Amar'e seems ready to nail All-Star start
New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire, left, dunks in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, right, of the Republic of Congo, in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City. (Jan. 22, 2011) Credit: AP
GREENBURGH, N.Y. - The last time the Knicks had a starter in the NBA All-Star Game, Amar'e Stoudemire was a 9-year-old kid in Florida who had never played a minute of organized basketball.
Today Stoudemire is the 28-year-old king of New York hoops, the most important player to wear a Knicks uniform since Patrick Ewing. Barring a last-minute surge by the Celtics' Kevin Garnett, Stoudemire will join an elite group Thursday night and become the just the fifth Knick ever to be voted onto the All-Star team. "This is a very big thing for both the franchise and the fans," said former Knick Allan Houston, who played as a reserve in two All-Star Games. "Amar'e is a special player, and it's a special honor."
It's an honor the Knicks haven't enjoyed since 1992 when Ewing was voted the East's starting center. The other Knicks to be voted onto an All-Star team since fan balloting started in 1974-75 are Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe and Bob McAdoo.
Starters for both the East and West teams will be announced Thursday night on TNT on a nationally televised show before the Knicks play the Miami Heat. It will make for a nice introduction into the game as the Heat's LeBron James is expected to be the East's other starting forward playing alongside Stoudemire.
Stoudemire, who came to the Knicks this summer as a free agent, started for the West the previous two seasons when he was playing for the Phoenix Suns. Wednesday, after Knicks practice, he seemed more concerned about playing the Heat than being honored on the TNT pregame balloting show. When pressed, however, he admitted that it was a good thing for Knicks fans.
"I think the fans will appreciate it," Stoudemire said. "It wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the fans. They're appreciative of all the hard work we put forth. As a reward, I get to be the starter for the All-Star team."
Through 44 games, Stoudemire is averaging 26.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. But his most impressive statistic as a Knick is that the team heads into tonight's game against the powerhouse Heat believing it has a chance to win. The Knicks, despite their recent six-game skid, are in second place in the Atlantic with a 23-21 record. Through 44 games last season, the team was 18-26.
Stoudemire has also been a vocal leader off the floor, never shying away from calling out teammates or pointing out where he thinks improvements need to be made. Nor has he been shy when it comes to having the right attitude going into big games like tonight's against the Heat.
"We all love big stages. This is nothing special," Stoudemire said. "Nobody is afraid of the Miami Heat. We have to play as hard as we can and see what we can do."
With everything that Stoudemire has done, Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said he's more than earned the honor of being an All-Star starter.
Said D'Antoni: "I would say it's a big deal for the fans, and for him it's a testament to what he's done. It's for the fans to have an All-Star."
And it's not bad for
the Knicks, either.
