Amar’e Stoudemire retires from the NBA with Knicks

Amar’e Stoudemire has retired from basketball.

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Amar’e Stoudemire retired from basketball on Tuesday as a member of the New York Knicks, the organization announced.

Stoudemire, 33, retires after 14 seasons, most recently with the Miami Heat. He opted to retire with New York, where he played from 2010–2015.

“I came to New York in 2010 to help revitalize this franchise and we did just that. Carmelo [Anthony], Phil [Jackson] and Steve [Mills] have continued this quest, and with this year’s acquisitions, the team looks playoff-bound once again,” Stoudemire said. “Although my career has taken me to other places around the country, my heart had always remained in the Big Apple. Once a Knick, Always a Knick.”

ESPN’s Marc Stein reports Stoudemire has “lucrative interest” from the Chinese league or could play for the Israeli team he co-owns, but “plans to take some time before deciding” whether to play overseas. 

• Amar'e Stoudemire Q&A: Miami and art galleries

Stoudemire averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds for his career with the Suns, Knicks, Mavericks and Heat. He was a memorable piece of the Steve Nash-led Suns teams of the mid-2000s, anchoring the paint and running the fast break with explosive athleticism. Stoudemire was a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, and he won 2003 Rookie of the Year honors after the Suns drafted him ninth out of Cypress Creek High School in Orlando.

- Jeremy Woo