’s healthy and ready to bring a EuroCup title to Hapoel Jerusalem, his new squad. He and his wife, Alexis, are going over to Jerusalem next week to find a home and schools for their kids.

But before Amar’e wrapped up his final NBA press conference, he sat on the podium in front of a few remaining reporters and asked out loud who the best posterizers in NBA history are. His name was thrown in there. He was okay with that.

The post Standing Tall appeared first on SLAM.

Reports are circulating that STAT will join Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel. Stoudemire is part owner of the team. Amar’e is holding a press conference in New York tomorrow (August 1) and is expected to officially announce the decision.

In 2014, the 14-year NBA vet told the New York Post that “it would be great” to play in Israel after he’s done in the League. ““We’ll see,’’ he said. “You can’t rule anything out. The future is unknown and so if I have an opportunity to [play in Israel] and am still in great health, it would be great. I have one more year left on my deal and we’ll go from there.’’

The big man identifies as “culturally Jewish” and observes Jewish holidays. He has spent time in Israel in the past.

More from David Pick and the Jerusalem Post

Amar'e Stoudemire agreed to deal with co-owned Hapoel Jerusalem to become best-ever NBA star in Israel. https://t.co/FbRb03vzPJ

— David Pick (@IAmDPick) July 31, 2016

Hapoel Jerusalem is confident of signing Stoudemire, who has an ownership stake in the club since the summer of 2013. The 33-year-old forward has said in the past that it would be “great” to play for Jerusalem and Hapoel owner Ori Allon has always hoped he could convince him to come to Israel.

 

Stoudemire claims he has Jewish roots on his mother’s side and has visited Israel in the past. He is set to arrive in the country once more next week as part of the joint initiative between the Omri Casspi Foundation and NBA Cares, the league’s global community outreach initiative, aimed at presenting Israel in a positive light across the world. Jerusalem is hoping to make the most of the opportunity and officially unveil Stoudemire while he’s in the country.

The post Report: Amar’e Stoudemire To Play In Israel Next Season appeared first on SLAM.

The Suns, according to STAT, felt differently.

Amar'e Stoudemire talks about why he retired as a Knick, his Suns memories and how "I bleed purple and orange." https://t.co/cRzEaGDwoz

— Paul Coro (@paulcoro) July 28, 2016

Stoudemire and his reps reached out to the Suns about signing one final contract, but they were rebuffed.

Full statement on Amar’e Stoudemire’s retirement.

» https://t.co/5x729NJ1So pic.twitter.com/P59mroaaUW

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 26, 2016

The 33-year-old ended up inking a ceremonial contract with the New York Knicks and retiring.

Per the AZ Republic:

“The last two years, we made phone calls to Phoenix but I wasn’t getting any positive response,” Stoudemire said on Thursday. “That would’ve been the perfect way to go out. I didn’t want to beg Phoenix. My heart was in two places – Phoenix and New York. I just went where I was wanted.”

 

This summer, the Suns drafted power forwards Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss and then signed Jared Dudley, Stoudemire’s former Suns teammate, to be their starting power forward. […] “They brought back Jared and Leandro, my boys,” Stoudemire said. “That would’ve been a heck of a way to finish. I wasn’t just going to keep knocking on someone’s door that wasn’t going to answer. I love my fans in Phoenix. Most of my high times and highlights were in Phoenix. I put forth the effort to finish my career in Phoenix but it wasn’t well-received.”

 

Stoudemire, 33, has not ruled out playing professionally in a foreign league, perhaps in China or Israel, but he said he already has enjoyed how retirement will give him more time with his wife, Alexis, and their four children and for new surprising endeavors. […] “I’m at peace with it because I gave everything that I had,” Stoudemire said. “It took a while. The game is such a beautiful game. I was truly in love with it but there were no teams who needed my position.”

Related
WATCH: Top 10 Plays of Amar’e Stoudemire’s NBA Career

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Wanted to Retire as a Phoenix Sun appeared first on SLAM.

Previously:
Blake Griffin, Hometown Hero? (VIDEO)
Russell Westbrook On The Move (VIDEO)
NBA Finals Heat Up (VIDEO)
The Finals Preview (VIDEO)
The Final Countdown (VIDEO)
Sixers Hit the Lotto (VIDEO)

The post SLAM Week In Review: STAT Says Goodbye (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

We also ask Lang about the Russell Westbrook saga, the Warriors, Team USA and if Amar’e Stoudemire is a Hall of Famer. #atlshawty.

Hit play above to check it out, and be sure to subscribe and rate on iTunes and follow us on SoundCloud.

Previously:
Episode 7: Cliff Robinson
Episode 8: Schea Cotton
Episode 9: Eric Devendorf
Episode 10: Drake/Raptors Issue Preview
Episode 11: Atiba Jefferson
Episode 12: Kendall Gill
Episode 13: Kenny Anderson
Episode 14: Muggsy Bogues
Episode 15: Finals Talk, Free Agency and Kevin Durant Free Agency
Episode 16: Been a Minute, But We’re Back
Episode 17: Jadakiss

The post Respect the Game: The SLAM Podcast Episode 18 appeared first on SLAM.

Stoudemire, 33, announced his retirement earlier this week.

The six-time All-Star played for four teams, winning Rookie of the Year honors and pulverizing defenders anywhere near the hoop until his knees betrayed him.

Per the AP:

Stoudemire retired Tuesday after signing a contract with the Knicks with much less fanfare than the $100 million deal he inked six years ago to halt the team’s downward spiral.

 

Still just 33 years old but with knees that hadn’t been healthy in years, the 6-foot-10 forward asked team president Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills to add another signing to the ones they hope will lead to the first playoff berth since Stoudemire left. […] “I came to New York in 2010 to help revitalize this franchise and we did just that,” Stoudemire said. “Carmelo (Anthony), Phil and Steve have continued this quest, and with this year’s acquisitions, the team looks playoff-bound once again.”

 

Stoudemire was the No. 9 pick in the 2002 draft and averaged 21.4 points in eight seasons with the Suns, teaming with point guard (Steve) Nash to help them become the NBA’s most potent offense. Stoudemire had just led the Suns to the 2010 Western Conference finals before joining his former coach there, Mike D’Antoni, in New York. […] “As the 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year and a five-time All-Star during his time in Phoenix, Amare’s eight seasons with our franchise provided some of the most exciting Suns basketball this city has ever seen,” the Suns said in a statement.

The post WATCH: Top 10 Plays of Amar’e Stoudemire’s NBA Career appeared first on SLAM.

See what former teammates Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin and Wilson Chandler had to say about STAT.

Previously:
NBA Players React To Tim Duncan’s Retirement
NBAers on Wade-To-Bulls

The post NBA Players React To Amar’e Stoudemire’s Retirement appeared first on SLAM.

Known as STAT (short for Standing Tall and Talented), Amar’e was drafted straight out of high school by the Phoenix Suns in 2002 and won Rookie of the Year. Stoudemire played eight seasons with the Suns and was known as one of the more ferocious dunkers in the League. In the summer of 2010 he signed a 5-year, $100 million contract with the Knicks.

Saddled by knee and eye injuries throughout his career, STAT struggled to stay healthy in New York, but did make the All-Star team in 2011. He was let go from the Knicks in 2015 and finished his career with stints in Dallas and Miami.

Over 14 seasons Stoudemire averaged 18.9 points, 7.8 boards and 1.2 blocks per game.

The Knicks released the following statement:

NBA great Amar’e Stoudemire announced his retirement as a player in the National Basketball Association today, after signing with the New York Knickerbockers for his final contract in the league.

 

“I want to thank Mr. Dolan, Phil [Jackson] and Steve [Mills] for signing me so that I can officially retire as a New York Knick,” Stoudemire said. “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.”

 

“For parts of six years, Amar’e Stoudemire was the face of the New York Knicks franchise because of his excellence on the court and his dedication to our community and our fans across the world,” Mills said. “When Amar’e asked us to retire as a Knick, we were honored to oblige.”

 

In 14 NBA seasons, Stoudemire averaged 18.9 points (15,994 total) and 7.8 rebounds (6,632) in 846 career games for Phoenix, New York, Dallas and Miami. In addition to six NBA All-Star berths, he was named to five All-NBA Teams (two first teams, three second teams) and was the 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year. In international competition, Stoudemire represented the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens and at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas. As a member the Knicks, Stoudemire averaged 17.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in 255 games and helped win the 2012-13 Atlantic Division title. From Nov. 28-Dec. 15, 2010, Stoudemire broke the franchise’s 48-year record held by Willie Naulls by scoring 30-plus-points in nine consecutive games.

 

A pillar of the New York-community and an important member of the organization, Stoudemire was a major participant in Garden of Dreams Foundation events and also organized an annual staff holiday meal to feed over 1,000 employees to show his appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Retires After 14 Seasons appeared first on SLAM.

Oh, and Kyle Lowry’s reaction was pretty perfect:

The post WATCH: Bismack Biyombo Posterizes Amar’e Stoudemire appeared first on SLAM.

AS: So speaking of the Suns… Everyone talks about how Steve Nash and Mike D’Antoni helped revolutionize the NBA and create the offenses we see now, especially with the Warriors. But do you feel like people sometimes forget how dominant you were in some of those years?

 

Amar’e: “You know what? I do. A lot of people have forgotten how dominant I was. We created this new type of basketball that Golden State’s playing. When you have dynamic point guard like Steve and a finisher like myself, it makes the game so much easier. But I do think that a lot of people have forgotten how dominant I was.”

 

AS: Yeah, I was looking at your playoff numbers earlier… You were averaging 25 and 12 in 2007… You put up 38 and 12 on Tim Duncan in Game 6 of that Spurs series… How often do you go back to that series?

 

Amar’e: “Well, there’s been a few Spurs series. The one that you’re speaking of… you know, I always went into every game trying to apply my dominance. Every game. When the playoffs came around, that team, the Spurs, seemed to bring out the best in me. I was able to maximize my potential.”

The post Amar’e Stoudemire: ‘A Lot of People Have Forgotten How Dominant I Was’ appeared first on SLAM.

Here’s more from the New York Post:

Amar’e Stoudemire, reflecting on his five-year Knicks career, said he wished his past coaches had used him and Carmelo Anthony more strategically, believing they could have blossomed.

 

Of course, his chronic knee issues were part of the reason the Stoudemire-Anthony connection did not lead to great things.

 

Stoudemire, now a member of the Heat who missed Monday’s game against the Knicks with the flu, also weighed in on last season’s disgrace, saying not enough players bought into the triangle system.

 

But before that, Stoudemire said he and Anthony wanted to run more pick-and-rolls in the two-man game but couldn’t get the coaches on board, probably referring to Mike D’Antoni and Mike Woodson.

 

“I don’t think we had enough opportunities to play together,’’ Stoudemire said in the Heat locker room Monday. “I moved to the bench and [became the] sixth, seventh man. When I was in the game, Melo, he was out of the game and vice versa. When we did play together, we showed some flashes of what we could do on the pick-and-roll.

 

“I don’t think that pick-and-roll offense between Melo and I was ever taken advantage of, which we could have. The way he shoots the ball, handles the ball from the outside and the way I attack the rim, it could’ve been a pretty good combination. I don’t think the coaching staff at the time really bought into that.’’

 

The Stoudemire-Anthony pairing never got past the second round of the playoffs in four springs together.

 

“At times we could’ve taken advantage of our opportunity a lot more,’’ said Stoudemire, who missed 110 games in his time with the Knicks. “It wasn’t up to Melo and I. It was up to the coaching staff to figure that part out. We could never get the right system to figure that part out.’’

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Says Ex-Knicks Coaches Misused Him and Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

(Or, perhaps, it’s just the wine talking.)

STAT inked a one-year deal with the Miami Heat this summer, and says his body feels so good that he thinks he can regain his All-Star form.

Stoudemire, 32, is coming off season averages of 11.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in 59 games split between the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.

Per the AP:

So getting acclimated to being part of the Heat, that won’t be a big deal for the forward who will be entering his 14th NBA season — and first with Miami — when training camp opens in about a month. He knows many of his new teammates such as Wade, Bosh and Dragic. He knows the city, and most of all he thinks that he can rekindle the All-Star form he had not long ago. […] “We can be a really good team,” Stoudemire said. “No one thought that the Golden State Warriors would be champions this time last year. We knew they’d be a really good team, but no one thought they’d be world champions. With us, we know we’re a really good team. No one thinks we can be world champions, but you never know.”

 

For Stoudemire, while it won’t officially start for a few more weeks, prepping for 2015-16 in reality started long ago. He’s taking care of his body, but also said he believes that Heat President Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra have the right formula to both extend the careers of veteran players while also getting the best from them. […] “From playing against Miami, the thing that you learn is that they always have a competitive spirit,” Stoudemire said. “There’s an aura around here that everyone works hard, that you have to be in top shape which is great because I want to be in the best shape of my life going into this season. I want to surprise the world and have a very, very productive year.”

 

But he’s played in only 200 games (out of a possible 312) in the four years since, and still isn’t entirely certain what his role will be with the Heat. […] “Just four years ago I was an MVP candidate and an All-Star,” Stoudemire said. “I feel like I can still get back to that All-Star level of play. If I can achieve that, then that’s going to help the team in its entirety. … I will accept whatever the role is.”

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Looking to Reach All-Star Level of Play appeared first on SLAM.

More from ESPN:

Amar’e Stoudemire has joined the Miami Heat, agreeing to a veterans minimum contract for one year at $1.5 million.

 

Stoudemire, a six-time All-Star, posted a photo of himself signing the contract on Instagram.

 

Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement that Stoudemire “is going to bring gravitas, leadership and a hardworking mentality to our team.”

The post Heat Sign Amar’e Stoudemire To 1-Year, $1.5 Million Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Amar’e Stoudemire has been fined $15,000 by the NBA for verbally abusing an official and not leaving the court in a timely manner after he was ejected from the Dallas Mavericks’ last game.

 

The NBA announced the fine Saturday, a day after Stoudemire’s automatic ejection for getting two technical fouls in the Mavericks’ 112-101 home loss to Memphis.

 

Midway through the third quarter, Stoudemire disputed an offensive foul with referee Scott Foster and was assessed two technical fouls. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle also received a technical from Foster during that stoppage of play.

 

After the game, Stoudemire said he had ”never received two techs that quick in my career.”

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Fined $15K For ‘Verbally Abusing an Official’ appeared first on SLAM.

Amar’e Stoudemire ripped into his new teammates for their horrid effort against the Cavs, saying he “came here to win.” (Nice jacket, STAT!)

Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle took the blame for his team’s play — Dallas is now 11-12 since Jan. 29, and on the outside looking in when it comes to Playoff seeding.

Per the Dallas Morning News:

“We didn’t come out with the aggressiveness or the focus or the determination that we needed,” Amar’e Stoudemire said. “We didn’t compete. We’re not playing like champions. And they took advantage of that. We were making mistakes that second-year players, rookie players make in this league. We should know better than that. This is a team that’s competing for a championship that we played against. We should have accepted the challenge of competing against these guys. And we backed down.”

 

Was there a lack of effort? […] “I saw a lack of everything out there,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “And I’m taking the blame. After the first quarter it was our worst performance of the year, just flat out. We just did a horrible job. I’m taking full responsibility for what happened the last three quarters. It’s a horrible job of coaching these guys and preparing them. Forty-one points in the second quarter, too many breakdowns, too many lack of concentration mistakes that are just normally beneath who we are. But it’s on me. I’m sick to my stomach about this.”

 

“I came here to win,” Stoudemire said. “We’re 3½ games (4 1/2 actually) out of being out of the playoffs, which is unacceptable. We got to find a way to refocus and key in to the details. We can’t cheat the game. We can’t screw around in shootarounds and practice and joke around all the time and figure we’re going to win games. It’s the highest level of basketball. We got to act that way.”

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Calls Out the Mavs for Poor Effort vs Cavs appeared first on SLAM.

Stoudemire finished with a 14 points and three rebounds in 11 minutes of action, as the Mavs held on for a 92-81 win against the visiting Charlotte Hornets.

Monta Ellis was the star of the night, as he pumped in a team-high 23 points with 15 of them coming in the fourth quarter.

Per the Star-Telegram:

After the pesky Hornets rallied from a 17-point deficit to inch to within 75-68, Ellis scored 15 of his team’s final 17 points over the last 6:42 of the game. And he assisted on the other two points when he fired a pass that Tyson Chandler converted into a flying dunk.

 

“We were stuck in the mud there,” coach Rick Carlisle said, referring to his offense. “We were having trouble scoring. Monta had a frustrating first three quarters, but he stayed with it and he found something that got us a little bit of traction. He put the ball in the basket four or five times in a row and that got the game sealed for us.”

 

“I felt a little winded at the end of the first quarter, but other than that I felt good,” said Stoudemire, who was 5 of 8 from the field and powered his way to three dunks. “I think when you’re playing with good basketball players the game becomes easy. It’s a matter of finding the right spots on the court to get open and take advantage of your opportunity and go for it.”

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Dunks on Jason Maxiell (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

O’Neal informed the hoops world via Instagram Monday night that he’s no longer seeking a contract in the L.

The 18-year veteran says his basketball future is murky at best.

But the best part of this process was walking out of the gym after every workout knowing that I could still play the game after 18 long years and hearing the teams that seen me workout all agreeing with that statement.

 

Every team that wanted me to sign are all championship contending teams and in order to except their offer i need to be 100% ready to go physically and mentally from the time that I sign that contract with no room for error beyond that point. I don’t feel like I’m at that position now with just 7 weeks of training and I’m not comfortable making that commitment at this point. The issue for me is timing and things feeling right. I’m a true believer of signs and listening and understanding life.

 

I’m not sure if there will ever be another time or not for me and basketball but what I do know at this moment is the time isn’t right for me to play now. But just know I gave everything I had these last 7 weeks and I greatly appreciate each and every one of you guys for the positive words of encouragement thru my process……

The post Jermaine O’Neal Calls Off NBA Comeback appeared first on SLAM.

STAT has agreed to sign with the Mavericks on a prorated veteran’s minimum deal for the remainder of the season.

The Mavs see Stoudemire as a good fit for their pick-and-roll heavy offense; the 32-year old six-time NBA All-Star also drew interest from the LA Clippers, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs.

