Miami Heat power forward Amar’e Stoudemire was one of the best big men in the league during his prime. Unfortunately, the prime of his career was cut short by injuries. However, he still has had quite the impressive career, and hopes to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame when he retires, Stoudemire tells Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated:
“I’m actually very proud of my career. In my career, I’ve had some ups and downs,” Stoudemire said. “But I’m thankful that what I put into this game helped me achieve what I was able to accomplish. Hopefully, that gives me a bid into the Hall of Fame. That was my goal as a teenager, was to become a Hall of Famer. That’s what I’m still striving for.”
When asked what his Hall of Fame case is:
Probably resilience. When I was drafted, there were no [power forwards] or [centers] that were playing the way I played. Steve Nash and myself kind of transcended the game of basketball. That was a turning point in the NBA. The NBA now has to adapt to that kind of [up-tempo] play. It was a phenomenon in Phoenix for us to play that type of offense. For what I did at the [power forward] and [center] position, I transcended that position.
The twilight of Stoudemire’s career took place in Phoenix, where he played alongside Steve Nash on the Suns.
Here’s the case for Stoudemire making the Hall of Fame: During his prime, he was among the most dominant players in the NBA. He won Rookie of the Year. He made six All-Star teams, and five All-NBA teams, including one first-team selection. He won a gold medal in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.
The case against him: Really only seven or eight of Stoudemire’s 15 seasons can you say that he was in his prime. He never won a championship, or made an All-Defensive team.
So will he make the Hall of Fame? It’s difficult to say, given that his career was cut short, and that he never won a championship. He very well could make it, though. In fact, according to Basketball Reference’s Hall of Fame Probabilities, Stoudemire has a 72.93% chance at making the Hall. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
