Paul Coro

azcentral sports

Amar’e Stoudemire can sign a trivial, ceremonial one-day contract with the New York Knicks, retire with an “Always a Knick” statement and spend his final six NBA seasons in New York, Dallas and Miami.

None of it changes the fact that Stoudemire will forever be considered a Phoenix Sun.

Phoenix saw "STAT" get drafted as a teenager, become a Rookie of the Year and rise to being one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. Phoenix was home to five of his six All-Star seasons, four of his five All-NBA seasons, his only all-NBA first team season and eight of his 14 NBA years. Phoenix witnessed him turn fearless, leading a change in the franchise’s success and the way the NBA played.

Phoenix was there when he went through microfracture knee surgery, a uniform number change, a franchise-shaking playoff suspension, a first-name accent addition, the opening of his namesake restaurant by the arena, meeting his local-girl wife and some of the most mesmerizing basketball ever played in purple and orange.

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Stoudemire reveled in Suns fans' affection and was not shy to laud it, which became part of his infectious personality. He had confidence and wanted greatness. He found that level of greatness once Steve Nash and Mike D’Antoni entered the Suns picture just as he hit a career maturation at age 22 for the breakthrough 2004-05 season.

Stoudemire wanted his career to end where it began and thrived, but that interest was not reciprocated by the Suns in the past two offseasons, even as the Suns signed two of his 2010 conference finalist teammates – Jared Dudley and Leandro Barbosa – this month. In addition to signing Dudley to start at power forward, the Suns drafted power forwards Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss last month.



Stoudemire left Phoenix for New York in 2010 when the Knicks were willing to guarantee all of a $100 million offer that the Suns matched in potential value but not in guaranteed salary due to his knees' health. His attraction to New York also was tied to desiring a grander stage for off-court pursuits – endorsements, acting, his music label, fashion, etc. – and he maintained a relationship with Knicks brass after being waived last year.

“Amar’e will always have love for Phoenix,” Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, said Tuesday. “It’s where it all started. He loves Phoenix and has high regard for the fans. He will always have super great feelings and a close relationship with Phoenix. But six years later after going to New York, he grew close with the people there, too. (Knicks owner and Madison Square Garden chairman) Jim Dolan and New York always showed him love.”

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Stoudemire, 33, retired Tuesday with a Knicks news release and a one-day contract, but he still is considering playing professionally abroad with interest in China and a part-ownership in an Israeli club. The Knicks said Stoudemire approached them about a one-day contract but he did not do the same for the Suns.

“Although my career has taken me to other places around the country, my heart had always remained in the Big Apple,” Stoudemire said in the Knicks release. “Once a Knick, Always a Knick.”

Stoudemire played more than twice as many games in Phoenix (516) than he did in New York (255) and played in 20 more playoff wins with the Suns, including three Western Conference finals. The Knicks had a losing record and one playoff series triumph in Stoudemire’s time, which began with an All-Star season before health issues returned. He played 76 games in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons combined but closed last season by starting 36 of Miami’s last 39 regular-season games.

Stoudemire put together a Suns Ring of Honor-worthy career in Phoenix, where he mixed power and finesse in his game like few big men ever have in the NBA. The 2002 draft’s No. 9 overall pick emerged from a prep career at five high schools to beat out Yao Ming for Rookie of the Year and then teamed with Nash in 2004 to form a lasting, dynamic pick-and-roll, fast-breaking duo. With All-Star teammate Shawn Marion, the Suns had their winningest era and won over basketball fans in every NBA city for restoring a high tempo and an open-spaced, ball-moving style.

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Stoudemire averaged 21.3 points and 8.9 rebounds during his Suns years, adding a jump shot to his repertoire that already featured reliable hands and athleticism to catch almost most anything Nash tossed his way. Stoudemire’s dunks became legendary with Anthony Tolliver (“My first thought was, ‘I hope he jumps.’" Stoudemire said after that one in 2010), Michael Olowokandi, Adonal Foyle and Josh Smith among his momentous victims at the rim.

Going by the self-appointed nickname of “STAT” (Standing Tall and Talented), Stoudemire ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring twice, finished top five in field-goal percentage three times, led the league in free throws once and even was fifth in blocked shots one season as a Sun. Stoudemire averaged at least 20 points and eight rebounds in six Suns seasons.

Stoudemire's Suns era also will be marked by what could have been for a franchise still lacking a championship and still recovering from his departure in 2010, the Suns' last playoff season. He lost his 2005-06 season to microfracture surgery. The Suns’ 2007 championship hopes took a massive blow when Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended for Game 5 of the conference semifinals because they left the bench when San Antonio’s Robert Horry hip-checked Nash in the latter moments of Game 4. The series was tied 2-2 going to Phoenix, but the Suns lost Games 5 and 6.

Stoudemire made $66 million in eight Phoenix years but collected $100 million for five years in New York, which recruited him to be their star before Carmelo Anthony's arrival.

Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver was not available for comment Tuesday, but the Suns released the following statement:

“The Phoenix Suns family congratulates Amar’e Stoudemire on a remarkable NBA career. As the 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year and a five-time All-Star during his time in Phoenix, Amar’e’s eight seasons with our franchise provided some of the most exciting Suns basketball this city has ever seen. Off the court, Amar’e represented himself with integrity and class every step of the way, leaving an indelible impression on countless kids in our community. We’re proud to have called Amar’e one of our own and wish him nothing but the best in his retirement. Congrats, STAT!”

Reach Paul Coro at paul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him attwitter.com/paulcoro.