Per ESPN:

Stoudemire, who negotiated a buyout with the New York Knicks over the weekend and was officially waived Monday, committed to the Mavs for the remainder of the season on Monday.

 

The contract will not become official until Stoudemire clears waivers on Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET, making him a free agent. His $23.4 million salary essentially makes the waivers process a mere formality.

 

The Mavs envision Stoudemire as a key bench player who will back up center Tyson Chandler and also see spot duty at power forward behind Dirk Nowitzki. He will provide the Mavs with a quality replacement for Brandan Wright, the high-efficiency reserve big man the Mavs gave up in the December deal to acquire Rajon Rondo.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire to Sign With the Dallas Mavericks appeared first on SLAM.

The team announced Monday that it has parted ways with the big fella, and according to president Phil Jackson, STAT asked to be released.

Stoudemire joined the Knicks in 2010-’11, and averaged 17.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in 255 games.

From the press release:

“Amar’e’s period as a Knickerbocker has come to pass, at his request. His time here should be marked by recognizing his effort – it was 100-percent,” Jackson said. “As we move forward in structuring this team, we will look for players that exhibit his desire to win.”

 

“Everyone here at the Knicks organization appreciates the contribution Amar’e has made to the team and the entire City of New York over the past five seasons,” Knicks General Manager Steve Mills said. “We have developed a relationship that has translated into a long-term friendship, and it will continue through the remainder of his NBA career, and beyond.”

 

“I feel truly blessed to have been able to play for the incredible New York fans, Mr. Dolan, my coaches, teammates and the entire Knicks organization for the past five years,” Stoudemire said. “I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to contribute positively on the court and in the community. Although I leave the Knicks with a heavy heart, I wish the organization the best of luck. Once a Knick always a Knick.”

The post New York Knicks Waive Amar’e Stoudemire appeared first on SLAM.

Amar’e Stoudemire’s days in New York are over but he could find a new home by the end of the week.

 

A league source told the Daily News that Stoudemire and the Knicks formally reached a buyout prior to Sunday’s All Star Game and that the six-time All Star, who should clear waivers by Wednesday, could be in a new uniform by the time the league resume on Thursday.

 

Several teams in the Western Conference are expected to pursue Stoudemire, who would be a solid addition to a playoff team as a reserve. The Dallas Mavericks have already been mentioned as a possible destination. Two others clubs in the West that could be in the running are San Antonio and Golden State.

 

The amount of the buyout was not immediately known on the remainder of Stoudemire’s $23.4 million salary for this season. Playoff-bound teams such as the Mavericks and the Clippers are expected to be in the market for help up front.

The post Report: Knicks Buy Out Amar’e Stoudemire appeared first on SLAM.

Photos via Getty Images

Previously:
Week of January 23 – February 5
Week of January 16 – January 22

The post NBA Photos Of The Week appeared first on SLAM.

A few months back, New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire raised eyebrows across the sports world by revealing that he regularly bathes in a tub filled with red wine.

STAT recently convinced an ESPN reporter to conduct an interview while the two of them splashed around in the good red stuff.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Interviewed While Taking a Red Wine Bath (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

The Dallas Mavericks would be considered front-runners to sign Amar’e Stoudemire if the 13-year veteran opts to pursue a contract buyout from the New York Knicks, according to league sources.

 

Stoudemire made it clear in his public comments that he’s not yet sure if he wants to seek a buyout from the Knicks to join a contender for the stretch run, but sources told ESPN.com that Dallas has quickly emerged as a prime landing spot if he becomes a free agent.

 

The Mavericks remain keen to sign Stoudemire’s fellow former All-Star big man Jermaine O’Neal, sources said, and are prepared to make the needed roster room to accommodate both O’Neal and Stoudemire should they become available.

The post Report: Dallas Mavericks Favorites If Amar’e Stoudemire Leaves appeared first on SLAM.

STAT, 32, assuming the perpetually-rebuilding Knicks (5-35) would even want him back, isn’t so sure that he’d be willing to play in Gotham any longer.

Stoudemire has posted averages of 13.1 points and 7.4 rebounds this season, but a troublesome right knee has sidelined him for the past nine games.

Per Newsday:

“It’s a very difficult situation at this point,” Stoudemire said before the Knicks practiced at Imperial College Tuesday. “It’s a hard decision for me to make because my loyalty has always been with New York and the New York Knicks. It would be tough right now to make the decision as far as going somewhere else at this point. It’s something I got to think about. I’m sure over time, I’ll think about the best scenario for myself.

 

“For now, I know I’ve been through injuries throughout my career, so I want to make sure I’m able to be strong enough and prepared to play for a team that’s contending for a championship. With New York, we’re trying to rebuild, so hopefully, that will be sooner than later.”

 

“We don’t have the best record in the league at this point, so you don’t want to go out there and hinder yourself for the future,” he said. “So you want to be very cautious about things and make sure I’m healthy for the rest of this season and also the future.” […] Knicks president Phil Jackson already started rebuilding last week, trading veterans J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert and waiving Samuel Dalembert. Jackson promised more changes in the next month.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Unsure of His Future With the Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

This can be incredibly frustrating for the owners of Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli, and it all came to a head when each of the four sat simultaneously against the New York Knicks this week at home. You could almost picture coach Gregg Popovich gathering his four essential players together the night before the game and, with a slight grin on his face, telling them that with the Knicks coming into town, it would really be a more interesting game for the home fans if they all just sat out.

Sure, Leonard and Parker technically sat out with injury, but they would have played if it mattered. As it turned out, the Spurs’ bench still put the hammer down on the Knicks. Games like this one demonstrate that if you do not own a Spurs star, they are a team worth paying close attention to for daily situations and short term plug and play options.

When Parker sits, Cory Joseph could put up a good line. If it’s Leonard or Ginobli sitting one out, players like Danny Green and Marco Belinelli are likely to take on a bigger role. Belinelli was the biggest benefactor against the Knicks, but the beauty of the Popovich system lies with its tendency to create a new hero on a game-by-game basis as needed. This quality that has made the Spurs so tough for NBA opponents wreaks havoc on fantasy owners from all angles. Is it really worth it?

Prior to this season, Leonard was projected by many experts to be worthy of a late first- or second-round pick. The reality is that he was never going to live up to those expectations (yet). To this point, he is averaging 31 minutes per game, and has only improved slightly upon his stats from last year (14.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2 spg). It is possible fans were expecting a transformation like the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George, who increased his scoring output by 10 points per game over the course of 2 seasons (12.1 to 21.7). George was given 36-37 minutes per game though, and Popovich continues to keep Leonard’s minutes down, employing a strategy of balance. Kawhi doesn’t get the benefit of nearly 40 minutes per game like Jimmy Butler in Chicago either, who has taken advantage and risen to an All-Star level statistically just as George did.

Leonard occasionally provides his owners with a glimmer of what he someday will be statistically, but his rise is coming within a process, and as a result we’ve seen an overall career low 46 percent from the field and 32 percent from downtown (compared to a prior 51 percent and 38 percent, respectively). This year, Leonard was simply not worth the draft position he had to be chosen at, but that isn’t to say he won’t be worth it in the future. He is going to be a force in the NBA Playoffs just like last year, and from a statistical standpoint there will be a larger leap from Leonard next season for fantasy owners. He might just be worth that same draft pick next year, combining one more year of development with one more year of aging from some of his teammates who are “older than dirt.”

Speaking of Duncan, it should be fairly obvious by now that the man could be a productive NBA player until he is 50 if he wanted to be. He is going to retire when he is ready, but as long as the Spurs are still a championship contender it’s hard to see it happening. The rest days will continue to be more prevalent than ever, and as a result, Tiago Splitter and Aron Baynes will see deep league value on a game-by-game basis. Owning Duncan will remain both a gift and a curse, as there’s a good chance he will hurt your team in the fantasy playoffs at some point. It is always a good idea to use up all you can get from Duncan before the trade deadline in your league, and then deal him for whatever talent you can get that can lead you to a fantasy championship. Statistically, he will push a double-double on the season yet again (15.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2 bpg) but it will all be for nothing if he sits during your most important match-up of the year. It has nevertheless been impressive to see such a lack of decline, as has been visible with the ever-competitive Kevin Garnett in Brooklyn (also 38).

A similar idea can be applied to Parker and Ginobli. The consistent Parker’s numbers sit at around his career average, though he is averaging a career-low 29.7 minutes per game and is on pace to miss close to 20 games this season, as he has done for the last three years. Wait for a hot streak, and deal him while he is in the midst of it. Manu has been a risky own for a long time, as Popovich has always liked him in a role with more limited minutes. He has averaged under 24 minutes per game the last three seasons, and while that keeps his trade value at nil, he can provide owners in deep league with decent bench support. In the end, everyone in the NBA knows that the Spurs are again a top contender for the Championship, and again a frustrating exception to the norm for fantasy owners.

Quick Bits

DeMarcus Cousins owners may be frustrated by his viral meningitis scare but have no choice but to wait it out, and no other Kings have stepped it up to the point of being viable for anything but deep leagues. There is talk that Carmelo Anthony may miss time to rest his knee, but there isn’t much to be excited about behind him (Andrea Bargnani is after all not close to returning). Amar’e Stoudemire continues to be the most surprising thing about the Knicks this year, and his minutes have been increasing. Joakim Noah is demonstrating why you can’t buy high following a statistical career year outside the norm, with the injury bug returning and an expected drop in numbers with the additions of Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol.

The Hawks’ Dennis Schroder continues to push for playing time, but it won’t come at the expense of Jeff Teague, who has only improved on last year’s career season thus far. Ricky Rubio will be out slightly longer than expected, which keeps Mo Williams on the radar for another at least another month. David Lee will be returning for the Warriors soon, but what Steve Kerr will do with him is a mystery, as the team has been rolling with Draymond Green at power forward. It’s possible Green ends up taking a major statistical hit after Lee becomes readjusted, an example of the fluid nature of player roles throughout the season.

Dan Hanna is SLAM’s weekly fantasy basketball columnist and a life-long Bulls fan. Follow him on Twitter @i_am_danhan. For advice on your fantasy team, post questions in the comments section.

The post Fantasy Basketball: The Spurs Conundrum appeared first on SLAM.

STAT put in a strong performance Thursday night, finishing with 18 points and 9 rebounds in the New York Knicks’ 90-87 loss to the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire With the Poster Dunk on Anderson Varejao (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

STAT blasted the refs, accusing them of awarding Harden freebies he didn’t earn, in the Rockets’ 91-86 win.

The Bearded One scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to snuff out the visiting New York Knicks.

Per the NY Post:

In a clear slap at the officiating, Stoudemire said: “It was like an angel came down and started calling calls for him. Down the stretch, I don’t see how he was getting those foul calls.”

 

Harden was 11-of-22 from the field and 7-of-7 from the line. He also had six assists, three steals, six rebounds and five turnovers. […] “I just knew I had to be aggressive,’’ said Harden, who scored five straight points — a 3-pointer and two free throws — to break a 82-82 tie with 3:40 left.

 

Stoudemire still took time to praise Harden, who heard “M-V-P’’ chants down the stretch as he shot free throws to seal the win. […] “James hit a couple of big shots and he pretty much carried their team tonight,” Stoudemire said. “The rest of the guys we pretty much had under control.”

The post Amar’e Stoudemire: ‘An Angel’ Gave James Harden His Free Throws appeared first on SLAM.

Stoudemire served as producer for the film, a music-infused drama that is written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the creator of 2000 hit-movie Love and Basketball. Stoudemire’s producer role evolved through his relationship with his agency, Relativity Sports. Relativity Media contacted STAT to gauge his interest in the project, and he went on to thrive in the position.

“The script was remarkable,” Stoudemire said. “There were so many underlying messages. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood covers a lot of aspects that are important, not only in the music industry but in life itself, along with the different challenges that careers present. I can relate to trying to perfect your craft and being the best at what you do. In the professional world, you do want to succeed and not submerge into a lifestyle that can be overwhelming.”

The off-court, professional experience and overall success in launching this project is something that fellow NBA big man and Relativity athlete, Anderson Varejao, is proud to support.

“I’m very happy for him,” Varejao, the Cavaliers starting center, said following the release of the movie produced by his friend Amar’e Stoudemire. “I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m definitely looking forward to checking it out and talking with him about it for sure.”

Back in September, Stoudemire spoke with The Source about how the opportunity to work on a film of this magnitude presented itself.

“I worked hand-in-hand with Relativity,” Stoudemire explained. “When they called me about this film, I read the script and then once I read the script and realized it was going to be a very, very inspirational film. Once I came to that conclusion, I flew into L.A. to be on set, and I saw operations working and I thought this is something that I really want to be involved in. So that’s how I got involved.”

During Stoudemire’s 12 professional seasons in the League—where he’s averaged 20.3 points and 8.3 rebounds for his career—he’s explored many interests outside of basketball. This includes stamping his passport all over the world, learning to appreciate fine art, fashion, along with other hobbies and projects. Signaled by the nationwide release of Beyond The Lights, however, film has become a major passion for STAT when he’s not putting in work for the Knicks.

The New York City red carpet premiere last Thursday brought out some of those Knick teammates, in addition to the cast and crew from the movie. Iman Shumpert was among those in the building, along with WNBA star Skylar Diggins, Bad Boy artist and Cleveland-native Machine Gun Kelly, Teyana Taylor, India Arie, Ravens Running Back Justin Forsett, Knicks executive Steve Mills, along with the CEO of Relativity Sports, Happy Walters.

MGK, a proud fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers, plays the role of a rapper named Kid Culprit in the film produced by Stoudemire. Kid Culprit is an arrogant rapper who dates a rising pop star. Kells has told multiple outlets that he’s wearing sunglasses on set to shield himself from the overwhelming arrogance of the character he portrays.

For more on Beyond The Lights check out the trailer:

The photo gallery above features exclusive pictures from the New York City red carpet premiere of Beyond The Lights. All photos courtesy of Relativity Media.

Brendan Bowers is an NBA writer who covers the Cavaliers and the NBA in Cleveland for SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @BowersCLE. Images via Getty, @amareisreal.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Produces ‘Beyond The Lights’ appeared first on SLAM.

Amar’e Stoudemire rolled to the hoop Wednesday night, and finished with a vintage jam over Nikola Vucevic.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Dunks on Nikola Vucevic (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Head coach Derek Fisher likes the punch STAT provides off the pine, and has said it’s easier to keep an eye on Stoudemire’s minutes this way.

Amar’e — who averaged 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and shot 57.5 percent in 21 starts last season — seems ready to embrace his sixth man role.

Per the NY Post:

Fisher shed some light [Monday] on why he never considered Stoudemire for the starting power-forward slot, especially after Andrea Bargnani went down with a hamstring injury after the first preseason game. Did Fisher want to keep Stoudemire away from starting center Samuel Dalembert or small forward Carmelo Anthony? […] “I’m not sure,” Stoudemire said. “I need to find out as well as you are.”

 

“It’s not really about Amar’e next to Sam,” Fisher said, “but trying to fit in a five-man unit and how does that make our bench look depending on who starts and who doesn’t. We don’t want to have a vastly different impact based on starters and bench guys.”

 

“I take the game very serious whether starting or coming off the bench,’’ Stoudemire said. “Whatever’s best for the team, so be it. If not, we’ll figure something out.” […] “Whatever the situation is, I’m learning three different positions — power forward, center and the perimeter player,” Stoudemire said. “So it’s very versatile on my end, a versatile weapon we have, ready to utilize my skill wherever, starting or sixth man.”

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Wants to Know Why Derek Fisher Won’t Start Him appeared first on SLAM.

Jackson discussed the entire roster, pointing out their strengths and weaknesses.

Phil knows Carmelo Anthony isn’t a great passer, but he believes the newly-installed Triangle Offense will force Melo to look for his teammates on the floor.

Per ESPN:

“Even though Iman Shumpert was in [former Knicks coach] Mike Woodson’s dog house for much of last season, he’s one of my favorites because he’s simply our best on-ball defender at the 2 position and also against the bigger 1s. Once he learns the intricacies of the offense, Iman will be able to create scoring opportunities for his teammates and, unlike last season, he’ll know where his own shots will come from. Iman is an excellent driver but his shooting mechanics are very inconsistent. Sometimes he jumps too high to release his shot and sometimes he doesn’t jump high enough. As a result, he never shoots the same shot twice.”

 

“Carmelo Anthony is obviously the team’s only certified All-Star. It’s also no secret that Melo has to keep the ball moving, but he’s committed to doing this. Passing has never been a great strength of his, but in the triangle he’ll be able to have check-off reads like a quarterback looking for his first-option receiver, then his second and then his third. There’ll be plenty of iso opportunities for Melo, and in the triangle it’ll be very difficult for defenses to double-team him. It won’t be like last season where he had to take clutch shots with a gang of defenders in his face. Also look for Melo to get a bunch of post-up looks.”

 

“The 2 position is our deepest, and J.R. Smith is easily the best athlete on the team. But J.R. has to learn the difference between a good shot and a bad shot. He has to trust that the triangle will create good shots and to avoid searching for his own shot. His defense also needs work because he tends to be a ball-watcher, and he’s late in chasing his man around screens when he should be tailgating him. Defense is the key to any winning team, so Smith has to really work hard on his deficiencies in training camp.”

The post Phil Jackson Thinks Carmelo Anthony Will Improve His Passing appeared first on SLAM.

And maybe it’s the red wine talking, but Stoudemire says he’s regained that youthful feeling all over again.

Stoudemire says his biggest challenge going forward, will be gaining a reputation as a defensive player.

Per the NY Post:

“My joy is there. My love of the game is there,” said Stoudemire, 32 next month. “I feel like I’m 19 again as far as how much I love to play the game of basketball. I feel youthful. To have that type of feeling again as I had my rookie year, to want to play and just want to be out there and get better as a player is pretty encouraging.”

 

Stoudemire had 14 points (5-of-7 shooting) and six rebounds in 23:34. And while Stoudemire always has been suspect defensively, everybody was at fault this time. […] “It went well, but our main focus right now has to be locking down on defense,” Stoudemire said, seconding Anthony’s assertion that they can be a double-barrel post assault, that when one doesn’t have it going the Knicks can look to the other. .. Yeah, we can tag-team them to death, like the old Bushwhackers,” Stoudemire said, using his best wrestling reference.

