Amare Stoudemire isn't stopping at the reasonable goal of remaining healthy. The New York Knicks forward has been plagued by knee injuries over the course of the last four seasons, but he thinks he'll be able to return to the dominance that earned him a contract that will pay him $23 million this season.
Amare Stoudemire thinks he’s healthy, back to dominant self
The Knicks forward enters the final year of a massive contract with high expectations for himself.
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
According to Newsday, Stoudemire thinks he can be a force.
“I think the previous years of battling injuries people have forgot,” Stoudemire said after practice Tuesday. “But it’s my job to remind them.
“Obviously to reach back to my dominant self, I feel like I’m there now,” he said. “I feel like my body is feeling so much stronger so I feel dominant.”
If last season is any indication, maybe Stoudemire isn’t crazy. After the All-Star break, he averaged 14.5 points while shooting 57 percent from the floor -- he was an above-average scorer in the paint and around the circle. Stoudemire played in 65 games during 2013-14 and that is perhaps the most important part considering the former All-Star appeared in 29 games the year prior.
A healthy Stoudemire could help the Knicks more smoothly transition into the Derek Fisher era. The Knicks are still holding the forward out of practices to keep him fresh, but they like how he can stretch the floor or work out of the post in the triangle offense.
Stoudemire left the Phoenix Suns in 2010 after refusing to sign a significant but unguaranteed contract that was dependent on his health, and more specifically, his minutes played.
The Knicks went deep into their pockets to sign Stoudemire, and four years later, fans have likely accepted the five-year, $100 million contract as a sunk cost. Still, there’s no doubt a strong season would be welcome.
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