Sports

Ex-Knick Amar’e Stoudemire wants to play in the NBA again

Amar’e Stoudemire is looking to make a comeback, but that doesn’t mean he’s seeking a reunion with the Knicks.

Stoudemire, who played in the NBA for 14 seasons, and Monta Ellis want to try to hook up with a contending team such as the Lakers, and will work out privately for at least five NBA teams, ESPN’s Jordan Schultz reported Tuesday.

The 36-year-old Stoudemire averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game during his career. He spent the beginning and bulk of his career with the Phoenix Suns before coming to New York as a free agent in 2010, the same year LeBron James and Chris Bosh signed with the Heat to form a super team with Dwyane Wade in Miami.

Stoudemire, who lacked the incredible leaping ability he had in Phoenix before microfracture surgery, still was very formidable. In five Knicks seasons, he averaged 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and made three playoff appearances. For beaten-down Knicks fans, the Stoudemire era looks even better in hindsight.





Stoudemire, a six-time All-Star, has most recently played for Tri State in the BIG3 and Hapoel Jerusalem. He has shown some flashes in BIG3, a once-a-week league, but the level of competition is nowhere near the caliber of the NBA.

As for Ellis, he hasn’t played in the league since the 2016-17 season. He played for 12 seasons with five teams — the Warriors, Raptors, Bucks, Mavericks and Pacers — and averaged 17.8 points and 4.6 assists during his career.

Though both players had good NBA careers, neither was known for their defensive prowess, and the modern fast-paced game doesn’t fit their skill sets, making a comeback for either highly unlikely.





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