New Knick Stoudemire rose from poverty to stardom

The message is tattooed vertically in large script letters that run from Amar'e Stoudemire's right biceps to his elbow. It likely will be hidden behind the sleeve of an expensive, hand-tailored suit Thursday when he is introduced at a Knicks news conference. But Stoudemire will never forget what it says there, never forget what no one else can see.

When Stoudemire leans over to sign a contract that will pay him nearly $100 million over the next five years, the arm he uses to sign the contract will sport a tattoo of the word "Poverty."

Pro sports are filled with rags-to-riches stories, but few are as extreme as the one Stoudemire has to tell. And that's one big reason that Alvin Gentry, Stoudemire's former coach with the Suns, thinks he will have absolutely no problem shining in a tough sports market such as New York.

"If you know anything about where Amar'e came from, there's nothing he can't handle," Gentry said Tuesday in a phone interview. "New York is nothing compared to what he has dealt with in life."

Rootless and poor

Stoudemire was born Nov. 16, 1982, in Lake Wales, Fla. He bounced around Florida and spent time briefly in Newburgh, N.Y., when he was in grade school, living at so many addresses that he has another tattoo of a street sign listing some of the places he has called home.

After Stoudemire's father, Hazell, died of a heart attack when Amar'e was 12, life really got rough. His mother, Carrie, has been in and out of prison for charges ranging from drug possession to prostitution and was in no position to provide for her kids. His older brother, Hazell Jr., also couldn't escape the lure of the streets, eventually serving time in the Oneida (N.Y.) Correctional Facility after he was convicted of sexual abuse and the sale of a controlled substance.

Stoudemire lived where he could, attending six high schools before graduating from Cypress Creek High in Orlando, Fla.

For a couple of his high school years, Stoudemire lived with Burney Hayes, a Lake Wales policeman who coached his AAU team and one of his high school teams. Stoudemire didn't play organized basketball until he was 14, but Hayes said his talent was quickly apparent. And so was his desire to do something with it.

"He was just a persevering kid," Hayes said. "People always want to write about his mother or brother, but Amar'e is the story. He had a God-given talent and didn't get sidetracked from fulfilling his potential like some of his close friends. Amar'e listened and he worked hard."

From high school to NBA

Stoudemire declared himself eligible for the draft out of high school, and the Suns took him with the ninth pick in 2002. His success was instant as he became the first high school player to win Rookie of the Year, beating out Yao Ming and Caron Butler for the honor. When Mike D'Antoni took over the next season, he put in a system that was ideal for Stoudemire, who brings a career average of 21.4 points and 8.9 rebounds to the Knicks.

Mark West, the Suns' vice president of player programs, worked closely with Stoudemire from the start of his career and believes the 6-10, 249-pounder will flourish again in D'Antoni's system. West also knocked down the notion that the five-time All-Star needs a great guard like Steve Nash to excel.

"We do have a great point guard in Steve, but Amar'e made our point guard look good, too. It's a symbiosis type of thing," West said. "People forget that when Stephon Marbury was here, he was averaging 20 with him. He is a terrific player."

Gentry also thinks he brings a lot to the Knicks. "If they don't have a great year,'' he said, "it won't be because of him."

Stoudemire opted out of his contract with the Suns to become a free agent because talks to extend his contract and make him a maximum player were going nowhere. Still, it is clear that the Suns staff will miss him.

Gentry laughed while explaining how he was forced to learn how to use the text feature on his cell phone so he could communicate regularly with Stoudemire.

"What people don't realize about him is he's just a real solid person," Gentry said. "There's not a malicious bone in his body. All he wants to do is be the best basketball player."

Connected to his past

Despite his early struggles, or maybe because of them, Stoudemire remains close with his family and friends from back home. He also funds an AAU team coached by Hayes that just produced Dominique Jones, the Mavericks' first-round pick.

Stoudemire also has his body art - almost a dozen tattoos - to constantly remind him of his beginnings. The one that says "Poverty" has an offshoot that says "Prophecy," which he once explained was a reference to the praying he did as a child to escape a life of poverty.

Said Hayes: "People always are trying to define you, and they said someone like him would never make it. Well, he did. I'm so happy for him and his family. Amar'e is living proof that your dreams can come true."

THROUGH THE YEARS WITH AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE

Amar'e Stoudemire through the years

Picked by the Suns out of Cypress Creek High School (Orlando, Fla.) in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2002 draft. (The Knicks passed on him with the seventh pick, which they used on Nene Hilario, whom they sent to the Nuggets in the Antonio McDyess deal.)

2002-2003: Averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds and was named Rookie of the Year, beating out Yao Ming and Caron Butler.

2003-2004: Missed 27 games with ankle and toe injuries. Earned bronze medal with U.S. basketball team in the 2004 Olympics.

2004-2005: Averaged a career-high 26 points and received his first All-Star Game selection. Scored a career-high 50 points against Portland on Jan. 2, 2005. All-NBA second-team.

2005-2006: Missed 79 games because of two separate knee operations, including microfracture surgery Oct. 11, 2005.

2006-2007: Bounced back from microfracture surgery and averaged 20.4 points (.575 shooting) and a career-high 9.6 rebounds in 82 games. Named to his second All-Star Game and first-team All-NBA. Had a career-high 23 rebounds against the Spurs on Feb. 10, 2007.

2007-2008: Averaged 25.2 points (59-percent shooting) and 9.1 rebounds in 79 games. Named to third All-Star Game. All-NBA second-team selection.

2008-2009: Missed final 29 games of the regular season and the playoffs with a detached retina. Averaged 21.4 points and selected to his fourth All-Star Game.

2009-2010: Played all 82 games and made his fifth All-Star team (23.1 points, .557 shooting percentage, 8.9 rebounds). All-NBA second-team selection.

July 5, 2010: Signs five-year, $99.7-million deal with the Knicks.