 |
New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that five-time NBA All-Star forward Amar’e Stoudemire has agreed to terms with the team. As per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.
Multiple media outlets reported that the contract is for five years and around $100 million.
“When I arrived here in New York, our goal was to create enough flexibility to sign the elite players in our league that would enable us to build a championship caliber team,” Walsh said. “Signing Amar’e represents the first step in that process. Amar’e gives us one of the premiere frontcourt players in the league whose numerous abilities and familiarity with Mike’s system make him an outstanding fit for us.”
Stoudemire, 6-10, 249-pounds, has career averages of 21.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.40 blocks and 34.3 minutes in 516 career games (499 starts) in eight NBA seasons with the Phoenix Suns. The Lake Wales, FL-native has been named an NBA All-Star five times and holds playoff career averages of 24.2 points and 9.2 rebounds in 52 playoff games (all starts). Selected by Phoenix with the ninth overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft, Stoudemire was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2003 and has been named All-NBA four times, including a first team All-NBA selection in 2007.
“Amar’e is one of the most talented players I have ever worked with and I’m excited to welcome him to New York,” Knicks Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He has thrived in our system and will be a great addition to our team.”
In 2009-10, Stoudemire started all 82 regular season games and averaged 23.1 points, 8.9 points and 34.6 minutes while shooting 55.7-percent from the floor in earning All-NBA Second Team honors. Stoudemire finished the season ranked 10th in the NBA in scoring and seventh in the league in field goal percentage and led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals.