 

“Injuries sometimes take that joy away. You’re not able to play, you’re not able to become that leader that you know you are, you can’t speak on things that you see on the basketball court because you’re not out there within the battlefield with the guys,” Stoudemire said.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire: ‘I Feel Like I’m 19 Again’ appeared first on SLAM.

Stoudemire informed and stunned his fans online that he’s now a practitioner of vino therapy.

Whatever it takes, STAT:

Loading

Recovery Day! Red Wine Bath !! #Kinging #Blessed #Hebrews Getting ready for the eighth day feast.

View on Instagram

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Takes a Bath in Red Wine (PHOTO) appeared first on SLAM.

Advertisers will reportedly be able to buy space on players’ shirts starting with the 2017 All-Star Game.

Stoudemire says there could be problems between competing business interests of individual players and the League.

Per the NY Daily News:

“It all depends on the players,” Stoudemire said before Monday’s preseason home opener against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden. “A lot of players have endorsement deals. So it could be a conflict of interest, if you ask me. It depends on the company I’m in bed with. I could be endorsed by a company that’s not sponsored by the NBA, so that could be a conflict of interest.”

 

“Some guys got deals that are outside the NBA,” Stoudemire said. “You have an exclusive deal, which means you have to stay exclusive to that particular company.”

 

The Knicks’ Spanish-born point guard Jose Calderon, a veteran of the professional leagues in Europe, where advertising on jerseys is common, said he’s okay with corporate-sponsored logos on shirts — if it’s within the boundaries of good taste. […] “I’ve been doing that for a while now, in Europe and everywhere,” Calderon said on Monday. “I think it depends on how you treat the whole thing — if it’s a thousand stickers or one really nice sticker. I have no idea where it’s going to be but whatever the league decides I’m sure it’s going to be well thought out and will be the best for the league and the best for the players.”

The post Amar’e Stoudemire: Ads on Jerseys May Create Conflicts of Interest appeared first on SLAM.

Coming of a tough season that saw his minutes trimmed down to about 22 per game, the 31-year-old STAT says it’s time to remind NBA fans of just how great he once was.

Per the NY Post:

“Last year was a difficult year,” Stoudemire said. “This year is a different story. I feel so much better than I did last year. I’m healthy. I feel strong. It’s a different situation.”

 

“We’ll see,” Stoudemire said of starting. “Obviously to reach back to my dominant self, I feel I’m there now. I feel my body is feeling so much stronger. I feel dominant. We’ll see what the coaches do.”

 

Have fans forgotten how good he can be? […] “I think so,” Stoudemire said. “I think previous year with the injuries people have forgotten. It’s my job to remind them.”

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Says He Feels Dominant Again appeared first on SLAM.

]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-says-feels-dominant/feed/ 0 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/report-sixers-targeting-amare-stoudemire-trade-deadline/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/report-sixers-targeting-amare-stoudemire-trade-deadline/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2014 13:10:10 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/?p=332781 Philadelphia is currently well under the salary cap floor — NBA teams are required to spend at least ninety percent of the salary cap (set at $63,065 million.) The Sixers have only so far committed to $39.988 million in player salaries, and may reportedly end up taking on Amar’e Stoudemire’s expiring contract, which has long […]

The post Report: Sixers Targeting Amar’e Stoudemire at Trade Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

]]> Philadelphia is currently well under the salary cap floor — NBA teams are required to spend at least ninety percent of the salary cap (set at $63,065 million.)

The Sixers have only so far committed to $39.988 million in player salaries, and may reportedly end up taking on Amar’e Stoudemire’s expiring contract, which has long been said to be a Philly target. Per Basketball Insiders:

What happens if the 76ers don’t meet the minimum at the trade deadline? They would be required to pay their existing roster the shortfall on a schedule agreed to by the Players’ Association.

 

So if the 76ers don’t meet the minimum, their existing guys get bonuses and the team gets to defer paying it until the end of the season.

 

What’s far more likely is that the long rumored Amar’e Stoudemire to Philadelphia deal gets done at the deadline. The Sixers take on Stoudemire’s $23 million salary cap number, which pushes them way over the minimum. They would only owe him roughly 30 percent of his remaining contract, so they’d end up paying him $7 million in cash and likely extract a draft pick or a rookie scale player for their troubles.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/report-sixers-targeting-amare-stoudemire-trade-deadline/feed/ 30 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/report-knicks-sixers-discussing-amare-stoudemire-trade/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/report-knicks-sixers-discussing-amare-stoudemire-trade/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2014 13:40:58 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/?p=328572 Rumors are swirling around Amar’e Stoudemire and his onerous (but expiring) contract — the Knicks and Sixers have reportedly discussed a possible deal for the big fella, though nothing seems imminent. Per the NY Post: The Sixers have $30 million in cap space and have made it known they’d be willing to accept an undesirable […]

The post Report: Knicks and Sixers Discussing Amar’e Stoudemire Trade appeared first on SLAM.

]]> Rumors are swirling around Amar’e Stoudemire and his onerous (but expiring) contract — the Knicks and Sixers have reportedly discussed a possible deal for the big fella, though nothing seems imminent. Per the NY Post:

The Sixers have $30 million in cap space and have made it known they’d be willing to accept an undesirable expiring contract if a pawn is thrown in. That extra pawn likely would be Iman Shumpert — something the Knicks prefer not to do.

 

The idea is, at the least, reduce payroll so the Knicks can make a sign-and-trade to obtain a free agent and be able to wield the full mid-level exception of $5 million instead of mini-midlevel $3.27 million. Currently, the Knicks are above the luxury-tax apron and are forbidden to obtain a free agent through a sign-and-trade or use the full mid-level to try to lure free agent Pau Gasol.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/report-knicks-sixers-discussing-amare-stoudemire-trade/feed/ 37 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-says-knicks-didnt-buy-mike-woodsons-system/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-says-knicks-didnt-buy-mike-woodsons-system/#comments Fri, 18 Apr 2014 13:50:18 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=319543 Carmelo Anthony publicly backed Mike Woodson, but things don’t look good for the New York Knicks head coach. Amar’e Stoudemire told reporters that Knicks players weren’t buying what Woodson was selling, and Tyson Chandler admitted to a “disconnect” between the coach and his troops. Per the NY Post and Newsday: “It was an up-and-down year, […]

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Says Knicks Didn’t Buy Into Mike Woodson’s System appeared first on SLAM.

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Carmelo Anthony publicly backed Mike Woodson, but things don’t look good for the New York Knicks head coach. Amar’e Stoudemire told reporters that Knicks players weren’t buying what Woodson was selling, and Tyson Chandler admitted to a “disconnect” between the coach and his troops. Per the NY Post and Newsday:

“It was an up-and-down year, midseason changes, coach Woodson put together a game plan on both ends of the basketball court and there were times that we didn’t totally buy into it,” Stoudemire said after Thursday’s exit interview with team president Phil Jackson.

“We didn’t really focus on mastering the offensive strategies and defensive strategies,” Stoudemire said. “The mind-set is for us whatever the game plan is, we have to stick to the game plan. We’ve got to try to master it, and that way we can be playing at an extremely high level when it’s time for the postseason.”

But the Knicks aren’t headed to the postseason, missing the playoffs in a year when even the 38-44 Hawks made it, putting Woodson on the chopping block.

“We had more vets last year that wouldn’t allow you to screw up,’’ Stoudemire said. “We had vocal vets with Rasheed Wallace and Jason Kidd, Kurt Thomas and those guys who’ve been around for years and know how to play the game, and they won’t allow you to take a back seat. This year we didn’t have those guys — we had a fairly young team and we, me personally, had to lead by example.”

Mike Woodson didn’t take part in Thursday’s exit interviews with players, which could be an indication that he won’t be part of the Knicks’ future.

But Carmelo Anthony went out of his way to support Woodson and even appeared to get emotional as he talked about the embattled coach.

“To be honest with you, Mike Woodson, me and him have become . . . he’s been a guy that I can talk to, he’s been almost a father figure, a friend, a guy that I can bounce stuff off,” Anthony said. “I’ve been a guy he’s talked to multiple times, about multiple things in different situations.

“So when that time comes, if it’s ready for me to step up and take that next step and say, ‘OK, Mike Woodson needs to stay or go,’ I don’t think it would come down to that, but I’d back him. If he needs my recommendation, whether it’s here or anywhere else, I’ll back him. I support him.

“For me as a player, I had some of my best years under Mike Woodson. So I would never have anything bad to say about Mike Woodson.”

Usually, the team’s top executive and coach meet with players to discuss the season and future. Knicks president Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills conducted the interviews.

Woodson is signed through next season, but he said Wednesday he hopes to learn his fate soon.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-says-knicks-didnt-buy-mike-woodsons-system/feed/ 5 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-may-play-jerusalem-next-season/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-may-play-jerusalem-next-season/#comments Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:10:31 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=318974 New York Knicks big man Amar’e Stoudemire will be a free agent in the summer of 2015, and STAT (who discovered his Jewish roots a few years ago) says he’s thinking of taking his talents to Jerusalem. Per the NY Post: Stoudemire is part of a four-man ownership group, including superagent Arn Tellem, that purchased […]

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New York Knicks big man Amar’e Stoudemire will be a free agent in the summer of 2015, and STAT (who discovered his Jewish roots a few years ago) says he’s thinking of taking his talents to Jerusalem. Per the NY Post:

Stoudemire is part of a four-man ownership group, including superagent Arn Tellem, that purchased 60 percent of Hapoel Jerusalem last summer and turned the franchise into the top team in the Israeli league at 20-7.

Stoudemire’s late surge, during which he played near his All-Star level the season’s final month, could prompt him to seek another NBA contract after 2014-15 when his $100 million pact expires. But he’s also mulling Israel to boost its profile.

Stoudemire’s oft-troubled knees calmed down this season, and he has played 63 games entering Tuesday’s game in Brooklyn, averaging 11.9 points and five rebounds in 22.6 minutes, shooting 56 percent.

“We’ll see,’’ Stoudemire said. “You can’t rule anything out. The future is unknown and so if I have an opportunity to [play in Israel] and am still in great health, it would be great. I have one more year left on my deal and we’ll go from there.’’

Stoudemire claims he has Jewish roots on his mother’s side and has become observant regarding Jewish holidays, including Passover, which began Monday night. Stoudemire said he will observe by not eating bread./p>

Israeli-American Ori Allon, who heads the Hapoel ownership group, said he has had discussions with Stoudemire about playing for Hapoel Jerusalem. Allon has a goal of making Hapoel into the same recognizable brand as Maccabi Tel Aviv and believes Stoudemire’s addition — as owner or player — has put the team on that path.

“We’ve discussed it in the past,’’ Allon said. “It would be tremendous and unbelievable but it’s still early. I think it’s a real possibility, but he played very well this season so it’s up to him.’’

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-may-play-jerusalem-next-season/feed/ 20 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-calls-knicks-best-team-league-paper/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-calls-knicks-best-team-league-paper/#comments Mon, 14 Apr 2014 15:10:49 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=318792 Generally speaking, basketball games aren’t played on paper. But if they somehow were, the New York Knicks would be NBA champs. According to Amar’e Stoudemire, that is. Per Newsday: Mike Woodson took the blame for the Knicks’ failure to make the playoffs and apologized to their fans Sunday. “You can point the fingers in a […]

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Generally speaking, basketball games aren’t played on paper. But if they somehow were, the New York Knicks would be NBA champs. According to Amar’e Stoudemire, that is. Per Newsday:

Mike Woodson took the blame for the Knicks’ failure to make the playoffs and apologized to their fans Sunday.

“You can point the fingers in a lot of directions,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’m the coach and I didn’t get it done. It’s just that simple. There’s a lot of factors that came behind it, but you can’t sit here and complain about it now. We didn’t get it done. Being the coach, I just apologize to the fans. They pay their hard-earned money to come see us play and we didn’t come into this season expecting this.”

The Knicks were officially eliminated from playoff contention Saturday night when the Hawks beat the Heat. Expectations, especially from within the organization, were that this team would contend for a title. The Knicks won 54 games last season, but after Sunday night’s 100-89 win over the Bulls at the Garden, they’re 35-45 with two games left.

Despite that, Amar’e Stoudemire said the lofty expectations weren’t unrealistic. “They should have been a little bit higher, if you ask me,” he said. “On paper, we might be the best team in the league. We’ve got great players on this team who accomplished so much. We just couldn’t put it together.”

That’s why Woodson is expected to be the fall guy for the Knicks’ disappointing season. He has one year remaining on his contract, but new president Phil Jackson is expected to hire a coach he knows well who is well versed in the triangle offense.

It’s possible that (Carmelo) Anthony already has played his final game as a Knick. He said he likely will have an MRI on his strained right shoulder, and it doesn’t make sense for him to push it with the Knicks out of the race.

Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith and Stoudemire also could be playing their final games with the team. Jackson has to decide who fits his system and whether he will stick with the initial plan of not losing the flexibility the Knicks have in the summer of 2015, when LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo and perhaps LeBron James will be free agents.

If Anthony re-signs and the rest of the core stays, the Knicks might not be much better next season. “Not making the playoffs is not an option,” Stoudemire said. “That’s not an option for us. We’re definitely looking to make the playoffs every year. This year’s been a struggle, but if I return healthy and ready to go, I’m sure we’ll make the playoffs.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-calls-knicks-best-team-league-paper/feed/ 47 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemie-unhappy-jr-smith-shooting-22-threes/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemie-unhappy-jr-smith-shooting-22-threes/#comments Mon, 07 Apr 2014 15:10:53 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=317962 You’ll never believe this, but JR Smith’s New York Knicks teammates weren’t exactly thrilled to stand and watch him hoist up an NBA record 22 three-point attempts (while making 10 of them), in a nationally-televised 102-91 loss to the Miami Heat. Amar’e Stoudemire questioned the team’s offensive game plan. Per Newsday and the NY Post: […]

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You’ll never believe this, but JR Smith’s New York Knicks teammates weren’t exactly thrilled to stand and watch him hoist up an NBA record 22 three-point attempts (while making 10 of them), in a nationally-televised 102-91 loss to the Miami Heat. Amar’e Stoudemire questioned the team’s offensive game plan. Per Newsday and the NY Post:

Amar’e Stoudemire was stunned that J.R. Smith took an NBA-record 22 three-pointers on Sunday. He had an even harder time believing the game plan wasn’t to get the ball inside more.

The Heat played a small lineup for much of its 102-91 victory over the Knicks. In the fourth quarter, Stoudemire scored inside on consecutive trips as the Knicks moved within seven. But those were the only two shots in the quarter for Stoudemire, who shot 5-for-9.

“We always preach that if you’re open, shoot it,” he said. “But a team that goes small, you got to somewhat take advantage of that . . . Opportunities like that you got to take advantage of, you got to make that guy play some defense out there, especially when he’s undersized and he’s guarding myself or Tyson [Chandler].”

As Smith set an NBA record with 22 3-point attempts, including 10 in the final period, Stoudemire felt the club blew an opportunity to go inside to him and take advantage of Miami’s small-ball lineup. Stoudemire finished with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. He had only two shot attempts in the fourth quarter — making both.

The Knicks launched 42 3-pointers. To support Stoudemire’s argument, Chandler, too, was a beast inside in the first half, scoring all 10 of his points before going quiet.

Stoudemire has taken Smith to task before after the reigning Sixth Man of the Year questioned the team’s heart last month. Stoudemire said players should look in the mirror before making statements like that.

Coach Mike Woodson also critiqued Smith on Saturday for not feeding Stoudemire underneath in the final frantic seconds of Washington’s loss. Off a scramble with 2 seconds left, Smith snatched the ball and heaved a 3-pointer. But replays showed asking Smith to see Stoudemire with two defenders running at him was too much to ask.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemie-unhappy-jr-smith-shooting-22-threes/feed/ 31 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/10-best-nba-photos-week-3/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/10-best-nba-photos-week-3/#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2014 16:39:01 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=316395 Your weekly visual recap of the NBA.

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A compilation of the NBA’s best images from the past seven days. Some more in-game action and funny faces caught on camera as a part of this week’s NBA photos. 

Photos via USA Today

Previously:
Week of March 14 – March 20
Week of March 7 – March 13

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/10-best-nba-photos-week-3/feed/ 9 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-convinced-knicks-trade-carmelo-anthony/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-convinced-knicks-trade-carmelo-anthony/#comments Mon, 24 Mar 2014 15:25:44 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=315824 After signing a massive deal with the New York Knicks back in 2010, Amar’e Stoudmire immediately began to look for a co-star. STAT says he talked Knicks owner James Dolan into going after Carmelo Anthony. Per Bleacher Report: I first came to New York City on July 4, 2010. That night, I went to James […]

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After signing a massive deal with the New York Knicks back in 2010, Amar’e Stoudmire immediately began to look for a co-star. STAT says he talked Knicks owner James Dolan into going after Carmelo Anthony. Per Bleacher Report:

I first came to New York City on July 4, 2010.

That night, I went to James Dolan’s house party, and the next day, with my agents Happy Walters and Travis King and the rest of my business team, I met with Mr. Dolan at the Four Seasons hotel. All of the main Knicks personnel were there, too. We sat down and had brunch, and afterward Mr. Dolan and I met alone at the hotel.

It was great to meet with him. We talked about some basketball, and we just had a great time together. We really hit it off very well, and he asked me to come to New York for the max amount. At the time, the Miami Heat were a serious option for me—I met with them first—but they were waiting on LeBron James to make a decision. I didn’t want to wait. Also, the plan was for my business team and I to still fly to Chicago to meet with the Bulls, but I told Mr. Dolan in our meeting that I wanted to come to New York. And that was it.

A lot of people were like, “Why would you want to go to New York? There’s no winning mentality there.” They hadn’t been to the playoffs in six years at the time. But the first year coming to New York was really trying to change to a winning mentality. That’s why signing with the Knicks is still my biggest highlight in New York.

I was like, “The Knicks are back.” I mean, those words were gold to the city of New York, and to follow through with that was even more precious. I think that’s why the fans here have such an open heart for me, because there was a time when a winning mentality was much needed and no one wanted to come to New York. It was a forbidden place, and I took the chance to come here and Mr. Dolan took the chance on signing me, so we had a great marriage.

