Ted Williams Head

Although he signed with the New York Knicks this summer, Amar’e Stoudemire was back at the U.S. Airways Center to train and play against some old friends from the Phoenix Suns.  Paul Coro interviewed Amar’e for AZCentral.com.

Amar’e reflected on his old Suns team:

The question ownership asked to me was, ‘Who do I want – Jason Kidd, Steve Nash or Kobe Bryant?’ I said Steve. Over Kobe. At the time, Kobe had a reputation for being selfish and Steve was the ultimate point guard. I felt like that’s what we needed. We had Joe Johnson and Shawn Marion. We just didn’t have a PG to control tempo. Kidd was banged up after microfracture (knee surgery).”

That statement sounds absurd now because Kobe Bryant is such a dominant force, but for that Suns team with the offensive players they had at their disposal it makes sense. When the basketball gods created Steve Nash, they designed him to play and excel in Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo, “Seven Seconds or Less” offense. I could have seen a younger, more selfish Kobe disrupting a team with that many quality players because there isn’t enough shots to go around. The problem with Amar’e's argument is that Kobe has won five NBA Championships and the Suns despite winning over 60 games twice, never made the Finals in the same period. Could a brash and immature Kobe molded his game to fit in with the Suns?

Stoudemire criticized D’Antoni for his lack of coaching on the defensive end when Mike left in 2008. Amar’e explained how things have changed:

It definitely changed,” Stoudemire said. “We communicate more. I’m more mature than I was at 22 or 23. Studying defense over the past couple years helped, and I’m a better defensive player. He’s committed to it, but the main thing is for us as players to commit to it.”

Stoudemire on Ney York’s chances of success and his role with the young, inexperienced Knicks’ players:

My goal is to do what I did here in Phoenix – to rebuild,” Stoudemire said. “The year we traded Stephon (Marbury), Penny (Hardaway) and Googs (Tom Gugliotta), the next year we rebuilt. We can be as good as we want to be. In order to be a great leader, you must follow first. I’ve been able to follow Steve, Grant Hill, Shaquille O’Neal and Penny. Now I feel it’s time for me to lead these young guys to success.”

The Suns offered Stoudemire a five-year, $96.6 million contract with $56 million guaranteed and the rest kicking in if Stoudemire stayed healthy and logged significant minutes in the third and fourth years.The deal required Amar’e to play 2,200 minutes (26.8 minutes per game for 82 appearances) in each of the third and fourth years. The Suns were skeptical of Stoudemire’s ability to stay healthy throughout a long-term contract. Amar’e has had eye surgery to repair his retina, as well as the daunting microfracture surgery on his knee.

It was fair from Robert’s standpoint,” Stoudemire said. “I understand his concerns, which were injuries and health. There are no hard feelings at all. From a security standpoint for myself and with as much work as I put in on the court, I was after a greater goal. It was a fair offer from his standpoint. We still talk and have a good friendship. The greater goal was to have a sense of security. I didn’t want a football deal (with some or all of the money non-guaranteed). I want a NBA deal. That’s what I ended up getting.”

Amar’e ended up signing a $99.7 million deal with the Knicks. He doesn’t have to worry about making difficult decisions like, “Kobe or Nash,” but hopefully for him and New York, he’ll soon be debating which is a better fit for the Knicks, “Chris Paul or Carmelo Anthony.”