Knicks' Stoudemire on display with ESPN cover

PARIS - Amar'e Stoudemire is on a short list of athletes that Vogue plans to put on its magazine cover. The Knicks power forward is something of a fashionista and he certainly turned heads while walking the streets of this trendsetting city, but it's his cover shot for ESPN's annual "Body Issue" that will keep people staring.

"They said there's only a few athletes that we think have the ideal body for that sport and they wanted me to do it," Stoudemire said somewhat sheepishly of his nude portrait.

Stoudemire had 11 points in 20:17 in the Knicks' 106-100 loss to the Timberwolves in a preseason game last night at Bercy Arena. The Knicks jumped out to an early 13-point lead but then struggled with shooting (40 percent from the field) and rebounding (Minnesota dominated the boards 62-35). It was an ugly game, typical of what you'd see in the early stages for a team that is trying to blend in 10 new players. Stoudemire pointed to defense, how the Knicks held Minnesota to 40-percent shooting and came up with 12 steals and eight blocks and forced 30 turnovers.

Defense was also important when it came to the photo, which shows Stoudemire jumping into a pool with a basketball in one hand and his other hand strategically covering himself.

"I pretty much jumped in naked," he said.

And how many takes did it require?

"A lot of takes," he said with a laugh.

Concerns about showing too much Amar'e were alleviated by promises from the photographer. "That's the great thing about Photoshop nowadays," Stoudemire said.

The magazine also features WNBA star Diana Taurasi, Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins and Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers, among others.

Stoudemire said ESPN approached him about the shoot and he initially was hesitant. But he looked over some of the previous editions of the Body Issue, which has in the past featured stars such as Dwight Howard, Adrian Peterson and Serena Williams.

"At first I was like, I don't know about this," he said. "But then I thought about it and saw a few of the other issues of the magazine and I thought I'd give it a shot."

Notes & quotes: Anthony Randolph led the Knicks with 14 points. Kevin Love had 17 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota . . . Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor reportedly invited the parents of Spanish star Ricky Rubio, the team's lottery pick in 2009, here to meet them for dinner on Tuesday night. The Rubios, however, did not make the trip. Their son can opt out of his contract with FC Barcelona this summer to join the NBA. Despite rampant speculation that Rubio eventually will try to force a trade - perhaps to the Knicks - T-Wolves GM David Kahn, who spent some time before the game chatting with Knicks president Donnie Walsh, insists Rubio will begin his career in Minnesota . . . There was a noticeable security presence at the team hotel here, including bomb-sniffing dogs that patrolled the sidewalks outside the hotel. Commissioner David Stern said the NBA has taken "all the steps that we think are necessary and prudent to assure the safety of the traveling parties that we have here in Europe . . . We did not go in lockdown mode. In other words, we let them enjoy the cities under our watchful eyes." . . . The Knicks and Timberwolves return to the United States this morning, but the NBA has one more game in Europe, when the Lakers play an exhibition game against Rubio and FC Barcelona Thursday night in Spain.