I also knew that I needed a star teammate, and that’s something I talked to Mr. Dolan about when I signed. My ultimate goal my first year in New York was really to set the tone from a winning standpoint, and then to bring in players that were going to help capitalize and build on that. I mentioned a few players to Mr. Dolan who would be fun to play with, and Melo was one of them. Mr. Dolan and I talked about, “Which players in the near future are going to be available?” Then we said, “Let’s make the move and try to trade for Melo.” That’s how things first started with the Knicks going after Carmelo Anthony. That was a decision Dolan pretty much made with helping myself.

Melo and I have always been friends. We’ve always admired each other’s games. My business team and I actually went out to dinner with Melo’s friends in L.A. before the whole free-agency process started, and we talked a lot about playing ball together one day. That was definitely a highlight for me to play with him that first season; also breaking that 48-year-old record with the nine consecutive 30-point games. I mean, that was remarkable. Those are probably the two main highlights, and then making the playoffs for the first time in six years was a lot of fun, playing against Boston.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-convinced-knicks-trade-carmelo-anthony/feed/ 5 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/thunder-pacers-heat/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/thunder-pacers-heat/#comments Sat, 22 Mar 2014 13:00:48 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=315709 OKC wins 2OT thriller; Heat, Pacers and Knicks prevail.

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Pacers (51-18) 91, Bulls (38-31) 79

In a game that was every bit the slugfest you’d expect from these teams, the Pacers landed the most blows and bested the Bulls. Paul George posted a triple-double (10 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) and Luis Scola had 19 off the bench to lead Indiana to the win. The Pacers’ defense was locked in, holding the Bulls to 36 percent shooting while blocking 9 shots.

On top of having their offense snuffed out, the Bulls got crushed on the boards, 51-36. Jimmy Butler and D.J. Augustin scored 17 points apiece to top the scoring column for Chicago. Joakim Noah posted 13 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks in the losing effort. 

Knicks (29-40) 93, 76ers (15-54) 92

Two streaks nearly ended in Philadelphia, as the 76ers mounted a massive comeback on the Knicks in the fourth quarter after Mike Woodson pulled his starters. Philly went on a 16-1 run over four and a half minutes, cutting and 18-point Knicks’ lead down to 92-90 with 32 seconds to go before Woodson put his regulars back in. James Anderson committed a critical turnover and Michael Carter-Williams (22 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists) missed a last-second 3-point try to allow the Knicks to escape.

Amar’e Stoudemire had a throwback game with 22 points and 10 rebounds, dunking with authority on several occasions, while Carmelo Anthony struggled shooting the ball (5-16 from the field) en route to 21. Thaddeus Young had 21 points for the Sixers, who took attempted a franchise-record 41 3-pointers in the loss, hitting 10 of them. Philadelphia’s losing streak has now hit 23 games, while the Knicks have won eight straight.

Thunder (51-18) 119, Raptors (38-30) 118 (2OT)

In a game that had all the twists and turns basketball fans love this time of year, Kevin Durant (51 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists) dropped in a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in double overtime to go over the 50-point mark and cap off an improbable comeback for OKC. The Thunder trailed 118-110 with under a minute to go, but KD and Derek Fisher hit 3-pointers 30 seconds apart to cut the lead down. Toronto threw away the inbounds pass, but KD lost control of the ball on a layup attempt. John Salmons missed two FTs for the Raps, giving Durant a crack at the game winner.

It wasn’t all KD daggers and sunshine for OKC, though: Russell Westbrook (15 points) banged his surgically repaired right knee with Kyle Lowry and had to leave the game in the third quarter. Reggie Jackson stepped up in his absence, scoring 25 off the pine.

The two teams traded blows throughout the fourth quarter and first OT. Kyle Lowry (25 points) calmly sank a triple to tie it up at the end of the first overtime, while Amir Johnson (25 points, 12 rebounds) was everywhere for the Raptors all night. DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 33 points, who sit 1.5 games ahead of Brooklyn in the Atlantic.

Pelicans (28-40) 111, Hawks (31-36) 105

Anthony Davis has been laying waste to everything in his path lately, and the Atlanta Hawks were added to his list of victims on Friday. Davis put up 34 points and 11 rebounds in ATL, and he’s averaging 32.5 points and 13.9 rebounds over his last seven games played. AD got help from Tyreke Evans (21 points), who has awoken from his season-long slumber in the last few weeks. The Pelicans lost Eric Gordon to a sore knee in the first quarter.

Jeff Teague had 26 points and 8 rebounds for Atlanta, while Paul Millsap pitched in 20. The Hawks allowed the Knicks to gain a game on them for the 8-seed in the East, with their lead now down to 3 games.

Nets (36-31) 114, Celtics (23-47) 98

Brooklyn was scorching on Friday night, lighting up the Celtics in a blowout win. Joe Johnson caught fire from deep, hitting 6-8 triples and scoring 27 points to lead the Nets, winners of six of their last seven games. Mason Plumlee had 18 points on 6-7 shooting and Paul Pierce scored 14 points in just 19 minutes as Brooklyn hit 56 percent from the field as a team.

Avery Bradley continued his hot shooting, going for 28 points on 12-19 shooting while hitting 4-9 from beyond the arc. Rajon Rondo had 12 points and 12 assists for the C’s.

Heat (47-20) 91, Grizzlies (40-28) 86

The madness continued in Miami, with the Heat cranking it up late to squeeze past the Grizzlies. Trailing 84-77 with four minutes to go, Miami uncorked an 11-0 run to take the lead. Ray Allen (18 points) hit a triple to start the run, and then finished the Grizzlies off with a breakaway dunk. Jesus Shuttlesworth led Miami in scoring for the third time in five games. The Heat’s Big Three had an off night, combining for just 43 points, but LeBron James (15 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists) and Dwyane Wade (14 points) both made clutch plays down the stretch.

Zach Randolph was a beast for Memphis, going for 25 points and 14 rebounds, but he couldn’t get a crucial foul call late as Miami made its comeback. Marc Gasol had 14 points but had to leave with an ankle injury in the third quarter.

Mavericks (42-28) 122, Nuggets (31-38) 106

Dallas held the Nuggets off in the second half and pulled away down the stretch, moving a game ahead of Memphis in the Western Conference standings. Monta Ellis had an efficient 26 points to lead the Mavs, shooting 11-14 from the field, and Dirk Nowitzki pitched in 21 points on 9-15 shooting. The Mavs shot 54 percent as a whole and hit 12-22 from deep.

J.J. Hickson had 18 points and 8 rebounds off the bench for the Nuggets, while Ty Lawson put up 17 points and 9 assists. Denver got within three points midway through the fourth before Dallas went on a 10-3 run to ice it. 

Suns (40-29) 98, Pistons (25-43) 92

Phoenix needed every bit of Eric Bledsoe’s monster effort as they fought off the Pistons down the stretch. Bledsoe had his best game since knee surgery, as he scored 15 of his 23 points in the fourth to help the Suns survive a tight final quarter. Bledsoe hit a triple to break an 86-all tie, then hit a layup and a string of free throws to secure the win.

Goran Dragic netted 20 points and Markieff Morris chipped in 16 points and 8 rebounds off the bench, also hitting a clutch 3-pointer down the stretch. Coupled with the Grizzlies’ loss, Phoenix was able to move within a half-game of the final Playoff spot.

Rodney Stuckey scored 23 off the bench to lead the Pistons, while Andre Drummond (13 points, 16 rebounds) and Josh Smith (15 points, 10 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles. Smith was 0-8 at the free throw line, as the Pistons shot an astoundingly bad 10-26 from the stripe.

Spurs (52-16) 99, Kings (24-45) 79

Gregg Popovich’s black-and-silver machine rolled on despite a quietly terrible offensive night as the Spurs picked up their 12th straight win, dismantling the Kings in Sacramento. Marco Belinelli (17 points, 7-12 shooting) led six Spurs in double figures, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker scored 14 points each and Tiago Splitter (11 points, 11 rebounds) notched a double-double for San Antonio. The Spurs had one of their worst shooting nights of the year, hitting just 38 percent from the floor, but made up for it by grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.

Isaiah Thomas led the Kings with 18 points, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the third quarter, and DeMarcus Cousins put up 15 points and 13 rebounds. Of small note: Royce White made his (kind of) long-awaited NBA debut for the Kings, joining Harvey Pollack’s “trillionaire club” in the final minute of the game.

Wizards (36-33) 117, Lakers (22-46) 107

Washington fought off the Lakers down the stretch, both physically and on the scoreboard. John Wall led the way with 28 points and 14 assists, Bradley Beal dropped 18 points and Marcin Gortat had 13 points and 13 boards for the Wizards, who bounced back from two straight losses. Sparks flew in the final minutes, as Drew Gooden nearly tore Nick Young’s arm off and Jordan Hill tackled Gortat in his teammate’s defense, leading to ejections for Gooden and Hill.

Steve Nash returned to the lineup for the Lakers, dishing out 11 assists in 19 minutes on the floor, while Swaggy P and Jodie Meeks topped the scoring column with 21 points each. L.A. has dropped four straight games, and the team hasn’t held an opponent under 106 points in any game in March.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/thunder-pacers-heat/feed/ 26 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/10-best-nba-photos-week-2/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/10-best-nba-photos-week-2/#comments Fri, 14 Mar 2014 17:53:55 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=314670 Your weekly visual recap of the NBA.

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A compilation of the NBA’s best images from the past seven days. This week in NBA photos, see some funny coach reactions on the sidelines to lovely closeups of the League’s best, and more.

Photos via USA Today

Previously:
Week of February 28 – March 6
Week of January 31 – February 6

The post 10 Best NBA Photos Of The Week appeared first on SLAM.

]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/10-best-nba-photos-week-2/feed/ 1 https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-posterizes-thaddeus-young-video/ https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-posterizes-thaddeus-young-video/#comments Tue, 11 Mar 2014 13:10:10 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=313970 STAT flashback.

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Looking like Young Amar’e, STAT rose above a helpless Thad Young for a big-time finish.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-posterizes-thaddeus-young-video/feed/ 12 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-149-amare-stoudemire/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-149-amare-stoudemire/#comments Mon, 03 Mar 2014 18:28:18 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=311836 April 17, 2011: STAT slams it on fellow big men Jermaine O'Neal and Kevin Garnett.

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Originally published in SLAM 149

They grew up in the same state around the same time, were stars in their own right, but never really got to know one another. Kevin Garnett’s team was good, Jermaine O’Neal’s wasn’t and they were separated by a good chunk of SC. Garnett eventually moved to Chicago, neither went to college and the first time they’d face off was in the L.

A few years later, another kid, another state. FLA this time. Whatchall know about the Dirty South? Amare Stoudemire didn’t have the goggles or the apostrophe yet, and he went to a gang of high schools, but his aim was true. Seven years after KG paved the way, Amare walked the same road. All three went West, drafted to places far from home, postgrad work. Then they each worked their way Northeast—KG and J-O finally became teammates, Stoudemire got a team to call his own.

The three had met before, at All-Star Games and such, but rarely were all three on the same court at the same time. Such an event would be an excellent photo opportunity, three of the best straight-outta-high-school big men facing off against one another in the NBA Playoffs, all on that ultimate stage.

But only Amar’e will want to hang it on his wall.

—Russ Bengtson

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-149-amare-stoudemire/feed/ 1 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/knicks-will-reportedly-look-trade-amare-stoudemire-summer/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/knicks-will-reportedly-look-trade-amare-stoudemire-summer/#comments Sun, 02 Mar 2014 16:21:49 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=312534   The Knicks have zero draft picks and zero cap space this summer, so it’ll be tough for them to make many moves, but according to the Boston Globe, one thing they will attempt to do is trade Amar’e Stoudemire’s expiring contract for someone who can bring them legitimate help: The Knicks have limited options […]

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The Knicks have zero draft picks and zero cap space this summer, so it’ll be tough for them to make many moves, but according to the Boston Globe, one thing they will attempt to do is trade Amar’e Stoudemire’s expiring contract for someone who can bring them legitimate help:

The Knicks have limited options to improve this summer but a move they are expected to make is offering the expiring contract of Amar’e Stoudemire to a team that in turn could trade the Knicks the long-term, unwanted contract of an impact player, such as the Pelicans’ Eric Gordon.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/knicks-will-reportedly-look-trade-amare-stoudemire-summer/feed/ 20 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-143-amare-stoudemire/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-143-amare-stoudemire/#comments Tue, 25 Feb 2014 15:55:56 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=310385 Oct. 3, 2010: STAT slams it down on Stefano Mancinelli.

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Originally published in SLAM 143

Once you get outside the urban center and suburban sprawl of Phoenix, AZ, the emptiness embraces you. Long, straight roads stretch out into the desert. In the wee hours of the morning, there are just the stars, a few lonely critters…and the powerful headlights of Amar’e Stoudemire’s Rolls-Royce Phantom as it speeds through the darkness.

It’s mid-June at 3 a.m., and he can’t sleep. His Suns have been eliminated once again, and heck, they’re not even his Suns anymore. His contract is up. What to do? Stay? Go? He clicks off the Ricky Rozay and rolls down the windows, letting the night air sweep through the big car.

What do I want from my career? Amar’e thinks. Become the best player ever? That’s already out of reach. Win Championships? Yeah, that would be nice, but there are so many variables that play into that. Become an All-NBA defender? Haha, just kidding.

Suddenly, it hits him. It’s so clear, so perfect, that he has to pull over. He sits in silence. I’m going to dunk on every professional basketball player in the world, he thinks. I don’t know how, but I’m going to do it.

He starts the car, turns it around. Hmmm, I wonder who opens their preseason in Europe? That would be a good start.

—Russ Bengtson

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-143-amare-stoudemire/feed/ 1 https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/dwight-howard-stars-in-relativityavengerables-fake-movie-trailer-video/ https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/dwight-howard-stars-in-relativityavengerables-fake-movie-trailer-video/#comments Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:50:46 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=307707 Post by Relativity Sports. The Relativity Sports agency rounded up Dwight Howard, Amar’e Stoudemire, Demarcus Cousins, Deandre Jordan, Iman Shumpert, Chandler Parsons, Corey Brewer, Larry Sanders and Courtney Lee for this goofy fake movie trailer.

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Post by Relativity Sports.

The Relativity Sports agency rounded up Dwight Howard, Amar’e Stoudemire, Demarcus Cousins, Deandre Jordan, Iman Shumpert, Chandler Parsons, Corey Brewer, Larry Sanders and Courtney Lee for this goofy fake movie trailer.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/dwight-howard-stars-in-relativityavengerables-fake-movie-trailer-video/feed/ 4 https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-dunks-on-meyers-leonard-video/ https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-dunks-on-meyers-leonard-video/#comments Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:00:03 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=306725 STAT dials it back.

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He may not get on the court as much as he’d like, but Amar’e Stoudemire occasionally reminds us (and the opposition) of what he once was.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-dunks-on-meyers-leonard-video/feed/ 2 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-says-mike-woodson-limiting-his-minutes-not-the-doctors/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-says-mike-woodson-limiting-his-minutes-not-the-doctors/#comments Wed, 05 Feb 2014 15:50:25 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=306595 The cold war over playing time continues between New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire and head coach Mike Woodson. STAT completely disagrees with the notion that the team’s medical staff is imposing a limit on his minutes; Stoudemire argues that Woodson simply doesn’t want to play him. Per the NY Post: “From a doctor’s standpoint, […]

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The cold war over playing time continues between New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire and head coach Mike Woodson. STAT completely disagrees with the notion that the team’s medical staff is imposing a limit on his minutes; Stoudemire argues that Woodson simply doesn’t want to play him. Per the NY Post:

“From a doctor’s standpoint, there hasn’t been limitations since the first week of the season. So we can’t keep saying limitations, that’s a coach’s decision at the end of the day,’’ said Stoudemire. “I feel great. I am ready to play. But it’s up to him if he wants to play me or not.’’

Heading into Wednesday night’s game at the Garden against the Trail Blazers, Stoudemire is averaging just 18.9 minutes per game — the lowest of his career barring his injury-shortened, three-game season in 2005-06. But the proud six-time All-Star said he’s not limited medically, that his minutes are being limited by his coach, not the Knicks training staff. He obviously wants more playing time, and has repeatedly gotten in Woodson’s ear lobbying. So far, it has fallen on deaf ears.

“Yeah, I talk to coach all the time about it,’’ Stoudemire said. “He knows I’m ready. He knows how hard I train. He watches me in the weight room and also on the basketball court. The whole training staff knows, the Knicks organization knows how hard I train. I’m ready to play; but it depends on how the game’s played.’’

Stoudemire is averaging 9.3 points on 53.9 percent shooting with 4.2 rebounds. The Knicks talked often of limiting his minutes earlier in the season to keep him fresh for the playoffs; but they’re just 19-29, on the outside of the playoff picture, and Stoudemire is confident he can help in their postseason push.

“I feel great, man. It don’t take much for me. I have been playing at a high level my entire career. I know what it takes to get back to the top of the game. I know what it takes to feel confident. That’s never going to go away,’’ Stoudemire said. “It’s just a matter of how the coach is going to play me. I am available if they need me. If not, then we go with that.’’

It wasn’t the first time there has been seeming discord between Stoudemire and Woodson over the former’s status. Earlier this season, Woodson had expressed uncertainty about how much time Stoudemire would miss due, and the forward immediately took to Twitter to declare that he wasn’t injured.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-says-mike-woodson-limiting-his-minutes-not-the-doctors/feed/ 7 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-and-kenyon-martin-out-for-2-weeks/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-and-kenyon-martin-out-for-2-weeks/#comments Fri, 17 Jan 2014 22:10:58 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=304079 The New York Knicks announced today that big men Amar’e Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin will be sidelined for a couple of weeks, as they deal with various leg injuries: An MRI this afternoon on Amar’e Stoudemire’s l. ankle confirmed a sprain & a bone bruise. He is expected to be out approximately 2 weeks. — […]

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The New York Knicks announced today that big men Amar’e Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin will be sidelined for a couple of weeks, as they deal with various leg injuries:

An MRI this afternoon on Amar’e Stoudemire’s l. ankle confirmed a sprain & a bone bruise. He is expected to be out approximately 2 weeks.

— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) January 17, 2014

An MRI this afternoon on Kenyon Martin’s left ankle confirmed a sprain and tendinitis. He is expected to be out approximately two weeks.

— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) January 17, 2014

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-and-kenyon-martin-out-for-2-weeks/feed/ 2 https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-spills-ladys-drink-with-terrible-pass-video/ https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-spills-ladys-drink-with-terrible-pass-video/#comments Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:40:06 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=303433 A woman in the front row at the Knicks-Bobcats game last night had her drink spilled all over the place by an inexplicable Amar’e Stoudemire pass.

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A woman in the front row at the Knicks-Bobcats game last night had her drink spilled all over the place by an inexplicable Amar’e Stoudemire pass.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-spills-ladys-drink-with-terrible-pass-video/feed/ 28 https://www.slamonline.com/kicks/nba-kicks-of-the-night-2/ https://www.slamonline.com/kicks/nba-kicks-of-the-night-2/#comments Fri, 10 Jan 2014 16:38:24 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=302794 A photo recap of the best sneakers from around the NBA.

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LeBron James went retro at the Garden with the Zoom LeBron Soldier VII; Carmelo Anthony rocked the Melo M10 “Dark Powder Blue”; Nate Robinson, always great with his sneaker game, laced up the Air Jordan 12 “Gamma Blue.” We collected photos of that heat and more in our gallery of the best sneakers from around the League. Which player’s shoe game did you like the most from last night?

Photos via ESPN

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/kicks/nba-kicks-of-the-night-2/feed/ 1 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-denies-that-his-knee-is-injured/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-denies-that-his-knee-is-injured/#comments Wed, 18 Dec 2013 15:30:44 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=300652 New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson and forward Amar’e Stoudemire put out conflicting messages regarding the troublesome state of STAT’s knee. Stoudemire claims he’ll be sitting out games simply for rest: Fans, IM NOT INJURED, just want u to know I'm ONLY stay'n bk bc of 6 games n 9 days w/ bk2bks! Body […]

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New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson and forward Amar’e Stoudemire put out conflicting messages regarding the troublesome state of STAT’s knee. Stoudemire claims he’ll be sitting out games simply for rest:

Fans, IM NOT INJURED, just want u to know I'm ONLY stay'n bk bc of 6 games n 9 days w/ bk2bks! Body & Knees feel great! #Knicks #STAT

— Amar'e Stoudemire (@Amareisreal) December 17, 2013

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-denies-that-his-knee-is-injured/feed/ 4 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-could-be-out-for-awhile-with-swollen-knee/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-could-be-out-for-awhile-with-swollen-knee/#comments Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:52:49 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=300512   The injuries continue to mount for the ailing Knicks. While at practice on Tuesday, coach Mike Woodson said that Amar’e Stoudemire’s knee has swollen up, and he could be “out for awhile.” From Al Iannazzone of Newsday: Woodson said Amar'e's knee has swelled up. He won't play tomorrow and Woodson said he could be […]

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The injuries continue to mount for the ailing Knicks. While at practice on Tuesday, coach Mike Woodson said that Amar’e Stoudemire’s knee has swollen up, and he could be “out for awhile.” From Al Iannazzone of Newsday:

Woodson said Amar'e's knee has swelled up. He won't play tomorrow and Woodson said he could be "out a while."

— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) December 17, 2013

Woodson on Amar'e: "Amar’e’s going to be out a while. I don’t know, but he won’t play tomorrow."

— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) December 17, 2013

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-could-be-out-for-awhile-with-swollen-knee/feed/ 16 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/numberfire-nba-quarterly-report/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/numberfire-nba-quarterly-report/#comments Thu, 12 Dec 2013 22:49:00 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=300051 NumberFire dishes out first quarter honors and dishonors.

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With advanced analytics becoming so vital in the NBA, our guys at numberFire are here to help explain exactly what they mean. Today, we recognize the players, coaches and executives who’ve had the strongest (and weakest) quarter of basketball this season.—Ed.

by Russell Peddle / @rustypedalbike

The NBA crossed the first quarter mark for the ’13-14 season this past Monday night, which is a great excuse to start discussing frontrunners for awards that won’t be given out for another half a year. In the following quarterly report, I give my picks for each of the NBA’s major awards, while also discussing which players, coaches and executives represent the antithesis of these honors. These are, of course, my subjective opinions and are open to discussion. I back up most of my ideas with statistics, but in some cases, I just don’t like Rudy Gay.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: LeBron James

LeBron James is still the best player in the NBA and is playing on what is easily one of the best teams in the Association, ergo he is still the league’s MVP.

He’s leading the NBA in PER for the seventh straight year (28.9) and in nERD for the sixth straight (20.1) (I’m going to give you a second to read that sentence again and enjoy the fact that we’re witnessing this man’s career…ok, let’s continue).

He’s also leading the League in win shares (4.5) for the sixth straight year, and is having a historically efficient shooting season, with current percentages of .584 from the field, .433 from deep, and .783 from the line (numbers which no one in the history of the League has ever accomplished). He’s third in the NBA in both true shooting percentage (.672) and effective field goal percentage (.627). He puts up great all-around numbers, averaging 25.0 points (third in the League), 6.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 1.3 threes per game.

Listen, I could list the guy’s entire stat sheet for you, but you get the point. The Miami Heat are one of the top teams in the League at 16-6 (without really ever seeming like they’re trying that hard) and James is the alpha and the omega of what they do. The only way he loses this award is due to voter fatigue. I say throw previous winners out the window and give the King his crown yet again.

Honorable Mention: Kevin Durant, Paul George

The second and third players on our NBA Player Rankings are Kevin Durant (nERD of 19.8) and Paul George (19.5). Durant might go down as the best player to ever play the game and never win an MVP award because he’s playing at the same time as LeBron James. George has become one of the most elite players in this league and has led the Pacers to the NBA’s best record, but for now he’s still outside looking in at LBJ and Durant. I’ll talk about him plenty later, so we’ll just leave it at that.

LEAST VALUABLE PLAYER: Rudy Gay

Gay hates stat sheets and has every reason to. Out of players who play major minutes for their teams across the Association, Rudy seems to be the one that makes the most negative impact with his. He’s 27th in the League in minutes per game (35.5) and sixth in usage rate (30.3), yet posts a horrible nERD of -7.1 (ranked 138th on our NBA Player Rankings). He’s sporting career lows in field goal percentage (.388), true shooting percentage (.468) and effective field goal percentage (.421) (third worst in all those categories among players averaging a minimum of 32 minutes per game). He takes the fifth-most field goal attempts in the League per game (18.6), while shooting the lowest percentage from the field out of the rest of the players in the top-50.

Maybe he can turn his fortunes around now that he’s been traded to the Kings, but the Raptors should be better now that they are rid of the League’s LVP and his constant iso-plays that often result in bricked jump shots from 19-20 feet.

Dishonorable Mention: Josh Smith, Gordon Hayward

The other two players that stand out as having particularly low nERD ratings among guys who play significant minutes for their respective teams are Josh Smith and Gordon Hayward. Smith plays 35.6 minutes per game and has a stinky -9.3 nERD (147th in the NBA), while Hayward plays 36.4 minutes per game and has an even more putrid nERD of -9.4 (148th). Both players have high usage rates (Smith 22.2, Hayward 24.6) and shoot over 14 field goal attempts per game, which makes their terrible shooting percentages (Smith .391, Hayward .396) a bitter pill to swallow. Hayward gets a slight pass for being thrust into the role of being the number one option on the worst team in the League, but Smith playing this poorly (he shoots 4.5 threes per game, despite only hitting on .272) after signing a four-year, $54 million contract with the Pistons this offseason is unacceptable.

MOST VALUABLE ROOKIE: Michael Carter-Williams

Carter-Williams’ rookie season began with a bang, as he posted 22 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists, 9 steals, 4 three-pointers and only 1 turnover in a win against the two-time defending champion Miami Heat (the only player in history to post at least those numbers). He has kept that impressive start going by averaging 17.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 3.1 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.5 threes in 36.7 minutes per game since. He leads all rookies in each of those categories, with the exception of blocks (which he still manages to come in fifth). Oh, and the last (and only other) player to average at least 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals in his first season? Magic frickin’ Johnson. End of discussion.

Honorable Mention: Victor Oladipo, Trey Burke

Oladipo started the season slowly and Burke missed a dozen games with an early season finger injury, but both have come on as of late. MCW has missed eight of his team’s 23 games so far this year due to random injuries (I think it’s safe to call a skin infection on his knee just that), so we’ll have to monitor if staying healthy is going to be a problem for the young phenom going forward. Every game he misses will give more traction to the idea that Oladipo or Burke might overtake MCW for Rookie of the Year honors before season’s end. Regardless, it’ll be a fun race to watch between these three young promising guards.

LEAST VALUABLE ROOKIE: Anthony Bennett

Bennett was the first overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, being selected before Oladipo, Burke and MCW. He started the season going 0-15 from the field over his first four games as a pro, and that was only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how terrible he has been so far this year. In 17 games, he has averaged 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks and 0.2 threes. His current percentages are as bad as they come, currently at .237 from the field, .182 from deep, .375 from the line. Ugh, that’s hard on the eyes. His conditioning has been considered a big problem and he has yet to show any signs of having a legitimate future in this league.

Dishonorable Mention: Otto Porter, Alex Len

Third pick Porter and fifth pick Len have combined for 52 minutes, 7 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Just as a reminder, in MCW’s last game, he had 27 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals in over 46 minutes. That is all.

MOST VALUABLE DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Roy Hibbert

Hibbert has made it clear that he wants to be the Defensive Player of the Year this season and there might be nothing we can do to stop him. He is first in the League in defensive rating (93.1), second in defensive win shares (1.7), second in block percentage (7.2), first in total blocks (66) and second in blocks per game (3.0). He throws in 9.0 rebounds per game to boot and is basically the reason we know what the heck the ‘verticality rule’ is. He is the defensive anchor on the NBA’s best defensive team, the Indiana Pacers, who allow only 93.1 points per 100 possessions (the lowest in the League).

Honorable Mention: Paul George, Andre Drummond

The winner of this award should almost definitely be a player from the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers have four players in the top five in individual defensive rating and defensive win shares. Their starting lineup is the best defensive lineup in the Association that has logged at least 100 minutes together this year, posting a defensive rating of 89.5 as a unit.

George is a standout candidate after Hibbert in that lineup, currently sitting at fourth in the League in defensive rating (94.4), first in defensive win shares (1.9), fourth in total steals (46), and eighth in steals per game (2.1). Drummond is a dark horse candidate after that, being the only player in the NBA to rank in the top-20 in both steals per game (1.7, ranked 14th) and blocks per game (1.4, ranked 19th). A league-leading 22.0 total rebound percentage and 11th-best 1.2 defensive win shares doesn’t hurt his cause either.

LEAST VALUABLE DEFENSIVE PLAYER: James Harden

The Houston Rockets are the League’s sixth-best defensive team, allowing only 100.0 points per 100.0 possessions. That is despite the team’s leader in minutes, Harden, having an individual defensive rating of 106.0, the worst of players who have played at least 100 minutes for the Rockets this season. It doesn’t really require much more statistical analysis than that, as the eye test says it all. Seriously, just type in “James Harden defense” on YouTube and decide for yourself.

Dishonorable Mention: Everyone on the Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz have the NBA’s worst defensive rating at 108.3. The five worst individual defensive ratings in the League (minimum 10 games played, 25.0 minutes per game) are all members of the Jazz’s starting lineup (Trey Burke 114.2, Enes Kanter 111.7, Richard Jefferson 111.5, Derrick Favors 111.1 and Gordon Hayward 110.1). Pick your poison. They’ll all be in the running for this award throughout the year.

MOST VALUABLE SIXTH MAN: Reggie Jackson

This award was shaping up to be someone else’s until a few days ago, but I’ll get to that in a moment. Another more-than-worthy recipient is the Thunder’s Reggie Jackson (maybe they didn’t need the defensively inept Harden in this role after all…are those crickets?).

Of every player who has come off the bench in at least half of their team’s games and played more than 10.0 minutes per game, Reggie Jackson comes in second in net rating with a ridiculous 16.2 (109.5 offensive, 93.2 defensive). He also leads that group of players with a +/- rating of 7.8, sixth in the whole NBA. In 24.9 minutes per game, Jackson is averaging 12.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 threes.

Those raw numbers, while solid, might not be flashy enough for voters come award time, as this award often goes to players who lead the NBA in bench scoring (like Jamal Crawford or Rodney Stuckey, averaging 15.8 and 15.7 off the bench respectively this season). If the advanced stat nerds have their way, however, Jackson will be near the head of the pack for being such a two-way difference maker off the pine.

Honorable Mention: Isaiah Thomas, Ryan Anderson, Manu Ginobili

This award was Thomas’ until Greivis Vasquez got sent to the Raptors in the Rudy Gay trade and Thomas was named the Kings’ starting PG for the remainder of the season. IT2 leads all players who have played the majority of their season off the bench in nERD (6.3, 26th overall), points (18.3 per game), and assists (5.4).

Anderson is up to his old tricks as well. He missed the beginning of the season with a fractured toe, but averaged 20.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 threes in 31.2 minutes per game in his first seven games back coming off the bench. With Anthony Davis sustaining a broken finger that will keep him out for several weeks, Anderson has been thrust into a starting role, thus taking him out of contention for this award for a while.

Ginobili, the prototype bench player and reliable spark off the bench, is still doing Manu things (leads all bench players with a 16.9 net rating) and is, therefore, still in contention for this award.

LEAST VALUABLE BENCH PLAYER: Amar’e Stoudemire

Stoudemire’s quick decline over the last few years has been painful to watch. He used to be the hope for the future in New York, now he’s just another example of a Knick whose usefulness-to-salary ratio is alarmingly low. In games that his health has actually allowed him to play (16 such occurrences this year), he has averaged career lows in minutes (16.9), points (7.3), rebounds, (3.4) and blocks (0.4). He has never been a great defender (defensive rating of 108.0 this year), but his usually fantastic offensive rating (career 114.0) has been a career worst 99.0. For the record, he’s making roughly $21.7 million this year and $23.4 million next year. Ouch.

Dishonorable Mention: Gerald Wallace, Jeffery Taylor

Wallace plays 22.3 minutes per game and has a net rating of -5.9. He also has a terrible turnover ratio for a forward, clocking in at 22.8. He’s a career .714 shooter from the line, but has only hit 12 of his 34 attempts so far this year (.353). Overall, he’s putting up his worst numbers in 10 years. Taylor plays 24.6 minutes per game for the Bobcats and puts up ho-hum averages of 8.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.1 blocks and 0.7 threes. The biggest problem is that he’s been terribly inefficient, shooting .391 from the field, .268 from deep, and .558 from the line. His net rating of -11.2 is one of the worst in the NBA for a bench player.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Paul George

There are several good candidates for this award, but I absolutely love the narrative of George being the first ever back-to-back winner (or the only player to ever win it twice, for that matter). There’s something very compelling about a player who has worked so hard to develop from a role player with potential, to an All-Star, to now an elite superstar in just a couple of years.

The talk last year was whether or not George would lose minutes when Danny Granger returned from injury, but now we’re discussing him in the same breath as LeBron and Durant for MVP and looking at him as a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate as well. Isn’t it wild to think that he’s in contention for three major awards this year? His PER has jumped from 16.8 to 24.5 (eighth in the NBA), his nERD from 5.9 to 18.7 (third), his scoring average from 16.7 to 24.2 (fourth), his offensive rating from 104 to 114 and his defensive rating from 97 to 94 (fourth). This award usually goes to someone who simply puts up numbers in line with their previous per-36 averages when given more minutes. George has done all this in less time, averaging 36.8 minutes per game, compared to last year’s 37.6. He’s still slightly outside MVP and Defensive Player of the Year talk, but this one is his to lose.

Honorable Mention: Lance Stephenson, Wesley Matthews, Anthony Davis, Arron Afflalo, Eric Bledsoe

There are several other excellent candidates for this award. Stephenson is averaging career highs in almost everything, and currently leads the League in triple-doubles. Matthews has been ridiculously efficient through 22 games, leading the League with a .649 effective field goal percentage and a 129.0 offensive rating. Davis is hurt, but has turned a few extra minutes per game into an increase in almost every conceivable stat category, including a League-leading 3.6 blocks per game (up from 1.8 last year) and 9.1 block percentage (up from 5.1).

Afflalo has increased his scoring average in every single one of his seven NBA seasons and is currently 11th in the League at 21.9 points per game (not to mention posting career highs in rebounds, assists, steals and threes). Eric Bledsoe has also made the leap, increasing his scoring average from 8.5 last year to 18.6 this season, to go along with career highs in rebounds, assists, steals and threes (his jump in production is mostly due to a hefty minutes increase, but his .522 effective field goal percentage, up from his career .469, shows undeniable improvement).

MOST DECLINED PLAYER: Ersan Ilyasova

Earlier this season, I discussed Ersan Ilyasova as a notoriously slow starter. Well, we’re still waiting (im)patiently for him to flick the switch this year. He has plummeted in most major categories, despite playing close to the same minutes (27.6 per game, down to 26.8 this year). His PER has fallen from 18.3 to 10.3. His nERD was 5.4 last year and is -5.5 this year. His averages have dropped in scoring (13.2 to 8.8), rebounding (7.1 to 4.7), threes (1.3 to 0.5), field goal percentage (.462 to .415), three-point percentage (.444 to .250) and free-throw percentage (.796 to .750), while his turnovers have increased (1.0 to 1.7). He has shown in the past that he can turn these slow starts around and the reeling Bucks could really use that right about now from their second-highest paid player.

Dishonorable Mention: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett

It’s heartbreaking to watch such notable superstars fall off a statistical cliff, but that’s exactly what has happened to future Hall of Famers Pierce and Garnett. It was only a few months ago that the two of them were top options on a Playoff-bound Celtics team, then they were looked at as key Championship-or-bust acquisitions by Brooklyn this past offseason. Now, they’re both averaging career lows in most statistical categories, most notably a complete implosion in efficiency. Pierce’s effective field goal percentage is currently at .408 (down from a career .498), while Garnett’s is at an unsightly .371 (career .502). Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

MOST VALUABLE COACH: Frank Vogel

As previously mentioned, Vogel’s Indiana Pacers are the NBA’s best defensive team, posting a team defensive rating of an incredibly stingy 93.1. Their team offensive rating of 102.2 is serviceable, giving them an elite 9.1 net rating, second only to the Spurs.

