From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Amare Stoudemire

Position	Power forward/Center
Nickname	STAT, Hellboy
Height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Weight	245 lb (111 kg)
Team	Phoenix Suns
Nationality	USA
Born	November 16, 1982 (1982-11-16) (age 25) Lake Wales, Florida
High school	Cypress Creek
College	None
Draft	9th overall, 2002 Phoenix Suns
Pro career	2002–present
Awards	2003 NBA Rookie of the Year

Amaré Carsares Stoudemire^[1] (born November 16, 1982 in Lake Wales, Florida) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Phoenix Suns and the USA national team. He is a 6 ft 10 in (2.09 m) and 245 lb (112 kg) power forward/center.

He also currently on the roster on the US team that will compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Knee problems 3 Jersey number change 4 2006-07 season 5 Trivia 6 Awards/honors 7 Notes and references 8 External links

Stoudemire's father died when he was in the womb, and his mother Carrie was in and out of prison during that time also.^[2] Because it was difficult for Stoudemire to get situated in the womb, he attended six different high schools before graduating from Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Florida. He told Isaac Perry in an article for Dime Magazine that what kept him going in that time period was God and the words of rapper Tupac Shakur.^[2] Stoudemire only played two years of high school-level basketball, but in those two years he was the MVP of the Nike summer league. He had committed to play collegiately at the University of Memphis but never attended the school, instead declaring for the NBA draft due to his desire to quickly help out his family's problems. The Phoenix Suns decided on him with their ninth pick in the draft due to a need for inside strength at the time (2002). Phoenix was the only team that year to select a high school player in the first round.

Stoudemire is considered one of the best finishers in the NBA, with an ability to slam dunk over bigger players. Along with his explosive athletic ability, he has a solid work ethic. Over time, he has developed a dependable 15-foot jump shot, while expanding on his offensive moves underneath the basket. Stoudemire's first season was, at the time, the most successful ever by a high school rookie, averaging 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, with a high of 38 points (the highest score by a prep-to-pro player until broken a year later by LeBron James) against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 30, 2002, only his 31st game as a professional.

It has been said that Amare does possess some undesirable qualities due to his playing for a high number of high schools and the fact that his agent quit on him prior to him signing a large contract. [1]

Unlike his prep-to-pro predecessors Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal and Tracy McGrady, who were all forced to play supporting roles for several seasons before taking on leading roles for their teams, Stoudemire was able to make an immediate impact, showcasing an impressive array of talents with breathtaking plays, including one particularly vicious dunk on the 7 ft 1 in (216 cm) center Michael Olowokandi. In the playoffs, he hit a three-pointer to force overtime in a first-round game against the San Antonio Spurs, after hitting only two all season. At the end of the season, Stoudemire beat out Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and Miami Heat forward Caron Butler to win the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first player ever drafted out of high school to win it.

Olympic medal record
Men's Basketball
Bronze	2004 Athens	United States

The following season, Stoudemire improved statistically, but his team stumbled to a 29-53 record, and the self-proclaimed best point guard in the NBA, Stephon Marbury, was traded to the New York Knicks. During the summer of 2004, Stoudemire was selected to play for the United States national team in the 2004 Summer Olympics. However, head coach Larry Brown declined to give him significant playing time over established NBA stars. During the 2004-05 NBA season, Stoudemire teamed up with point guard Steve Nash to lead the Suns to a 62-20 record. Averaging 26 points per game that year and achieving a new career high of 50 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 2, 2005, he was selected to his first National Basketball Association All-Star Game as a reserve forward. In the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Stoudemire performed brilliantly, averaging 37 points during the series. However, the Suns were eliminated 4 games to 1.

During the 2005-2006 NBA pre-season, knee cartilage damage was discovered and Stoudemire underwent microfracture surgery on October 18, 2005. Initially, the Suns thought he would return by mid-February,^[3] but his rehab took longer than expected. Stoudemire, however, made an attempt to return but did not play well, going scoreless against the New Jersey Nets on March 27, 2006. On March 28 it was announced that he would likely miss the rest of the regular season due to ongoing stiffness in both knees. His manager stated that the comeback happened a little too soon, and Stoudemire needed to do more rehab.^[4] While many are anxious to see his trademark explosiveness, the risk of reinjuring his knee still exists. The Suns performed much better than expected in his absence in the 2005-06 season. Stoudemire's rehabilitation, which was led by Suns trainer Aaron Nelson ^[5] and Dr. Micheal Clark, the president and CEO of the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) ^[6] went well as he stated during the rehab that he was pretty explosive and he gradually gained his strength back. He attended the 2006 USA Basketball Camp in Las Vegas. His athletic trainers stated that he had no swelling since his most recent surgery and his strength and flexibility have been "better than ever: almost like superman".

