Amar’e Stoudemire’s transition from the most resented member of the New York Knicks ever to the most welcomed member of the Dallas Mavericks has happened in a little less than 48 hours.
First they love ya, then they hate ya.
Stoudemire was waived by the Knicks on Sunday night, as soon as the All-Star game was wrapping up. Before we could reflect on what an amazing weekend it was in New York, the former Knicks star was a free agent committing himself to the Mavericks.
Official press release from the Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent center-forward Amar’e Stoudemire. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Stoudemire (6-10, 245) was originally drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the ninth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. Despite declaring for the NBA Draft right out of Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, he went on to win the 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year award. Stoudemire played for the Suns for eight seasons before signing with the New York Knicks in 2010.
A six-time NBA All-Star, Stoudemire holds career averages of 20.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and 32.6 minutes in 771 career games (659 starts) with Phoenix and New York. He was named All-NBA First Team in 2007 and has been named All-NBA Second Team an additional four times.
“I’m excited to be a part of a first-class organization,” Stoudemire said. “To play alongside Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and other great players, I think it’s a tremendous opportunity for me to compete for a championship.”
The Lake Wales, Fla., native was waived by the Knicks on Feb. 16 and cleared waivers before the Mavericks signed him as a free agent.
Stoudemire will wear No. 1.
(On the team roster page, it still awkwardly has Stoudemire and newly released Ricky Ledo on it. Ledo was released to make room for Stoudemire and this presumably will not remain this way for long.)
Mavericks are in a complete win-now mode and rightfully so. They will have both Stoudemire and starting point guard Rajon Rondo available when they start their second-half of the season taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
