Amar'e Stoudemire Retires

[Iceman]

I the retract my comment.

I think PHX was getting him back for choosing DAL when he was bought out of his NY contract and for spurning us for MIA.

You could be right and I completely forgot about that. I personally would have loved seeing him retire here. Like most of you, I was (and still) am a huge Amare fan.

Will never forget the suspension in the playoffs against the Spurs, in which, was the best chance the Suns had on winning it all. I can honestly say, if that did not happen, we would see a championship banner hanging in Talking Stick Arena (aka US Airways)!

 

[SirStefan32]

I'll never forget how dominant he was in the 2005 WCF against the Spurs and thinking, even in a series we lost, that we FINALLY had a YOUNG Superstar who could be one of the best 3 players in the league.

News of his micro-fracture was beyond awful. He somehow got back to a very high level in the coming years, but he was never as LIGHTNING quick as he was before the surgeries. A shame. A brilliant talent who's career was marred by injury.

It's funny, but every few years I forget just how quick and athletic Amare was. It was just amazing to watch. It is also really amazing that he was able to keep playing at such a high level after his first injuries. He developed that jumper very quickly.

 

[sunsfan88]

It's weird to see him retire a Knick because his career spiraled downwards after he signed with them in the first place.

As a player, he was really only ever relevant as a Sun. He was basically living off his reputation with the Suns in NY, Dallas, and Miami.

He was one of my favorite players ever. I doubt I will see another player with his skill set, and athleticism (in his prime) at his size in a Suns jersey in my lifetime.

Best of luck to him in his retirement. I do still hope that he's in the Suns ROH someday.

 

[mojorizen7]

#32 Amare was one of the most exciting young basketball players i ever saw.
#1 Amare was pretty good too in his prime.

Thanks for the memories.

 

[chickenhead]

Non-sense , him and Sarver were or are buddies they even partnered in some business stuff I think.

Yeah, such buddies that Amar'e signed a 1-say contract with the Knicks even though they waived him. But I should have known mentioning Colangelo would make you appear.

 

[Bodha]

Some of these reactions are so petty. What are you 4?


Most likely reason is because hes been away from our team for 6 years. That's a lot of turnover. Who in our organization does he have connections with anymore besides maybe Sarver? He probably just has more friends in NY still there.


I didn't see you complaining when Warner retired a Cardinal.

All of his success was as a Ram.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Some of these reactions are so petty. What are you 4?

I didn't see you complaining when Warner retired a Cardinal.

All of his success was as a Ram.

First off, that isn't true and secondly, there's a big difference in the way Warner left the Rams and the way Amare left Phoenix. Also, a couple of times now when we could have given him a decent role and reportedly even had interest in him, he chose elsewhere. And now, when no one wants him and we need the minutes in order to develop other players at the same position, we don't need him.

And there is nothing petty in acknowledging what all of us have known about Amare from the beginning, he wanted to be a star and he wanted the brightest lights.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Amar’e Stoudemire has announced his retirement. Signed one day contract and retires as a Knick?! Did the Suns even make an offer? Was Amare even interested? Feels like a slap to Suns fans but whatever. No Ring of Honor here.

At any rate, thanks for all the memories and awesome dunks! Still one of the best draft picks and most fun I have seen as a fan. Enjoy retirement.

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/07/26/amare-stoudmire-retirement-new-york-knicks

Best quote I heard was this morning on the Dan LeBatard Show...when he asked, "Do Knicks fans even want to claim him?"

 

[Ronin]

Amar'e Stoudemire talks about why he retired as a Knick, his Suns memories and how "I bleed purple and orange."
http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...demire-suns-bleed-purple-and-orange/87677378/


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[Covert Rain]

Amar'e Stoudemire talks about why he retired as a Knick, his Suns memories and how "I bleed purple and orange."
http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...demire-suns-bleed-purple-and-orange/87677378/


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Well if this is true....Sarver and Suns just added more fuel to the fire that they have a long way to go to repair the reputation of this organization. Really? For 2 years they have been reaching out? OK, it no longer feels like a kick in the junk from Amare but the Suns....again.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Well if this is true....Sarver and Suns just added more fuel to the fire that they have a long way to go to repair the reputation of this organization. Really? For 2 years they have been reaching out? OK, it no longer feels like a kick in the junk from Amare but the Suns....again.

I think you're reading too much into it and I don't believe his "2 years" matches up with the calendar. I'm pretty sure he's talking about going into last season and then again, this offseason and calling it 2 years. We reportedly tried to get him at least once before (when he signed with Dallas for example). You'll notice that he had nothing but good things to say about Sarver and about the Suns.

I suspect we had interest in him but not the kind of role he wanted for his return to the Suns. It's a lot harder to go back to a place you were loved in the marginal kind of role he ended up accepting in Dallas and Miami.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think you're reading too much into it and I don't believe his "2 years" matches up with the calendar. I'm pretty sure he's talking about going into last season and then again, this offseason and calling it 2 years. We reportedly tried to get him at least once before (when he signed with Dallas for example). You'll notice that he had nothing but good things to say about Sarver and about the Suns.

I suspect we had interest in him but not the kind of role he wanted for his return to the Suns. It's a lot harder to go back to a place you were loved in the marginal kind of role he ended up accepting in Dallas and Miami.