They hold the League’s best record at 19-3 and have beaten formidable opponents like the Heat, Clippers and Spurs in the last two weeks. Vogel has got his team firing on all cylinders as a defensive unit, has helped Paul George develop into an elite player, has turned Lance Stephenson from a knucklehead into an important cog on a contender, and has skillfully integrated an almost entirely new bench. The Spurs’ Greg Popovich is always a threat to win this award and the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra is admittedly due, but for now this award belongs to Vogel.

Honorable Mention: Terry Stotts, Jeff Hornacek

Vegas set the over/under for wins for Stotts’ Blazers at 38.5 before the season began. The Blazers, currently at 18-4, have a team nERD of 65.6, which projects them to finish with a record of 54-28. Hornacek’s Suns, perhaps even more surprisingly, have a record of 12-9 and our algorithms give them a nERD of 55.9. The resulting projected record of 46-36 would more than double their initial over/under for wins of 19.5. Hope you bet the over on these two squads, because their coaches have them exceeding all expectations.

LEAST VALUABLE COACH: Jason Kidd

I talked about all the reasons Kidd has been terrible as a coach so far this year in my breakdown of the hapless Atlantic Division. The DUI, intentionally spilled drink and reassignment of assistant coach Lawrence Frank to be an excessively high-paid report writer are reason enough, but a team with a league-high $103.1 million payroll and a combined 35 All-Star appearances between its five starters should be better than 7-14.

Our algorithms have the Nets on pace to go 24-58, based on a 27th-ranked team nERD of 29.7. Vegas set their over/under at 52.5 this past offseason, a number that many considered low at the time. Now they need to go 46-15 just to hit the over. Yikes.

Dishonorable Mention: Mike Woodson, Mike Brown, Larry Drew, Ty Corbin

There are so many candidates for this award, particularly in the Eastern Conference, where there are currently two teams over .500. Some coaches get a pass for having limited talent, but a team like Mike Woodson’s Knicks should be an automatic playoff team, Mike Brown’s Cavs should be on the rise, and Larry Drew’s Bucks should at least hover around the middle in such an awful conference.

Instead, the Knicks are in last place in a historically awful Atlantic Division at 6-15, the Cavs have been a mess at 8-13, and the Bucks have been atrocious at 5-17. More dishonorable mention goes to Ty Corbin and the Jazz out west, who have the NBA’s worst record at 5-19. I could spew stats about horrible defensive ratings, etc., but I’ll save you the nausea. They’re bad. Really bad.

MOST VALUABLE EXECUTIVE: Masai Ujiri

Reigning Executive of the Year, Ujiri, has taken practically no time making his mark on the Raptors since joining the squad this past summer. He has traded the team’s two worst and most untradeable contracts in Andrea Bargnani and Rudy Gay (this quarter’s LVP) for a handful of decent role players, expiring contracts and draft picks. Either the moves make them better and they can contend for a playoff spot in the lowly Eastern Conference or they’ve gotten worse and have a shot at a top lottery pick in what promises to be the deepest Draft in decades. Either way, Ujiri is a winner.

Honorable Mention: Larry Bird, Neil Olshey

Larry Bird’s Pacers and Neil Olshey’s Blazers both had glaring deficiencies in the form of their benches last season. They both went out and addressed those issues and now stand atop their respective conferences, the Pacers at 19-3 and the Blazers at 18-4. Well done, gentlemen.

LEAST VALUABLE EXECUTIVE: James Dolan

James Dolan is a weird dude. He has a guy follow Coach Mike Woodson around, he gave JR Smith’s brother Chris Smith a contract, his big offseason moves were trading for Andrea Bargnani and signing Metta World Peace, he’s trying frantically to move one of his best young players in Iman Shumpert for no discernable reason, he recently banned Woody Allen from his a restaurant over a disagreement, and he guarantees wins for his 6-15 Knicks during blues shows that he plays with his band, JD & the Straight Shot. As for positive things that he has done for the Knicks franchise recently, well…um…

Dishonorable Mention: Billy King, Mitch Kupchak

As previously mentioned, Nets GM Billy King is currently paying $103.1 million for a 7-14 team. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has a comparably high payroll and just signed a 35-year-old Kobe Bryant coming off an Achilles injury to a two-year, $48.5 million contract, effectively taking away any chance of them putting together a contender for the next two years. These two teams are a combined 17-25. ‘Nuff said.

NumberFire is a sports analytics platform that uses algorithmic modeling to better understand sports. Follow NumberFire on Twitter at @numberfire and Facebook

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/numberfire-nba-quarterly-report/feed/ 38 https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-blocks-joe-johnsons-dunk-attempt-video/ https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-blocks-joe-johnsons-dunk-attempt-video/#comments Fri, 06 Dec 2013 14:00:55 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=299016 Rejected.

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After blowing past a helpless Metta World Peace on the wing, Joe Johnson thought he had an easy dunk. Wrong, said Amar’e Stoudemire.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-blocks-joe-johnsons-dunk-attempt-video/feed/ 11 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/carmelo-anthony-tells-amare-stoudemire-to-worry-about-defense-not-shots/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/carmelo-anthony-tells-amare-stoudemire-to-worry-about-defense-not-shots/#comments Wed, 27 Nov 2013 15:25:24 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=298119 Hey, remember when Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire were brought together to form then next great duo in the Eastern Conference? Neither do we! Anyway, the two frustrated Knicks stars are now trading thinly-veiled shots through the media. Per the NY Post: “After each of the last three games — all losses — Stoudemire has […]

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Hey, remember when Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire were brought together to form then next great duo in the Eastern Conference? Neither do we! Anyway, the two frustrated Knicks stars are now trading thinly-veiled shots through the media. Per the NY Post: “After each of the last three games — all losses — Stoudemire has stated a lack of ball movement has led to the Knicks’ 3-10 start as they enter Wednesday’s game against the Clippers at Staples Center. Of course, the implication is the culprits are Anthony and J.R. Smith, both of whom have reputations for playing too much isolation ball. Anthony instead claimed the Knicks have stunk out the court on the other end. ‘It’s just defense at this point,’ Anthony said. ‘The easiest thing to do is try to point fingers and trying to figure out what’s going on — [like] ball movement. At the end of the day it’s defense, we’re not guarding anybody.’ The lack of moving the ball has been a staple of Stoudemire’s rhetoric since Anthony got to town. And Anthony isn’t surprised fans think Stoudemire is pointing the finger at him. Iman Shumpert also talked about ‘the ball sticking’ after the Portland loss Monday. ‘It’s easy to do because at the end of the day, I have the ball most of the offense,’ Anthony said. ‘When you hear that, where it’s coming from, why is it being said, the real reason we’re not winning is we’re not defending. We’re not believing or trusting in one another on the defensive end.’ […] Coach Mike Woodson wants them focusing on defense and also disputed Stoudemire’s share-the-ball thesis. ‘I’m not going there with you on that,’ Woodson said. ‘Melo’s having another solid season. Melo’s doing what he’s supposed to do. Everybody else has to do what they have to do. Nobody’s shooting the ball extremely well. But everybody’s getting shots.'”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/carmelo-anthony-tells-amare-stoudemire-to-worry-about-defense-not-shots/feed/ 65 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-hopes-to-become-a-hall-of-famer-as-a-knick/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-hopes-to-become-a-hall-of-famer-as-a-knick/#comments Mon, 25 Nov 2013 19:00:03 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=297782 STAT thinks he’s going to the Hall of Fame, and wants to be recognized for his work in Gotham. Amar’e Stoudemire may be fading as a ballplayer, but he certainly hasn’t lost any self-confidence. Per the NY Daily News: “My mission is to become a great player and hopefully become a future Hall of Fame […]

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STAT thinks he’s going to the Hall of Fame, and wants to be recognized for his work in Gotham. Amar’e Stoudemire may be fading as a ballplayer, but he certainly hasn’t lost any self-confidence. Per the NY Daily News: “My mission is to become a great player and hopefully become a future Hall of Fame player and my goal is to do it here in New York and finish off my career here,’ Stoudemire said in the visitors’ locker room inside Washington’s Verizon Center late Saturday night after the Knicks lost to the Wizards, 98-89. ‘That’s the goal. That’s the mission. Continue to work as hard as I always have and to get better and better. Try to dodge injuries.’ In recent seasons, Stoudemire has not been able to avoid injuries and now that his name has come up in trade talks with the Celtics, there’s a question whether he will reach his career goals as a Knick. According to a source, the rebuilding Celtics are willing to take on Stoudemire’s mega-contract, with one season left, at $23.4 million, for valuable future cap space. Meanwhile, the Knicks are trying to keep their season from totally imploding and would get two players, Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries, who could be productive immediately. […] Against the Wizards, Stoudemire had 12 points and four rebounds in 21-plus minutes. ‘I thought he was a bright spot,’ Mike Woodson said Sunday, before the Knicks departed for the Pacific Northwest. ‘I think we can get back to what we saw last year, before he went down that last time.'”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-hopes-to-become-a-hall-of-famer-as-a-knick/feed/ 7 https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-dunks-on-luigi-datome-video/ https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-dunks-on-luigi-datome-video/#comments Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:00:54 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=297118 Yes, he was occasionally horrific on defense, but STAT did show flashes of his old, explosive self when he dunked hard on Luigi Datome.

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Yes, he was occasionally horrific on defense, but STAT did show flashes of his old, explosive self when he dunked hard on Luigi Datome.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-dunks-on-luigi-datome-video/feed/ 11 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/knicks-reportedly-want-rajon-rondo-in-blockbuster-trade/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/knicks-reportedly-want-rajon-rondo-in-blockbuster-trade/#comments Mon, 18 Nov 2013 16:00:54 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=296835 by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni Things aren’t going very well for the New York Knicks. Off to an ugly 3-6 start, players are sniping at each other through the press, JR Smith is in danger of losing his newly-acquired starting position, and management is looking to shake up the roster. Iman Shumpert is the team’s […]

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by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni

Things aren’t going very well for the New York Knicks. Off to an ugly 3-6 start, players are sniping at each other through the press, JR Smith is in danger of losing his newly-acquired starting position, and management is looking to shake up the roster.

Iman Shumpert is the team’s lone tradeable asset, and the Knicks are doing all they can to package him in a deal (with little success). The latest rumor is that New York approached the Boston Celtics about a blockbuster deal involving Rajon Rondo.

Per the NY Daily News and ESPN:

There are also reports of the Knicks talking to the Sacramento Kings about a deal for Shumpert. Coincidentally, Kings forward Jason Thompson is represented by Leon Rose, the agent for Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith and Chris Smith. The Knicks’ primary target is Rondo, Boston’s All-Star point guard who is recovering from knee surgery. The Knicks have been trying to trade Shumpert, Raymond Felton and Stoudemire in a complicated deal for Rondo but the Celtics haven’t shown much interest.

Sources did say the Celtics would be willing to take on Stoudemire’s contract if they could unload some of their longer deals, namely those of (Gerald) Wallace and Courtney Lee. The Knicks may be reluctant to take Wallace back because they’re hesitant to take on salary beyond the 2014-15 season.

The Knicks would obviously love to move Amar’e Stoudemire’s giant contract off their books, but that seems like wishful thinking at this point.

Things are further complicated by reports of a secret knee operation that Iman Shumpert underwent during the offseason. That being the case, it certainly feels like it’s only a matter of time until he’s dealt away.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/knicks-reportedly-want-rajon-rondo-in-blockbuster-trade/feed/ 64 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-is-frustrated-with-his-minutes-restriction/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-is-frustrated-with-his-minutes-restriction/#comments Sun, 17 Nov 2013 19:06:18 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=296801 The Knicks have capped Amar’e Stoudemire’s minutes pretty tightly—he’s currently playing a max of about 10 minutes a game in two five-minute intervals—and it sounds like he’s growing pretty pissed about the whole situation. ESPN New York has the details: “Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire is growing frustrated with the minutes limit the team has placed on […]

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The Knicks have capped Amar’e Stoudemire’s minutes pretty tightly—he’s currently playing a max of about 10 minutes a game in two five-minute intervals—and it sounds like he’s growing pretty pissed about the whole situation. ESPN New York has the details: “Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire is growing frustrated with the minutes limit the team has placed on him. ‘It’s making me look like my game is gone or that I don’t have game anymore because when you play five minutes, it’s just tough to really get in a rhythm,’ Stoudemire said before Saturday night’s 110-90 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. In an effort to protect his oft-injured knees, the Knicks have placed Stoudemire on a limit of 10 minutes per game. He has been playing two five-minute intervals. ‘It’s tough to play five minutes and expect to be great in five minutes. It’s almost impossible,’ he said. ‘By the time you get up and down and get adjusted to the speed of the game, it’s already three minutes, and then in two minutes you’re out of there. And if you miss a shot, it feels [like] the world is collapsing on you because you’re expected to do so much and somewhat win the game in five minutes and it’s tough. It’s hard to deal with.’ Stoudemire has played in six of the Knicks’ nine games this season and sat out one game of each back-to-back set. Entering play Saturday, he had averaged 2.8 points on 37 percent shooting in 9.8 minutes. He had five points in a season-high 14 minutes on Saturday.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-is-frustrated-with-his-minutes-restriction/feed/ 29 https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-deandre-jordan-rudy-gay-delivery-service-video/ https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-deandre-jordan-rudy-gay-delivery-service-video/#comments Tue, 29 Oct 2013 19:24:17 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=293930 Verified straight from the source.

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In the NBA’s new spot titled “Delivery Service”, Amar’e Stoudemire, DeAndre Jordan and Rudy Gay hand deliver ticket orders to fans, no matter the circumstance.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-deandre-jordan-rudy-gay-delivery-service-video/feed/ 3 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-healthy-enough-to-play-in-season-opener/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-healthy-enough-to-play-in-season-opener/#comments Tue, 29 Oct 2013 15:00:45 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=293835 According to New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire, he’s available to play against the Milwaukee Bucks. The rest, now, is up to head coach Mike Woodson. Per the NY Post: “Mike Woodson will not announce the Knicks’ starting five until Wednesday’s season-opening game against the Bucks, but Amar’e Stoudemire will be available to come off […]

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According to New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire, he’s available to play against the Milwaukee Bucks. The rest, now, is up to head coach Mike Woodson. Per the NY Post: “Mike Woodson will not announce the Knicks’ starting five until Wednesday’s season-opening game against the Bucks, but Amar’e Stoudemire will be available to come off the bench. Stoudemire, who underwent his third knee surgery in less than a year this summer, made his preseason debut on Friday and said he had no setbacks. ‘I feel good so far,’ Stoudemire said after Monday’s practice. ‘No setbacks, progress is going well, so that’s a good sign for me.’ Stoudemire, 30, looked sharp in his debut, scoring six points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field in 12 minutes of action against Charlotte. Stoudemire said he supports Woodson’s plan to platoon his reserve power forwards — Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin — by resting them in alternating games. The limited playing time may help him stay upright after playing in just 76 games over the past two seasons. ‘Yeah, it’s fine with me. I think we’re on the same feel as far as trying to recover from injuries, so whatever it takes for us to prolong our career and be ready for the postseason, I think that’s the approach,’ Stoudemire said. ‘We’re just taking a strategic approach about this season and make sure we’re ready for longevity. This is like training camp for me at this point. Just continue to get in shape, continue to get my strength and my rhythm back. The last preseason game was a great indication of how I feel and where I’m at as far as my skill-set, which I felt was pretty good. Just going to continue to build on that.'”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-healthy-enough-to-play-in-season-opener/feed/ 1 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-could-be-on-a-20-minutes-per-game-limit-per-game/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-could-be-on-a-20-minutes-per-game-limit-per-game/#comments Thu, 17 Oct 2013 16:15:08 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=292156 Well, so much for becoming a dominant force once again. New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson said that forward Amar’e Stoudemire may not be allowed to suit up for more than 20 minutes a night once he returns. Per ESPN: “‘We’ve just got to figure out if it’s going to be 10 minutes, 15, […]

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Well, so much for becoming a dominant force once again. New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson said that forward Amar’e Stoudemire may not be allowed to suit up for more than 20 minutes a night once he returns. Per ESPN: “‘We’ve just got to figure out if it’s going to be 10 minutes, 15, 20. We won’t know at this point until he’s back on the floor and seeing how things are going,’ Woodson said Tuesday. Stoudemire averaged 23.5 minutes per game last season, when he was limited to 30 minutes per game by the team’s medical staff. The minutes limit proved prudent because Stoudemire needed a second knee surgery in March after he experienced soreness following a four-games-in-five nights stretch. In two of those games, the 30-year-old Stoudemire played more than 30 minutes. Stoudemire will likely be on a stricter minutes count this year. ‘I thought we were really doing a pretty good job managing his minutes last season,’ Woodson said. ‘And they were, I thought, positive minutes in terms of helping us win basketball games when he was in there.’ No one is sure if he will be ready for the season opener on Oct. 30. The 11-year veteran underwent an offseason knee procedure over the summer (his third in the past 12 months) so the Knicks are being cautious with him. Stoudemire’s been running on the court but has yet to scrimmage with his teammates.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-could-be-on-a-20-minutes-per-game-limit-per-game/feed/ 9 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-104-amare-stoudemire/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-104-amare-stoudemire/#respond Tue, 15 Oct 2013 21:34:41 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=291409 Oct. 11, 2006: STAT throws it down on Nikola Vujcic during NBA Europe Live.

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Originally published in SLAM 104

The specifics of this one—a mostly meaningless exhibition game between the Phoenix Suns and Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv, part of the global marketing push-slash-preseason-tournament known as NBA Europe Live—don’t really matter. The victim here, a 28-year-old Croatian cat named Nikola Vujcic, is apparently a pretty nice player (all-Euroleague the past two seasons) and has spent six years as a top contributor with the dominant Israeli club, but that really doesn’t mean much to us, either. No, this one isn’t about the occasion or the opposition as much as it’s about the guy doing the dunking.

