Amar'e Stoudemire has officially been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as part of this year's class. While his prime with the Phoenix Suns represents the peak of his illustrious career, his tenure with the New York Knicks still stands out as an important chapter in his playing days.
As such, he can't be happier to see New York fans celebrating after the Knicks clinched the 2026 NBA title.
"[The championship] was well deserved for all those fans. Knicks fans have been fans and loyal for a long time," Stoudemire said, via Knicks reporter Geoff Magliocchetti. "The last time they saw a championship was '73. They saw players come at the end of their career. They saw me come as a Knick, and as a Knicks player, whatever I could to try to bring a championship to the city. They saw me battling through injuries."
"So all the ups and downs and the upsets the Knicks fans have seen through all the years, now they get a chance to celebrate a championship. It's well deserved for the fans, and I'm happy for them."
Amar'e Stoudemire Knicks arrival revives New York basketball
After eight seasons in Phoenix, Amar'e Stoudemire took the challenge by joining the New York Knicks in 2010.
Stoudemire's arrival served as a key turning point for the franchise, which had endured years of dysfunction. With many marquee free agents dismissing the Knicks, the star big man embraced New York in a major deal.
In the end, Stoudemire's entry revived the Knicks' relevance. Reuniting with Mike D'Antoni, the Knicks made it back to the NBA Playoffs in 2011 after missing eight out of the previous nine postseasons. And with the eventual landing of Carmelo Anthony, New York entered another important era, most especially in 2012-23, when they posted a 54-win season.
Although his Knicks run was marred by injuries, disappointment, and failed expectations, Stoudemire still played a key role that helped shape the Knicks today. 12 years after boldly joining New York, Jalen Brunson also pulled a similar move in 2022 as a free agent, and the rest was simply history.