Maybe I am and maybe I am not. Would definitely like some clarification. If Amare reached out to the Suns about a 1 day contract and the Suns balked....sorry it doesn't change anything for me. Now I want the full story.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Maybe I am and maybe I am not. Would definitely like some clarification. If Amare reached out to the Suns about a 1 day contract and the Suns balked....sorry it doesn't change anything for me. Now I want the full story.

I agree, I'd be very disappointed to learn that we had denied him that kind of respect. I don't think it's the case but if it is, I'd say the front office has a lot of explaining to do. But to be clear, I'd bet against it. I think he wanted to play and we'd already committed to Dudley when he'd made his interest known. Just a guess on my part, I have no real information to back that up.

 

[Covert Rain]

I agree, I'd be very disappointed to learn that we had denied him that kind of respect. I don't think it's the case but if it is, I'd say the front office has a lot of explaining to do. But to be clear, I'd bet against it. I think he wanted to play and we'd already committed to Dudley when he'd made his interest known. Just a guess on my part, I have no real information to back that up.

I agree that if Amare was looking to return to the Suns to play on a 1 year or 2 year contract that is a completely different scenario. It simply wouldn't have made sense last year or this year. 1 day contract to retire a Sun? Agreed. The team would have some explaining to do.

 

[sunsfan88]

I agree, I'd be very disappointed to learn that we had denied him that kind of respect. I don't think it's the case but if it is, I'd say the front office has a lot of explaining to do. But to be clear, I'd bet against it. I think he wanted to play and we'd already committed to Dudley when he'd made his interest known. Just a guess on my part, I have no real information to back that up.

Based on Amare's actual direct quotes, it sounds like he's saying that he wanted to play one more season with the Suns because they brought Barbosa and Dudley (his old friends) back. It doesn't sound like he's saying that he just wanted to sign a 1 day and retire as a Sun...he actually wanted to play the season out.

"The last two years, we made phone calls to Phoenix but I wasn’t getting any positive response,” Stoudemire said on Thursday. “That would’ve been the perfect way to go out. I didn’t want to beg Phoenix. My heart was in two places – Phoenix and New York. I just went where I was wanted.”

The Suns added Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss at power forward in the draft and then signed Jared Dudley.

“They brought back Jared and Leandro, my boys,” Stoudemire said. “That would’ve been a heck of a way to finish. I wasn’t just going to keep knocking on someone’s door that wasn’t going to answer.

“I love my fans in Phoenix. Most of my high times and highlights were in Phoenix. I put forth the effort to finish my career in Phoenix but it wasn’t well-received.”

Stoudemire hasn't ruled out playing overseas.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...demire-suns-bleed-purple-and-orange/87677378/

 

[Sunburn]

Even if the FO was in the right, they still look bad. Just one more thing to add to the list....

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Amateur hour front office

 

[slinslin]

I'd like to hear what the front office has to say about this because I sure as heck would prefer to have Amare Stoudemire on this team rather than John Jenkins or Alan Williams.

Or last year, did we really trade a 2nd for John Leuer, sign Teletovic instead of bringing in Amare?

Chriss could learn a lot offensively from Amare.

 

[Matt L]

I read the headline on ESPN and immediately was upset with the Suns front office. The headline makes it sound like he reached out to the Suns to sign one day contract with the intent to retire as a Sun and they told him no thanks. After reflecting on his comments, I don't think that is the case. Reading further into makes me think he reached out for the past two years to ask the suns if he could sign and play for one-two more years and then retire and they declined. The past two years have had pretty bad teams so I don't know if it would have hurt to have him on the roster but I also don't blame them for not wanting to sign him for "farewell" season. My guess is either he didn't give the suns the option of a one day contract or he decided to go with New York for whatever reason (personal, business decision, etc).

He's still my favorite Sun from the run and gun era. I am biased but I hope he gets in the ring of honor or whatever the suns do to honor former players. I hope him and Marion get some sort of recognition.

 

[Bodha]

First off, that isn't true

Superbowl, sb MVP, 2 league MVPs, 3 of his 4 pro bowl nods.


Explain how 3 solid seasons here tops that.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I hated the news that he retired as a knick. If he is saying that he wanted to sign and then retire as a Sun then my hatred for Sarver grows even hotter than even I thought it could. My NBA boycott continues.


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[mojorizen7]

Superbowl, sb MVP, 2 league MVPs, 3 of his 4 pro bowl nods.


Explain how 3 solid seasons here tops that.

Look, as a die hard Rams fan even i can admit that both the Rams and Giants burned some bridges with Warner. The Cards gave him a shot and he took them to uncharted territory. His best work was done in St Louis but your comment was way off the mark.

The Amare treatment from the Suns comes as no surprise to me. Sarver's league wide reputation is what it is for good reason. Bad.
In business, as they say, it all starts at the top...and Sarver is a business man.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Superbowl, sb MVP, 2 league MVPs, 3 of his 4 pro bowl nods.


Explain how 3 solid seasons here tops that.

That's not what you said. There is no question that he had greater success as a Ram. But it's untrue to state that all of his success occurred there.

 

[Bodha]

Was it worth it? The need to argue the definitions of All vs Most.


I for one don't place 1 pro bowl and 1 super bowl loss on the same level as those other achievements. Sorry I didn't make that clear, my faith in the common sense of the statement was apparently too high.

 

[Phrazbit]

Was it worth it? The need to argue the definitions of All vs Most.


I for one don't place 1 pro bowl and 1 super bowl loss on the same level as those other achievements. Sorry I didn't make that clear, my faith in the common sense of the statement was apparently too high.

I read it the same way Steve did. All vs most are distinctly different statements.