Amar’e Stoudemire Says He Retired With Knicks Because Suns Didn’t Want Him

When the news came down that Amar’e Stoudemire would retire a Knick, many NY fans were touched, albeit a bit confused.

“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.

“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. Sure, Stoudemire had some good years in NY, but the overwhelming majority of basketball fans will remember him more for his days in Phoenix where he helped lead them deep into the playoffs on multiple occasions and was part of the explosive seven seconds or less offense alongside Steve Nash. “I just went where I was wanted”.

Stoudemire is still holding out hope that he will be invited to Phoenix one day to join their Ring of Honor, saying, “I’m praying for that”, he said. No one’s best memories of Stoudemire were in NY. Suns owner Robert Sarver, on the other hand, is a cheap bastard who probably cost Amar’e, Nash and Shawn Marion a real shot at the title by refusing to spend on a decent bench.

Stoudemire battled injuries throughout his tenure with the Knicks, much like he did at times with the Suns. “I put forth the effort to finish my career in Phoenix but it wasn’t well-received”. Stoudemire enjoyed many great seasons with the Suns to begin his career, so when he surprisingly announced his retirement this week, an interesting story developed. Why didn’t Amar’e retire as a member of the Suns?

The Knicks gave the task of hyping the one-day contract to Mills.

All Stoudemire got from the Suns was a tweet. While he did have a dominant first season with the Knicks – he averaged 25.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game over 78 appearances – Stoudemire’s bad knees and the arrival of Carmelo Anthony the next season stole away his starring role at the Garden.

As Stoudemire told the Arizona Republic he wanted to go back to Phoenix the last two years, but the team didn’t want him.

Stoudemire played the last couple of seasons with the Knicks, Mavs, and finally the Heat before deciding to call it a career.