Amare Stoudemire News

"Suns co-captains Amaré Stoudemire and Steve Nash were named to the All-NBA second team today. Stoudemire, who was a first team All-NBA center last year, received the most first-team votes (30 of 127 voters tabbed him as a first-teamer) of any second-team selection. He was voted in as the second team's center, the position he played until Phoenix traded for Shaquille O'Neal in February. Stoudemire was also a second-team pick in 2005. Nash had been an All-NBA first team selection in the past three seasons, including two Most Valuable Player years. "

"Suns star Amaré Stoudemire can be an Olympian this summer if he would like, but he is not sure if he wants to be. Stoudemire said Tuesday that he would make a decision on his desire to play in this summer's Olympics based on a postseason medical exam."

"Suns center Shaquille O'Neal was brought to Phoenix to relieve Amaré Stoudemire of extensive defensive duty vs. post-up stars such as San Antonio's Tim Duncan."

"When Phoenix led by three at the end of regulation, Leandro Barbosa was screened twice as Michael Finley ran the baseline. When Finley came off the second pick by Fabricio Oberto to get to the 3-point line, the Suns' plan was to swtich on the perimeter, but Stoudemire sat back, and Finley sent the game to overtime."

"But how could that be possible? How could O'Neal, a player who often shows off his basketball knowledge during media interviews, not know much about Amaré Stoudemire, someone he had first heard of years ago in Orlando?"

"In Houston star Tracy McGrady's assessment, the Suns "have it all" and apparently never had enough before acquiring Shaquille O'Neal."

"But who's better? Dwight, with his high-flying power game? Or Amare, also a monster dunker, a little more polished offensively but not quite as fearsome defensively?"

"The statistical sheet he stared at didn’t look bad. Amaré Stoudemire finished with 31 points, his sixth 30-point game in the past nine. But with a hobbling Dirk Nowitzki and 6-foot-8 Brandon Bass drawing him defensively, he was obviously expecting to contribute much more during the fourth quarter, when the Suns scored just nine points and watched the Mavericks rally for a 105-98 win."

"Nobody knows a Most Valuable Player like an MVP. "I pass the torch to STAT," two-time MVP winner Steve Nash said, referring to teammate Amaré Stoudemire. "He's deserving.""

"Other than a trip to the NBA Finals, the Suns don't have much new to give their fans. They had to get creative to surprise the home crowd with a new thrill Monday night. Phoenix made its greatest comeback for victory at home in franchise history, rallying from a 22-point deficit to rock US Airways Center with a rollicking rally and a 132-117 victory against Denver."

"Before Monday’s game, Denver coach George Karl was asked about the biggest difference in the Suns since Shaquille O’Neal joined the team. The answer was easy: Amaré Stoudemire."

"When the Suns played in Boston last week, Celtics guard Sam Cassell said center Shaquille O'Neal still is the NBA's most dominant player. O'Neal can't even agree that he's the most dominant on his team, especially after Amaré Stoudemire's 33-point, 15-rebound game Saturday at New Jersey."

"It took only one in-person viewing of Amaré Stoudemire vs. Kevin Garnett for Shaquille O'Neal to declare Stoudemire as "the best big man in the game right now" after the Suns' 85-77 victory in Phoenix last month. Garnett talked. Stoudemire talked back. Garnett got feisty. Stoudemire got ferocious."

"Meanwhile, O'Neal's new teammate, Amare Stoudemire, suddenly is in the MVP conversation - not in the same breath with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Chris Paul, mind you - but certainly in the same sentence with Dwight Howard, Paul Pierce and Tim Duncan."

"The chant, as it often does, began with a Phoenix Sun at the free-throw line. “MVP! MVP!” Only this time it wasn’t Steve Nash bathing in the cheers, it was Amaré Stoudemire."

"About five players have emerged as MVP candidates for this NBA season. Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady top most lists. Suns forward Amaré Stoudemire won't say whether he thinks he deserves consideration. "

"For the second time in a month, Amaré Stoudemire was named the NBA's Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday - which he thinks is nice and all, thank you very much."

"Amaré Stoudemire is no longer the Suns’ “weak link” on defense. So says somebody who should know: Marc Iavaroni, the Grizzlies head coach and Stoudemire’s longtime mentor when Iavaroni worked for the Suns."

"So with two former league chief executives, Shaquille O’Neal and Steve Nash, acting as campaign managers along with Grant Hill Friday night, the “Amaré Stoudemire for MVP” stumping began in earnest after he got the best of Kevin Garnett head-to-head during an 85-77 Suns win over the Celtics."

"Center Shaquille O'Neal got up from his neighboring locker and headed for the exit, breaking into song to re-emphasize how he had just told reporters that Stoudemire's status no longer needed to be qualified. "

"For all the speculation about what O'Neal will do for the Suns, we should be equally intrigued about what O'Neal can do for Amaré Stoudemire. "

"The Suns played as advertised, but the Western Conference could not live up to its billing. The mighty West, dominant and deep all season, succumbed to the East's star power in Sunday's NBA All-Star Game with the help of an old West friend."

"Suns All-Star Amaré Stoudemire fired his managers last week, saying he should be more marketable as a dynamic three-time All-Star and All-NBA first-team player."

"Yet, for 45 minutes Friday, Stoudemire heard more about a Suns teammate who hasn't made an on-court contribution yet. It was Shaquille O'Neal this, Shaquille O'Neal that for Stoudemire as reporters came and went with inquiries of how O'Neal launched the 'Amaré Stoudemire project' in Phoenix."