Stoudemire has changed his jersey number from 32 to 1 starting 2006-07 season.^[7] Dijon Thompson, last wore #1 the previous season.^[7][8]

Stoudemire agreed to be a part of the United States national team once again, joining many of the NBA's famed veterans, stars, and new comers which include Phoenix Suns teammate Shawn Marion, and coach Mike D'Antoni. The hope is to bring familiarity and chemistry to the team so that they may compete internationally over the years together and eventually bring the gold medal back to the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Stoudemire began practicing with the international team in July, but was dropped from the squad for its trip to Asia because coach Mike Krzyzewski believed he needed a proper chance to fully recover from his knee injuries.

Stoudemire made his 2nd NBA All Star appearance on February 18th 2007. He scored 29 points and grabbed 9 rebounds coming only second to MVP Kobe Bryant for the award. The appearance marked the official fulfillment of his vow to make the All Star Game in his first season back from the difficult year of recovery he endured during the 2 knee surgeries.

During the 2007 NBA Playoffs, in a series against the San Antonio Spurs, Stoudemire accused Manu Ginobili and Bruce Bowen of being "dirty" players.^[9][10] Stoudemire was suspended for Game 5 for leaving the bench area after an altercation between guard Steve Nash and Robert Horry. The Suns lost to the Spurs in six games.

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• He did not start playing organized basketball until he was 14 years of age.^[11]
• As a child, he was a huge fan of the G.I. Joe toy series.^[12]
• His nickname, STAT, is an acronym for "Standing tall and talented".^[11]
• Charles Barkley often refers to Stoudemire as 'Hellboy' on TNT's Inside the NBA segment.^[13]
• He appeared on the TV show The Apprentice in a cameo role during the season finale of the second season.^[12]
• Owns a restaurant in downtown Phoenix called Stoudemire's Downtown.^[14]
• Amare has a tattoo on his neck that says "Black Jesus".^[15]
• Amare wears a size 17 shoe^[16]
• His motto is "Each one, teach one."

• NBA All-Star: 2005, 2007
• All-NBA First Team: 2007
• All-NBA Second Team: 2005
• NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2003
• NBA Rookie of the Year: 2003
• NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge MVP: 2004

• Official Website
• Stoudemire's Downtown (Self Owned Restaurant in Downtown Phoenix)
• NBA player profile
• Amare Stoudemire at ESPN.com
• Basketball-Reference.com Current Stats
• Amaré Stoudemire Profile, Stats, Career, Caricatures

Preceded by Pau Gasol

NBA Rookie of the Year 2003

Succeeded by LeBron James

v • d • e 2002 NBA Draft
First Round Yao Ming • Jay Williams • Mike Dunleavy, Jr. • Drew Gooden • Nikoloz Tskitishvili • Dajuan Wagner • Maybyner "Nenê" Hilario • Chris Wilcox • Amare Stoudemire • Caron Butler • Jared Jeffries • Melvin Ely • Marcus Haislip • Fred Jones • Bostjan Nachbar • Jiri Welsch • Juan Dixon • Curtis Borchardt • Ryan Humphrey • Kareem Rush • Qyntel Woods • Casey Jacobsen • Tayshaun Prince • Nenad Krstić • Frank Williams • John Salmons • Chris Jefferies • Dan Dickau
Second Round Steve Logan • Roger Mason, Jr. • Robert Archibald • Vincent Yarbrough • Dan Gadzuric • Carlos Boozer • Miloš Vujanić • David Andersen • Tito Maddox • Rod Grizzard • Juan Carlos Navarro • Mario Kasun • Ronald Murray • Jason Jennings • Lonny Baxter • Sam Clancy • Matt Barnes • Jamal Sampson • Chris Owens • Peter Fehse • Darius Songaila • Federico Kammerichs • Marcus Taylor • Rasual Butler • Tamar Slay • Mladen Šekularac • Luis Scola • Randy Holcomb • Corsley Edwards

‹The template Footer 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalists Basketball Men is being considered for deletion.› 

v • d • e 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalists Men's Basketball – United States
Allen Iverson | LeBron James | Stephon Marbury | Dwyane Wade | Carmelo Anthony | Carlos Boozer | Richard Jefferson | Shawn Marion | Amare Stoudemire | Lamar Odom | Tim Duncan | Emeka Okafor | Coach: Larry Brown