By InsideHoops.com

Phoenix Suns power forward Amare Stoudemire is the leading NBA rookie of the year candidate right now. He came straight out of high school and quickly showed that, physically, he's as much of a man as anyone in the league. InsideHoops.com and several other media members recently interviewed Amare, talking about how things are going so far.

What part of your game do you want to work on the most?

Amare Stoudemire: Double teams. Just kind of anticipate what's going to happen, as far as, when I've got the ball, where the double team is coming from, who is open. I have to pretty much anticipate that.

What do you have to work on defensively?

Amare Stoudemire: Learn how to play helpside defense a lot better. Recognize the cutters...

Do you think you get enough credit for skills you've developed that aren't just raw talent? If so, what?

Amare Stoudemire: I don't really get a chance to show everything I got. I'm playing a certain role right now, where I have to get more comfortable, and more things will come out. Right now I'm kind of playing on raw talent, just getting rebounds, doing the defense and making the presense down low. Hopefully, later on, I'm going to show guys the things I've really worked on. It'll come.

Talk about your situation, as a rookie coming out of high school.

Amare Stoudemire: I think it's a good situation. I mean, last year these guys fell just a little short of the playoffs, so I think I came in with a lot of intensity, willing to work hard and showing my teammaes that I'm willing to do whatever it takes. So I think that allows us to be a better team this year.

Any initiation rituals, since you're a rookie?

Amare Stoudemire: Naw, not really. I bring donuts every now and then to practice. Unload the luggage here and there, on occasion. You only get to be a rookie once, so I just try to enjoy it.

What's come easiest to you so far, both on and off the court?

Amare Stoudemire: The easiest has probably been on the court. I just try to go out every game 100%, and just play hard. That's something I enjoy doing. So, if I enjoy doing something it's going to be kind of easy to me.

Talk about stability, money making things easier, etc.

Amare Stoudemire: Even in high school, I was satisfied with what was going on. My senior year I was averaging like 30 points, 15 rebounds and 6 blocks, and I still was like a diamond in the rough, didn't too many people know about me. I'm stable now, I'm going to just try to continue to play hard and keep doing what I'm doing. What I've been doing.

What do you think of talk that you're playing on an all-star level lately?

Amare Stoudemire: This is what I expected. I've been working hard for this. I feel that everything I was going through, that I went through, is finally paying off.

Did you look at other high school players and how they entered the NBA, and what kind of minutes they got, as a way of perhaps judging maybe how much time you might get?

Amare Stoudemire: I thought maybe I was going to be a guy coming off the bench, coming to a great team, we got great players like Stephon (Marbury), Shawn (Marion), Googs (Tom Gugliotta), Penny (Hardaway), and I kind of figured I was going to be a guy coming off the bench. Everything happens for a reason. I kind of got my time to shine. I just wanted to step up, beacuse, Googs went out, and I just wanted to do what he does, and help the team win. By him giving me good advice and Scott Williams giving me good advice, and the veteran guys, Randy Brown, that allows me to come out here and play good, play hard.

Has anyone been a real influence on you, more than anyone else?

Amare Stoudemire: Not really. I get advice from everybody, I take advice and I learn from everybody, but there's not really been anybody just teaching me how to win or anything, I mean I don't want that to happen, you know. Because I'm a grown man, so I can pretty much handle things on my own.

Do you ever think about what your life would be like had you gone to college instead of jumping straight to the pros?

Amare Stoudemire: I mean, I'd probably be on the court and working hard in class. So it would pretty much be the same thing. Basketball is pretty much school. I got a lot to learn here, too. I'm kind of studying the game, just like those guys are studying books. I plan on taking courses during the summer. So, it's pretty much the same thing, but on a higher level.

Do you think at all how cool it might be to be playing college ball right now?

Amare Stoudemire: Yeah, I mean, the way college fans are, I think is very good, because you have the whole city supporting you. In the NBA you have the whole state supporting you, but college they're more into it, and I kind of miss that a little bit, but it's alright.

What was it like playing against Yao Ming?

Amare Stoudemire: First part, it was trying to get a win. I just came out with intensity, trying to rebound, block shots, get the loose balls, play my role.

Did you have a favorite player growing up?

Amare Stoudemire: Yeah - Shaq.


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