Amar’e. Is he back for real? Does a moment like this clinch it? Or are we getting our hopes up only to have them dashed? We asked ourselves a lot of these questions last month, before we put Amar’e on the cover, a calculated if cautiously optimistic risk that we hoped and prayed wouldn’t backfire. Some of that was selfish, of course—having some hobbled superstar on your front page doesn’t sell a lot of issues—but mostly, we were concerned about a kid whose hard-knock upbringing and unlikely path to stardom deserve a better ending then his balky knee was threatening to write.

Then we saw this. It’s early, we know, but seeing Amar’e get up and throw down like this brought smiles to our faces. And if Nikola Vujcic didn’t share our enthusiasm, all the better.

—Ryan Jones

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-104-amare-stoudemire/feed/ 0 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-thinks-he-can-be-dominant-again/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-thinks-he-can-be-dominant-again/#comments Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:40:59 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=290944 by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni The Amar’e Stoudemire Experience, once so thrilling and promising, has turned downright depressing for New York Knicks fans and players. Just ask Carmelo Anthony, who admits to being saddened by his teammate’s constant battles with injuries. The only person who doesn’t seem all that bummed out, curiously, is Amar’e Stoudemire. […]

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by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni

The Amar’e Stoudemire Experience, once so thrilling and promising, has turned downright depressing for New York Knicks fans and players. Just ask Carmelo Anthony, who admits to being saddened by his teammate’s constant battles with injuries.

The only person who doesn’t seem all that bummed out, curiously, is Amar’e Stoudemire. STAT continues to say that he will somehow regain his old, dominant form.

Per Newsday:

As Amar’e Stoudemire shot on the far end of the court Tuesday, Carmelo Anthony said it’s “sad” to see his teammate continually fight back from injuries. Anthony is at the top of his game, but he knows he may never play with Stoudemire at an All-Star level again. “Yeah, I think about it,” Anthony said. “I think about it sometimes. He was one of the reasons why I wanted to come to New York. So for me not to have that chance, the opportunity to get a full season in and get a rhythm going with him, it’s not something I thought would happen.”

Stoudemire said “it’s a possibility” he could play in the Knicks’ regular-season opener Oct. 30. The six-time All-Star also remains confident he can return to his old form, but it’s another long road ahead following another knee surgery. Stoudemire and the Knicks haven’t divulged what the operation was. He said it was in the summer and “very, very minor.” But Stoudemire also had a debridement on both knees last season, limiting him to 29 games. That makes it hard to know when Stoudemire will be back, how compromised he will be and whether he will be effective. But all the surgeries didn’t affect his work ethic or self-confidence. “I do envision myself getting healthy and being able to dominate as I once did before,” Stoudemire said after a lengthy workout. “I can’t control injuries. All I can do is work extremely hard and do all I can do to prevent them and hopefully, this time will be the last time.”

There’s no telling when Stoudemire will get back on the court, and the Knicks appear ready to move on without him this season.

With a couple of years left on his gargantuan deal, Knicks fans are simply hoping Amar’e can contribute once he puts a uniform back on. As for dominance, that seems more fantasy than anything else at this point.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-thinks-he-can-be-dominant-again/feed/ 79 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-secretly-had-another-knee-surgery/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-secretly-had-another-knee-surgery/#comments Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:00:51 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=289843 by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni According to the NY Daily News, Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire underwent a hush-hush knee operation this summer. New York didn’t announce that their injury-plagued star had a third surgery in the last 12 months (which a source called a “clean up”) on one of his troubled knees: However, the […]

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by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni

According to the NY Daily News, Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire underwent a hush-hush knee operation this summer.

New York didn’t announce that their injury-plagued star had a third surgery in the last 12 months (which a source called a “clean up”) on one of his troubled knees:

However, the secrecy surrounding Stoudemire’s latest health issue could be an indication that the club is not optimistic that they can rely on the veteran power forward. Stoudemire appeared in just 29 games last season and had debridement surgeries on both of his knees, the right knee in October and the left in March. Stoudemire was on a strict minutes restriction last season and both head coach Mike Woodson and former general manager Glen Grunwald said last May that the plan going forward was to reduce the playing time of the fragile $100 million forward.

Stoudemire’s work ethic is second to none and in the past he has worked vigorously to get himself back on the court. However, the Knicks management is all but resigned to the fact that Stoudemire will never return to his All Star form on a consistent basis. Stoudemire is entering the fourth season of a five-year, $100 million contract. Because of his previous knee problems, Stoudemire’s contract is not insured. Stoudemire’s former team, the Phoenix Suns, were advised by their medical staff that Stoudemire would be physically limited in the third year of his contract.

Health will be the key to the Knicks’ season, with STAT’s status hanging ominously over everything.

Stoudemire hasn’t scrimmaged alongside his teammates at all in informal offseason workouts, and according to point guard Raymond Felton, Amar’e will be very limited during training camp.

The New York Knicks may not necessarily be better in 2013-’14 than they were last season (let alone pose a threat as title contenders), but as always, they will be fascinating.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-secretly-had-another-knee-surgery/feed/ 72 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-hosts-private-screening-for-documentary-photos/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-hosts-private-screening-for-documentary-photos/#comments Wed, 25 Sep 2013 14:54:24 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=289277 Executive producers STAT and Lupe Fiasco's special show.

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Amar’e Stoudemire and rapper Lupe Fiasco held a private screening for their documentary entitled LITTLE BALLERS this weekend. The film follows the journey of four 11-year-old AAU ballers striving to make their NBA dreams a reality. Along with STAT, Walt Frazier, Steve Nash, Joakim Noah, Russell Westbrook, JR Smith, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler make appearances in the documentary. Check out the photos from the screening above.

Find out more and check out Little Ballers on Twitter and Instagram.#Littleballers @Littleballers #EverybodyHasADream. Photos by Jerritt Clark.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-hosts-private-screening-for-documentary-photos/feed/ 1 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-89-amare-stoudemire/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-89-amare-stoudemire/#respond Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:47:02 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=288295 April 8, 2005: STAT posterizes Adonal Foyle on the road.

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Originally published in SLAM 89

Maybe it was the box score. That’s Amar’e, on his way to 44 and 16 in what would end up a 127-119 loss to the suddenly unbeatable Warriors in early April. But what’s that? Adonal Foyle, on his way to doubling his season average with an 8-point night, was also on his way to a game-high 17 boards. That couldn’t have made STAT happy, but could it drive him to this? No, there had to be more…

So maybe it was about the money. Amar’e’s still on his rookie contract, making about $2 mil a year. That’s not bad, but then there’s Adonal. Thanks to an offseason deal that apparently pays him $425,000 for every successfully set screen, AF is due $6.5 mil this season. If you were Amar’e, you don’t think that would sting? Yeah, but still…

Or, just maybe, this was about the kids. Word is that the new CBA will feature a minimum-age requirement, meaning a kid like Amar’e—whose high school career is Exhibit A in how adults with screwed-up priorities can almost ruin a young man’s life—wouldn’t be able to salvage his future by skipping college, even if he was ill-prepared for life as a student-athlete, and if a shot at financial independence was all he really needed. Yeah, that sounds right. Amar’e, doin’ it for the kids.

If you saw the game, you know this is one of two times Amar’e banged on Adonal. Guess he just wanted to emphasize his point.

—Ryan Jones

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-89-amare-stoudemire/feed/ 0 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-hosts-second-annual-back-pack-drive-photos/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-hosts-second-annual-back-pack-drive-photos/#comments Sat, 07 Sep 2013 18:35:49 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=287295 Back to school, STAT style.

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With the summer winding down, kids are trading in their basketballs for books as they prepare to go back to school. Amar’e Stoudemire and his wife Alexis showed their school spirit too, at the second annual Amar’e Stoudemire Foundation Back Pack Drive at the Polo Grounds Community Center on September 5.

The Knicks star spoke to the youth about the importance of education, and he gave out Haddad back packs, autographed copies of his fourth children’s book titled, STAT: Schooled, and other gifts. Check out the photos from the event above.

Photos via AmareStoudemire.com

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-hosts-second-annual-back-pack-drive-photos/feed/ 6 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-judge-miss-america-pageant/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-judge-miss-america-pageant/#comments Wed, 14 Aug 2013 13:20:06 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=284530 New York Knicks star forward Amar’e Stoudemire has been named on of the judges of the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. Per the AP: “Joining (Amar’e and former ‘N Sync singer Lance Bass) will be Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell; comedian and performer Mario Cantone; and Barbara Corcoran, an investor from ABC’s entrepreneurial competition […]

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New York Knicks star forward Amar’e Stoudemire has been named on of the judges of the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. Per the AP: “Joining (Amar’e and former ‘N Sync singer Lance Bass) will be Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell; comedian and performer Mario Cantone; and Barbara Corcoran, an investor from ABC’s entrepreneurial competition show ‘Shark Tank.’ Also on the panel are Carla Hall, co-host of ABC’s food-and-talk show ‘The Chew,’ and Deidre Downs Gunn, an obstetrician and gynecologist who was the last Miss America to be crowned in Atlantic City. Pageant officials announced the list of judges Tuesday. The pageant will be broadcast live from Boardwalk Hall on Sept. 15. It had been held in Las Vegas the past six years before returning to New Jersey.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-judge-miss-america-pageant/feed/ 15 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-68-amare-stoudemire/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-68-amare-stoudemire/#comments Mon, 12 Aug 2013 21:28:51 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=279118 Dec. 20, 2002: Amar'e annihilates Michael Olowokandi.

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Originally published in SLAM 68

Darkness. Dank, cold darkness. Silence. Ominous silence, broken only by the echoing sound of dripping water in some remote corner.

Suddenly, there is light. A flat-screen TV flickers to life, illuminating the bare walls of what looks like a medieval prison cell. There is no sound, only highlights. On the screen, the big man in the Suns uniform does impossible things—driving baseline and dunking across his body with the wrong hand. Grabbing seemingly out-of-reach rebounds in traffic. Turning rolls of Stephon Marbury dimes into and-1s. Cut after cut after cut, a whole SportsCenter’s worth of highlights. But this is just one man. The true Manchild (sorry, Shawn).

It’s only then you notice the figure in the chair in front of the TV, tied to it with what looks like his own tie. Sweat glistens on his brow, hands balled into fists, eyes are unnaturally open—A Clockwork Orange open—forced to focus on the screen. Pages lie scattered on the floor, and you can just make out some names: Hilario, Tskitishvili, Dunleavy. All are headed “Scouting Report.”

Behind the figure, a voice leaps from an overhead speaker. “HOW COULD YOU MISS THIS GUY? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!” On screen, the tape rolls to its finale. Rising up in the lane, Amar’e Stoudemire challenges Clippers center Michael Olowokandi, ball cocked way back. The man in the chair tries to close his eyes, knowing what’s next. But he can’t. The hammer comes down, the screen goes dark, and the voice speaks once more. “YOU’RE FIRED.”

What team is this, you ask? Pick one.

—Russ Bengtson

 

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/slamadamonth-slam-68-amare-stoudemire/feed/ 2 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/paul-pierce-says-time-for-brooklyn-nets-to-run-new-york/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/paul-pierce-says-time-for-brooklyn-nets-to-run-new-york/#comments Fri, 09 Aug 2013 13:10:45 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=283620 by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni As his career-long war against the New York Knicks wages on, Paul Pierce has invaded their city and says it’s time for his new squad to take over. Pierce thinks the Knicks’ time has come and gone, and that the Brooklyn Nets are the new sheriffs in town. Per ESPN: […]

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by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni

As his career-long war against the New York Knicks wages on, Paul Pierce has invaded their city and says it’s time for his new squad to take over.

Pierce thinks the Knicks’ time has come and gone, and that the Brooklyn Nets are the new sheriffs in town.

Per ESPN:

“I think the hate [for the Knicks] has grown a little. Everybody knows how much I disliked the Knicks when I was with the Celtics, but I think it’s grown to another level,” Pierce said on Thursday. “I think it’s time for the Nets to start running this city.”

Pierce later told reporters at a Sprint H-O-R-S-E event in Manhattan: “The only thing that separates the two teams is a bridge. And both of them are in the same division and both of them are considered contenders. You can’t help but say this is probably gonna be the best rivalry in sports next year.” The Nets and Knicks will meet four times in 2013-14. The first game of their regular-season series will be Dec. 5 at Barclays Center.

Pierce’s claim that this will become the best rivalry in all of sports may be overstating things, but with JR Smith crowing that the Knicks remain New York’s “marquee” basketball team (despite their rapidly closing window), both sides will provide plenty of entertainment trying to win this argument.

Paul Pierce thinks the 2013-14 Brooklyn Nets are the most talented team he’s ever been a part of (it’s certainly the most expensive.) They must first reign supreme in Gotham.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/paul-pierce-says-time-for-brooklyn-nets-to-run-new-york/feed/ 62 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-asked-to-play-for-israels-national-team/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-asked-to-play-for-israels-national-team/#comments Thu, 18 Jul 2013 19:45:55 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=279820 Three years ago, Amar’e Stoudemire discovered that he’s Jewish. While in Israel this week, president Shimon Peres invited STAT to hoop for their national team. Per the AP: “Shimon Peres met with Stoudemire on Thursday to discuss the player’s charity efforts. Stoudemire, who says he has ‘Hebrew roots,’ has traveled to Israel before and Peres […]

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Three years ago, Amar’e Stoudemire discovered that he’s Jewish. While in Israel this week, president Shimon Peres invited STAT to hoop for their national team. Per the AP: “Shimon Peres met with Stoudemire on Thursday to discuss the player’s charity efforts. Stoudemire, who says he has ‘Hebrew roots,’ has traveled to Israel before and Peres urged him to help the national team. The six-time NBA All-Star already has significant ties to Israeli basketball. Last month, he joined a group looking to buy Hapoel Jerusalem, a team in Israel’s top league. Stoudemire is in Israel to coach the Canadian basketball team at the Maccabiah Games, a competition for Jewish athletes.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-asked-to-play-for-israels-national-team/feed/ 33 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/new-york-knicks-to-limit-amare-stoudemires-minutes-next-season/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/new-york-knicks-to-limit-amare-stoudemires-minutes-next-season/#comments Thu, 11 Jul 2013 18:05:56 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=278348 Head coach Mike Woodson was asked to limit Amar’e Stoudemire’s minutes last season, which created some friction with the star forward in the Playoffs. Woodson says that he’ll be under similar orders in 2013-’14 from his New York Knicks bosses. Per the NY Post: “The Knicks had talked about a 20-minute cap limit on the […]

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Head coach Mike Woodson was asked to limit Amar’e Stoudemire’s minutes last season, which created some friction with the star forward in the Playoffs. Woodson says that he’ll be under similar orders in 2013-’14 from his New York Knicks bosses. Per the NY Post: “The Knicks had talked about a 20-minute cap limit on the forward, and they also discussed limiting his playing in back-to-back games. ‘Right now, as it stands, he’s going to be on some restrictions,’ Woodson said. ‘What those restrictions will be, I don’t know yet.’ Woodson said the Knicks are taking a new approach to Stoudemire this offseason, having him rest all summer instead of working out. ‘The main thing with Amar’e, he needed rest,’ Woodson said. ‘Last summer, he put in a lot of time. He worked his [butt] off last summer.'”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/new-york-knicks-to-limit-amare-stoudemires-minutes-next-season/feed/ 25 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-train-with-hakeem-olajuwon-again-this-summer/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-train-with-hakeem-olajuwon-again-this-summer/#comments Sun, 26 May 2013 15:58:46 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=268305 After an injury-plagued 2012-13, Amar’e Stoudemire will prepare for ’13-14 by working out with none other than the great Hakeem Olajuwon (again). Via ESPNNewYork: “Amar’e Stoudemire will resume working out with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon for the second summer in a row, according to his training adviser Travis King. King said the workouts will […]

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After an injury-plagued 2012-13, Amar’e Stoudemire will prepare for ’13-14 by working out with none other than the great Hakeem Olajuwon (again). Via ESPNNewYork: “Amar’e Stoudemire will resume working out with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon for the second summer in a row, according to his training adviser Travis King. King said the workouts will take place sometime in August at Olajuwon’s ranch outside Houston. It’s not clear if Tyson Chandler will join him, which was on the table in 2012.Olajuwon has turned his full-court basketball gym into an NBA player development center during the summers, and he reportedly charges $50,000 a week for private instruction. He has worked one-on-one with Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and LeBron James. Stoudemire will continue to build on the post-up moves and defensive maneuvers he learned from Olajuwon last summer. The big reasons behind the collaboration were: (1) to give the Knicks a low-post presence, allowing Chandler to be the go-to pick-and-roller; and (2) to improve the spacing between Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, who had tended to crowd the court in the midrange area.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-train-with-hakeem-olajuwon-again-this-summer/feed/ 18 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/unhappy-amare-stoudemire-wants-to-discuss-his-role-with-the-knicks/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/unhappy-amare-stoudemire-wants-to-discuss-his-role-with-the-knicks/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 15:20:11 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=267266 According to Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson never gave him a chance to flourish alongside Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. Injuries, poor play and commons sense would disagree with STAT’s assertions, but still, Stoudemire would like to chat with Woody about his ever-diminishing role prior to next season. Per the NY […]

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According to Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson never gave him a chance to flourish alongside Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. Injuries, poor play and commons sense would disagree with STAT’s assertions, but still, Stoudemire would like to chat with Woody about his ever-diminishing role prior to next season. Per the NY Daily News: “Amar’e Stoudemire knows his contract won’t allow him to go anywhere and he wants Mike Woodson to make a commitment to make a frontcourt of Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler work. ‘We never gave it a chance,’ Stoudemire said after Indiana’s 106-99 victory eliminated the Knicks from the postseason. ‘So I think just the opportunity of allowing them to understand exactly what my style of play is and what I bring to the table is something that I think I’m going to have to sit down with Coach Woody and express to him.’ Stoudemire, who had knee surgery in October and again in March, was limited to 29 regular-season games and four in the postseason. He came off the bench in all 33 games and became a forgotten man in Games 5 & 6 against Indiana as Woodson elected to bench the $100 million forward in the second half of both. ‘It’s tough, it’s tough,’ he said. ‘It’s never easy to sit there and watch. But again, it’s Coach’s decision.’ Stoudemire has two years remaining on his uninsured contract and is nearly impossible to trade. He produced one field goal and zero rebounds in six minutes on Saturday.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/unhappy-amare-stoudemire-wants-to-discuss-his-role-with-the-knicks/feed/ 43 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-play-10-15-minutes-in-game-3-return/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-play-10-15-minutes-in-game-3-return/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 20:20:09 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=266237 According to New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson, Amar’e Stoudemire will indeed play Saturday night in Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers. STAT will be on a 10-15 minute limit. Per the NY Post: “The Knicks and Pacers are tied 1-1 in the second-round series as it switches to Indiana with a new face […]

