The Knicks announced on Sunday that they agreed to a buyout with Amar’e Stoudemire. The announcement brought an end to a nearly 5-year engagement with the forward. This conclusion was probably the last thing on Stoudemire’s mind when he signed with the Knicks back in 2010. It wasn’t always sunny, but Amar’e helped bring excitement back to the Garden, and got Knicks fans to believe again. Let’s go back to the beginning.
The Knicks had meticulously cleared out cap space to put themselves in position for one of the most loaded free agent classes of all-time – one featuring Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson and Amar’e Stoudemire. Armed with enough cap space to land two maximum contracts, New York had high expectations to land at least one marquee player. With none of the big chips in the market yet to move, the Knicks struck first. On July 5 2010, they announced a 5-year maximum contract with Amar’e for $99.7 million. Stoudemire came out of the meeting with his Knicks cap on and declared, “The Knicks are back”. Not only did the Knicks get a big name free agent, but they picked up a player Lebron had clamored for in Cleveland. The excitement of acquiring Amar’e was quickly supplanted by the hope of landing Lebron. That hope shone brighter when Lebron and ESPN announced a 75-minute special dubbed “The Decision” to be broadcast in Greenwich, CT (a mere stone throw away from the Knicks practice facility). We all know the rest. Three days later, James spurned the Cavs, and other suitors, on national television to “take his talents to South Beach” and team up with AAU buddies Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.
Despite missing out on Lebron and company, the Knicks finally had a star to call their own. The most exciting part was Stoudemire would get to reunite with offensive guru Mike D’Antoni. Amar’e had fit perfectly into D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense during their days in Phoenix. The hope was they could recapture that magic in New York. A day after the decision, the Knicks claimed their consolation prize, signing Raymond Felton to a 3-year, $25 million contract to be Stoudemire’s running mate. Adding the pick-and-roll tandem to rising youngsters Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler was a promising prospect. There were playoff aspirations in New York for the first time in years.
Any excitement out of the gate was quickly quelled by a putrid 3-8 start that had Knicks fans wondering if all that salary shedding was worth the wait. Just around the corner was one of my favorite stretches by a Knicks team. Stoudemire put the team on his back, unlike he had ever done for the Suns. The Knicks exploded on a 13-2 run which featured a stretch in which Amar’e scored 30+ points in nine consecutive games. He averaged 30.9 points and 10 rebounds per game in the win streak. Not only was this the most successful team I had seen in years, it was also one of the most exciting. Here you had Amar’e playing the part of a bonafide superstar – dropping 30-point games at will, Raymond Felton playing the best basketball of his career, Gallinari and Chandler acting as viable secondary scoring options, Landry Fields looking like a 2nd round steal, and unheralded guys like Shawne Williams and Toney Douglas putting up career years off the bench. The Stoudemire-D’Antoni combination seemed a match made in basketball heaven.
By the time the Knicks reached the all-star break, there was new found excitement in New York. The Knicks were over .500 for the first time at the break for literally a decade. On top of that, Stoudemire was a legitimate MVP candidate, averaging 26.2 PPG, 9 RPG, 2.6 APG and 2.3 BPG. There were also the rumblings of help on the other side of the mountain. Amar’e’s efforts were being noticed by other stars as he started to bring media attention back to New York. Carmelo Anthony was becoming a free agent in the offseason and seeking a trade out of Denver. With star player, and friend, Amar’e Stoudemire planted in New York, the Knicks were on Anthony’s shortlist of destinations. Two days after the all-star break, the Knicks agreed to terms on a deal that would bring Melo to New York. Just a few months ago you can bet Carmelo would have demanded a trade anywhere but the Knicks. But that was the effect Amar’e was having on the team’s image. Not only was he getting the fans to believe, but the rest of the league was taking notice.
The Knicks would go 14-14 through the rest of the season, before losing in a 1st round playoff series against the Celtics. Despite a relatively average ending to the storybook season, Melo and Stoudemire were showing the ability to play together. The concern that two scorers could not exist was dispelled by their willingness to share the ball with one another. Anthony and Stoudemire scored 26.3 PPG and 23.5 PPG, respectively, for the remainder of the season.
Unfortunately, that would be the most productive year Stoudemire would have as a Knick. The concerns alluded to by the well respected Suns’ medical staff began to come to fruition. Over his next three and half years with the Knicks, Stoudemire would only suit up for 62.5% of eligible games. That would include the notorious fire extinguisher incident in the 2012 playoffs against the Miami Heat. He would need to get stitches in his left hand and miss crucial must-win games as the Knicks fell to the Heat in 5 games.
But for every injury and bump in the road, Amar’e would stay positive and bounce back. Stoudemire, and his knees, should not have been given that much guaranteed money. The Suns staff knew this, as did most of the league. The lack of value in his contract has been analyzed ad nauseam by media and analysts. It all has validity. But the one thing fans can never question was Stoudemire’s work ethic – his will to bounce back. His willingness to put aside his ego and do everything for his team is what Stoudemire should be remembered for in New York. Injuries? He’ll work hard to come back from those. Knicks are playing well without him? He’ll come off the bench. Amar’e’s lost a step? He’ll work with Olajuwon in the offseason and build a formidable post game.
Despite the injuries, his net effect on the Knicks was largely positive. He brought the Knicks back to light from their darkest hour. His resurgence that first year brought the team back in the spotlight and helped them to land Carmelo Anthony. That combination was enough to attract defensive specialist, and champion, Tyson Chandler to the Knicks that offseason. In 2012-13 the Knicks had one of the best years in franchise history (8th best win%). They would go 54-28 and get past the Celtics in the first round, before ultimately falling to the Pacers in the conference semifinals. It was the best season the Knicks had since the Ewing era. It would also cap off a three year stretch where the Knicks were actually over .500. A feat that had only been accomplished once in the 21st century by a Knicks team (2000-01).
Towards the end, its easy to see the end result and consider the experiment a failure. The Knicks current predicament is horrendous – no championship and the worst team in franchise history. Its only natural to look around and point fingers at such a low point. However, if you look at the total body of work, Stoudemire was a very positive step in Knicks history. He brought winning basketball back to New York and inspired championship contention for the first time since Ewing. Amar’e brought credibility to a Knicks organization that had been tarnished by the likes of Stephon Marbury, Isiah Thomas and James Dolan. Without him there is no Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler or Phil Jackson. He helped save the franchise and set the Knicks up for future success. Amar’e brought excitement back to New York basketball.
Carmelo Anthony said it best in his exit interview:
“Amar’e brought something back to New York that New York was kind of missing and needing for a long time,” Anthony said. “When he came, he brought back some of the excitement here for the game of basketball in New York. There was hope when he came back. People started believing in the New York Knicks once again. He was the main reason for that belief and for that hope when he first got here in New York.”
There were definitely ups and downs, but Amar’e gave everything he had to the Knicks. We thank you for making our Hard Knick Life a little less harsh.