"Stoudemire collected 31 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots in Sunday's win over the Washington Wizards. The performance capped an impressive four-game stretch in which Stoudemire averaged 28.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.25 blocks."

"After averaging 28.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.25 blocks in four games, Stoudemire was named NBA Western Conference player of the week for Feb. 4-10. It’s the fourth time Stoudemire has won the award in his career and the first time the Suns, who lead the West with a 36-15 record, have had a player honored this season."

"Suns big man Amare Stoudemire said Wednesday he is excited about the trade that will bring center Shaquille O’Neal to Phoenix, and his accompanying move to the power forward position. “I’m back at my natural position and it feels great to be back to where I started my career at the power forward position,” Stoudemire said before a team shootaround."

"There are many defensive areas in which Amaré Stoudemire has shown improvement recently. There is one where he seems to have arrived. Stoudemire has become one of the NBA's top shot- blockers."

"In the last 10 minutes, 7 seconds of Thursday night's win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Suns center Amaré Stoudemire did not score a point or grab a rebound. It was not for lack of want. Before Friday night's game, some mending was needed between Stoudemire and Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. "

"The question stumped Amaré Stoudemire, as if he had been asked to pick a favorite child. As the Suns' starting center, Stoudemire yields height and/or weight to his opponent nightly. Which is tougher to handle - the length or the bulk?"

"Center Amaré Stoudemire returned to the Suns on Monday and the team tried to return to normalcy. That was not easy after Stoudemire did not come to practice Sunday, setting off speculation that he was upset with not getting shots in the third quarter and final six minutes of Saturday's loss."

"Saying he missed Sunday’s practice to tend to his sick child and not as a protest for not getting enough shots in the second half of Saturday’s loss to New Orleans, Amare Stoudemire was back with the Suns for Monday’s shootaround and will start tonight against the Denver Nuggets at US Airways Center."

"That's what Stoudemire and Marion and everyone else on this team needs to remember. Every move is scrutinized. Questionable choices spur nasty speculation, and the last thing a team whose success is predicated on chemistry needs is a bunch of rumor and innuendo."

"If the Suns believe Stoudemire’s absence Sunday was his protest for not getting the ball enough against the Hornets, he should have been suspended for Monday night’s game against Denver. That would have gotten Stoudemire’s attention and let his teammates know that such selfishness wouldn’t be tolerated."

"The Suns told Raja Bell to stay home from Sunday’s practice as he continues to suffer from the flu. But Amare Stoudemire stayed home on his own Sunday, calling trainer Aaron Nelson to say he wouldn’t be showing up due to what Suns coach Mike D’Antoni would only say were 'personal reasons.'"

"It is alarming when Suns center Amaré Stoudemire sends a morning text message that he will not be coming to practice a day after showing frustration in a loss in which he did not shoot in the third quarter and nearly went the final six minutes without a shot until a last-second 3-point try."

"Stoudemire’s offense was strong early (12 points in the first eight minutes) but the Suns needed some defensive stops late to key a 16-4 game-ending rally and finish off the determined but undermanned Kings 117-102 at Arco Arena."

"Amaré Stoudemire had 30 points and 15 rebounds and played stifling defense against Chris Kaman to lead the Suns to a 108-88 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night at Staples Center."

"Outscoring the Phoenix Suns by 10 points in the fourth quarter did not even make this latest loss cosmetically better, as the Clippers suffered a 108-88 defeat."

"That is why Stoudemire came with a message Sunday when he held a party for 156 children who have been abused or neglected and are in foster care or other programs offered by Black Family and Child Services."

"In February of 2006, Amaré Stoudemire gave new Toyota Priuses to 10 women who had lost their homes, jobs and family members to Hurricane Katrina."

"It has been two weeks since Amaré Stoudemire lined up to jump center across from a player who was not heavier and/or taller."

"Or as Suns coach Mike D’Antoni, who coached Phoenix’s Amaré Stoudemire and Orlando’s Dwight Howard last summer with the U.S. National Team, said: 'We got the runner and they got the pounder.'"

"Amaré Stoudemire again felt stiffness and soreness in his troublesome knee and spent the end of the workout exercising with the trainers while his teammates pressed on."

"But what Amaré Stoudemire will remember most about his first game back in a week from knee trouble, was his third-quarter ejection by referee Mark Wunderlich after questioning his foul on O’Neal with 9:02 left in the third quarter."

"In a way, the Suns worked it out in practice Thursday. That is because Amaré Stoudemire's session went so well that he said he would have played in a game Thursday. His presence can open passing lanes and shooting space for teammates. "

"The Suns are still taking a wait-and-see approach with Amaré Stoudemire’s latest knee trouble. Stoudemire, who sat out Sunday’s victory over Cleveland due to soreness in his right knee — the one that underwent arthroscopic surgery just more than a month ago — said he felt a little better Monday."

"Too much, too soon. That is the Suns' hope when it comes to why center Amaré Stoudemire missed Sunday's game. Stoudemire sat out because of stiffness he felt recently in the right knee that underwent a knee scope Oct. 2."

"The Suns are calling Amaré Stoudemire day-to-day after he missed Sunday’s 103-92 win over Cleveland with 'discomfort' in his right knee — which underwent arthroscopic surgery a little more than a month ago."

"Amaré Stoudemire's return to the starting lineup means Boris Diaw's return to the bench tonight in Phoenix's preseason home finale. But it's no demotion and it's no different in terms of statistics. Diaw has started 129 of his 154 games for Phoenix but his stats as a reserve last season were nearly the same as those as a starter."