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According to New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson, Amar’e Stoudemire will indeed play Saturday night in Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers. STAT will be on a 10-15 minute limit. Per the NY Post: “The Knicks and Pacers are tied 1-1 in the second-round series as it switches to Indiana with a new face on the bench for Woodson’s club. Last time Stoudemire made a comeback on Jan. 1, from the same knee-debridement surgery, he took a half-dozen games to get his timing back. He doesn’t have such a luxury now. ‘I expect to contribute the best I can,’ Stoudemire said today. ‘I don’t have time to find my rhythm. I have to be ready from the start. That’s what it’s going to be.’ Stoudemire participated in a 4-on-4 scrimmage Thursday, looking a little less rusty than he did in his first scrimmage Monday, playing mano-a-mano against Earl Barron. Stoudemire, who shook free for a couple of spinning dunks, will take Friday as a recovery day. ‘I feel similar to the way I came back the first time,’ Stoudemire said. ‘I’ve been in the playoffs my entire career. I’ve played alongside a lot of great players. I know what it takes in the postseason.'”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-play-10-15-minutes-in-game-3-return/feed/ 10 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/knicks-targeting-game-3-return-for-amare-stoudemire/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/knicks-targeting-game-3-return-for-amare-stoudemire/#comments Sun, 05 May 2013 15:11:56 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=265665 Amar’e Stoudemire has been ruled out for Games 1 and 2, but the Knicks are hoping to have their power forward back on the court for Game 3 vs. Indiana on Saturday. Via ESPNNewYork: “New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson has targeted Game 3 of the Knicks-Pacers series as the date for Amar’e Stoudemire’s return. Stoudemire […]

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Amar’e Stoudemire has been ruled out for Games 1 and 2, but the Knicks are hoping to have their power forward back on the court for Game 3 vs. Indiana on Saturday. Via ESPNNewYork: “New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson has targeted Game 3 of the Knicks-Pacers series as the date for Amar’e Stoudemire’s return. Stoudemire has been sidelined since March 7 with a right knee injury. He underwent a procedure to clean out debris in the knee on March 11. He has been ruled out of the first two games of the Knicks-Pacers series but may play in Game 3 next Saturday. Woodson said Stoudemire will scrimmage with his teammates on Thursday. If his knee responds well, he will scrimmage again on Friday. ‘If he feels fine after Friday, then I think we will play him Saturday,’ Woodson said.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/knicks-targeting-game-3-return-for-amare-stoudemire/feed/ 20 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-aiming-to-return-for-second-round/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-aiming-to-return-for-second-round/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:19:47 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=264167 by Yaron Weitzman / @YaronWeitzman Amar’e Stoudemire spoke to reporters before Tuesday night’s Celtics-Knicks game, his first time doing so since undergoing surgery on his right knee in early March. Stoudemire said that his recovery is going well and that he’s aiming to return to the court in the second round, if the Knicks advance. He […]

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by Yaron Weitzman / @YaronWeitzman

Amar’e Stoudemire spoke to reporters before Tuesday night’s Celtics-Knicks game, his first time doing so since undergoing surgery on his right knee in early March. Stoudemire said that his recovery is going well and that he’s aiming to return to the court in the second round, if the Knicks advance. He did add, however, that he hasn’t begun practicing at full speed yet.

“Everything’s on schedule for the most part,” Stoudemire said. “I’ve got to continue to get stronger, got to get back on the court, start moving around at full speed sooner or later. I’m not sure exactly when.”

Stoudemire said he was aiming to start doing so by the end of this week.

“It’s really precautionary measures,” he said, “just taking our time and figuring out exactly how it reacts to a hard load or a hard workout. And if I can handle that then we go up a notch, that’s great. Then I’m looking for hopefully playing soon. We’ll see.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-aiming-to-return-for-second-round/feed/ 17 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-in-the-moment/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-in-the-moment/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:19:41 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=263653 The new Amar'e Stoudemire documentary offers an inside look at STAT's life and comeback.

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by Duane Watson / @sweetswatson

There are sports documentaries and there are films that profile athletes. When Amar’e Stoudemire: In The Moment came across my desk, it came off as the latter. The synopsis stated, “The documentary follows New York Knicks power forward (Stoudemire), whose quest is to bring a Championship to New York before he finishes his career.” The aforementioned, is every NBA player’s goal, therefore informative and compelling were adjectives that were placed in my back pocket when screening the film.

As expected, In The Moment starts with all the establishing shots of New York City, Stoudemire training hard 12 weeks before the start of Knicks camp and spouting the clichés that he “wants to go down with the all-time greats” and “win a Championship this season.” But only seven minutes in, Stoudemire’s mother Carrie, is weeping on camera, discussing her sordid past of 29 years in and out of correctional facilities and confessing that she tried to abort her “million dollar baby.” That compelling scene illustrated the hour-long documentary not only focused on his preparation for this past season, but also honestly explores his childhood in Lake Wales, FL, skipping college and his early NBA career in Phoenix.

Equally as informative, the film profiles the man off the court, with his proposal to Alexis, the mother of his three children, as a loving father and the release of his autobiographical children’s book, STAT. It’s clear his family and upbringing shapes the man he is today, but first and foremost Stoudemire is a basketball player. His dedication and drive is well documented, whether it’s repetitions on the court, the track, in the weight room, or in Houston working on footwork and post moves with Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.

Yet despite his commitment, the Knick forward fell prey to the bug again and missed the first 30 games of this season with a knee injury. One of the more earnest scenes in the film is when director Josie Swantek asks what would he do if he suffered another injury? Stoudemire struggles at even fathoming an answer with visible frustration at the thought, and says, “Probably just stop and become a school teacher.” After shooting the film, on March 11 Stoudemire underwent debridement surgery to clean up debris in his right knee and miss 4-6 weeks, with an optimal return just in time for the first round of the Playoffs. He’s now expected to miss the first round and has only played in 29 games this season.

When EPIX planned this documentary, their intentions were to showcase the hard work and dedication Stoudemire put into having a successful season with the Knicks. But what’s happened as a result, displays all the effort and perseverance that’s tested a man’s spirit and his ability to overcome adversity. Will he bounce back and help the Knicks go deep in the Playoffs, or is this the end of the six-time NBA All-Star’s career? That is what the difference is between a sports documentary and a film that profiles athletes.

Amar’e Stoudemire: In The Moment premieres on demand on EPIX, April 19 @ 8 p.m. EST.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/amare-stoudemire-in-the-moment/feed/ 1 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-expected-to-miss-series-vs-boston-celtics/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-expected-to-miss-series-vs-boston-celtics/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:50:59 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=263541 According to Mike Woodson, the New York Knicks will likely be without forward Amar’e Stoudemire in their first round Playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics. (Center Tyson Chandler, meanwhile, is giving himself a clean bill of health.) Per the NY Daily News: “Amar’e Stoudemire (knee) was on the court briefly while the Knicks were shooting […]

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According to Mike Woodson, the New York Knicks will likely be without forward Amar’e Stoudemire in their first round Playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics. (Center Tyson Chandler, meanwhile, is giving himself a clean bill of health.) Per the NY Daily News: “Amar’e Stoudemire (knee) was on the court briefly while the Knicks were shooting around in practice, but Woodson doesn’t expect him to return during the first round. ‘I think he’s going to be out. That’s my gut,’ Woodson said. ‘It’s kind of nice to see him on the floor.’ A documentary about the power forward, ‘Amar’e Stoudemire: In the Moment,’ debuts Friday night on Epix.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-expected-to-miss-series-vs-boston-celtics/feed/ 14 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-hopes-to-return-for-the-playoffs/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-hopes-to-return-for-the-playoffs/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:39:19 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=260142 Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudmeire, who was averaging 14.2 points and 5.0 rebounds in 23 minutes per game before undergoing a right knee procedure in early March, says his rehab is right on schedule. In fact, the injury-laden big man hopes to return in time for the NBA Playoffs. Via ESPN.com: “‘There’s no timetable set on […]

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Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudmeire, who was averaging 14.2 points and 5.0 rebounds in 23 minutes per game before undergoing a right knee procedure in early March, says his rehab is right on schedule. In fact, the injury-laden big man hopes to return in time for the NBA Playoffs. Via ESPN.com: “‘There’s no timetable set on my return,’ he said during a conference call for an upcoming self-documentary. ‘Hopefully, I can return soon enough for the postseason. I’m gearing toward that, but I want to make sure I’m ready and 100 percent. … It’s only been two weeks since the procedure, so we’re still taking precautionary measures and just making sure everything heals up perfectly before we get too far ahead of ourselves.’ Stoudemire had a previous debridement this season — on his left knee in late October — and said the recovery is similar this time. A debridement is a form of arthroscopic surgery that removes debris. ‘It’s the same process, same focus, same determination from any procedure, any surgery, any recovery,’ he said. ‘Nothing’s going to change from that matter. Hopefully, I can be 100 percent by the postseason.’ Stoudemire said that although the latest injury occurred at an opportune time, he won’t return unless fully healthy. ‘It actually happened I think at the perfect time because it gives me a chance to have hope to return for the postseason,’ he said. ‘If I feel 100 percent by the postseason, then I should be ready for next season as well, but if not, then I’ll probably have to wait until next season.'”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-hopes-to-return-for-the-playoffs/feed/ 11 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/mike-woodson-unhappy-with-amare-stoudemire-during-rehab/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/mike-woodson-unhappy-with-amare-stoudemire-during-rehab/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:25:13 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=260026 Amar’e Stoudemire is talking to everyone through TV appearances about his rehab from a right knee procedure. Well, everyone except his coach, who’s not happy with the lack of communication. Per the NY Post: “Stoudemire has made a couple of TV appearances in the last two days in which he said his rehab is going […]

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Amar’e Stoudemire is talking to everyone through TV appearances about his rehab from a right knee procedure. Well, everyone except his coach, who’s not happy with the lack of communication. Per the NY Post: “Stoudemire has made a couple of TV appearances in the last two days in which he said his rehab is going well. Stoudemire is holding a press call today to promote a documentary of his life: ‘Amar’e Stoudemire: In the Moment.’ At this moment, Stoudemire’s out. A press release Wednesday said it will air on the eve of the playoffs and will include footage of his most recent rehab from his most recent right knee surgery. It’s odd timing that Stoudemire went on national TV yesterday to promote the documentary and make a bold claim about his rehab. ‘It’s going well,’ Stoudemire said on ESPN’s SportsCenter. ‘It’s two weeks in now, so I’ve been able to really recover [and] feel the improvement daily, and I just hope that continues to be the case.’ […] ‘He’s been on TV?,’ Woodson said before the Knicks’ 108-101 victory over the Grizzlies Wednesday night at the Garden. ‘News to me. I need to tell him to stay off the TV and talk to the coach. I really don’t know. I don’t know what the timetable is on Amar’e. If he’s telling you the rehab is going well, it’s a good sign. How close to playing, I don’t know.'”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/mike-woodson-unhappy-with-amare-stoudemire-during-rehab/feed/ 9 https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-miss-six-weeks-with-right-knee-injury/ https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-miss-six-weeks-with-right-knee-injury/#comments Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:37:39 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=256770 Sad news out of New York: Knicks big man Amar’e Stoudemire is going to undergo a right knee debridement and will miss the next six weeks of the season. Via the NY Times: “Amar’e Stoudemire made his season debut for the Knicks on New Year’s Day, and the team embraced his return as a way to […]

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Sad news out of New York: Knicks big man Amar’e Stoudemire is going to undergo a right knee debridement and will miss the next six weeks of the season. Via the NY Times: “Amar’e Stoudemire made his season debut for the Knicks on New Year’s Day, and the team embraced his return as a way to breathe fresh life into the roster just as their sensational start began looking more serious. There were some halting initial games, and worries about his durability after an operation on his left knee in October, but those concerns seemed to shrink with each rebound and dunk; in time, there were a lot of both. But on Saturday, after 29 games for Stoudemire, the Knicks’ worst fears were realized when he woke up with his right knee sore and swollen, and a magnetic resonance imaging test revealed that another operation was necessary. Stoudemire is expected to miss the next six weeks, the team said before Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz. That is a hopeful estimate, given that he needed eight weeks to recover from a similar procedure — called a debridement — in October.”

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/archives/amare-stoudemire-to-miss-six-weeks-with-right-knee-injury/feed/ 8 https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-dunks-on-serge-ibaka-video/ https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-dunks-on-serge-ibaka-video/#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:50:07 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=256591 New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire is not the player he used to be — injuries have reduced his athleticism and explosiveness around the rim. STAT showed signs of his old self last night. Stoudemire gathered himself beneath the hoop, powered up and slammed in a powerful dunk on Serge Ibaka.

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New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire is not the player he used to be — injuries have reduced his athleticism and explosiveness around the rim. STAT showed signs of his old self last night. Stoudemire gathered himself beneath the hoop, powered up and slammed in a powerful dunk on Serge Ibaka.

The post Amar’e Stoudemire Dunks on Serge Ibaka (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

]]> https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-dunks-on-serge-ibaka-video/feed/ 8 https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/dont-forget-amare-stoudemire/ https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/dont-forget-amare-stoudemire/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:41:01 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=248931 Despite current injuries and a different role, Stoudemire has brought the Knicks back to relevancy.

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]]> by Tracy Weissenberg / @basketballista

In some instances, time makes accomplishments more grandiose in everyone’s memory. Other times, the details of a person’s impact are forgotten and the recognition seems to fade.

Entering ‘10-11, the Knicks had come off a 29-win season and missed the Playoffs for the sixth straight year. The summer of 2010 became synonymous with free agency, as the season boasted an elite group of players on the open market.

The Knicks gave a $100 million contract to Amar’e Stoudemire, hoping the dynamic power forward could reinvigorate the franchise. From the get-go, Stoudemire did everything he was asked—and more. He set the tone by organizing workouts, showed up to cheer on teammates at summer league, and put the team on his back as the entire season became a push toward the Playoffs.

During his first year in New York, Stoudemire set the Knicks’ franchise record with nine straight 30-point games. His averages of 25 points, 8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks were unmatched by any other player in the League that season. Stoudemire was selected as a starter in the 2011 All-Star game, becoming the first Knicks player to start since Patrick Ewing in 1992.

Fast forward to the trade deadline, when the Knicks acquired Carmelo Anthony, the long-time face of Denver’s franchise. An elite scorer with seemingly endless range, Anthony quickly made his mark on the Knicks. But the question began to arise: Could Anthony and Stoudemire co-exist on the floor, and furthermore, would their games ever complement each other?

The Knicks finished with a 42-40 record, their first winning season since ‘00-01. Despite a first round sweep at the hands of the Celtics, the team was back on the map and ready to move forward. Stoudemire had brought them back, and Anthony was ready to propel them to the next level.

The ’11-12 season had a rocky start due to the lockout, as chemistry became an issue for all teams struggling to adjust to shortened training camps and a two-game preseason. In the 66-game season, Stoudemire played 47 games. The Knicks went 22-25 with him in the lineup and 14-5 during his absence. Anthony, who played 55 games, averaged 20 points on 40 percent shooting with Stoudemire in the lineup and 29 points on 49 percent shooting with him on the sidelines.

This season has followed the same pattern. The Knicks are 21-9 without Stoudemire, and 4-5 since his return. While Anthony averages three more points with Stoudemire in the lineup, his shooting percentage dips from 47 percent to 42 percent. In 24 games without Stoudemire, Anthony attempted 143 three-point field goals, which equates to just under six attempts per game. In eight games with Stoudemire, Anthony attempted eight three pointers per game.

Stoudemire’s presence on the floor forces Anthony to spend more time at small forward, even though he has proven most effective at power forward for the Knicks. Stoudemire’s flexibility and willingness to come off the bench has provided opportunity for Anthony to start at power forward; however, as Stoudemire’s minutes creep up, the Knicks will lose the ability to efficiently rotate bigs.

Questioning Stoudemire’s place in the rotation is valid, though unwarranted by anything that he has done. It just so happens that with Tyson Chandler at center, Stoudemire needs to play power forward. And that is where Anthony has excelled this season, so much so, that his name has been a staple in early MVP chatter.

As Stoudemire continues to gain playing time, it is important to remember the commitment he made to the Knicks when he arrived, and the standard he has upheld throughout his time in New York. Constructing teams is fluid and unpredictable, and as we’ve seen with the Lakers this season, names on paper do not necessarily complement styles on the floor.

Stoudemire has already proven his willingness to sacrifice upon his return from knee surgery. He has come off the bench for the first time since the ‘06-07 season, and has worked hard to fit seamlessly back into the rotation. The Knicks currently own a 25-14 record, second in the Eastern Conference.

Despite the constant swirling of rotation scrutiny, magnified by the New York market and the constant pressure to win now, Stoudemire’s presence has been largely positive for a once-struggling franchise. Upon his first game back, he was met with a standing ovation from the Madison Square Garden crowd. It was exactly what he deserved.

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]]> https://www.slamonline.com/news/nba/dont-forget-amare-stoudemire/feed/ 8 https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-buys-lunch-for-msg-employees-video/ https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/amare-stoudemire-buys-lunch-for-msg-employees-video/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:25:36 +0000 http://www.slamonline.com/online/?p=248790 Pretty cool gesture from New York Knicks big man Amar’e Stoudemire, who picked up the lunch tab yesterday for the folks who work at Madison Square Garden.

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Pretty cool gesture from New York Knicks big man Amar’e Stoudemire, who picked up the lunch tab yesterday for the folks who work at Madison Square Garden.

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