Amar’e Stoudemire has announced his retirement from basketball, a month after his Hapoel Jerusalem club captured the Israeli Basketball Premier League championship.
The former Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks forward officially retired from the NBA last year, but he did not stop from playing professionally, opting to sign with the Israeli club which he co-owns.
However, after helping the then fourth-seeded Hapoel Jerusalem win the 2016-17 Israeli title, Stoudemire chose not to return for a second season and to end his career as a champion.
Former NBA ROY, six-time All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire announced his retirement after earning a championship ring in Israel.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) September 1, 2017
Stoudemire posted his farewell note on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYgLYFjAkEd/?taken-at=199594896749981
The 34-year-old added on the post that he would stay as a shareholder of the club and “help make this team even better.” He also thanked the organization for giving him “the opportunity to retire as a champion.”
Amar'e Stoudemire put up a decent stat line of 9.9 points and 5.9 rebounds as a sixth man in his lone year at Jerusalem. However, he averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in 846 NBA games over 14 seasons with Phoenix, New York, Dallas, and Miami.
He was marred with injury in the latter stage of his career; nonetheless, he was a devastating presence on the court before that, particularly on the pick and roll when he teamed up with Steve Nash.
The Florida native rose to prominence after winning the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2003. He was named All-Star six times, in 2005 and from 2007-2011.
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