Amare Stoudemire is in danger. Not in danger of lowering his scoring average, or his minutes, or even losing his star NBA status. He’s in danger of becoming a Marbury/Iverson/Carter: an NBA star only famous for being out for himself, an attraction not an icon. Amare’s recent comments in a Stephen A. Smith article on ESPN.com have attracted all kinds of attention, but weren’t the warning signs there before. Here are the warning signs for STAT over the past year:
The Many Faces of Amare:
1-06-08 Amare misses practice. Blames it on having a sick child at home.
4-30-08 - Amare’s ready for a change.
April 30th, roughly 12 days before Mike D’Antoni accepted the New York Knicks head coaching position, and at a time when others like Steve Nash, Raja Bell, and Grant Hill were openly lobbying for D’Antoni to stay, Amare refers to D’Antoni in the past tense, saying he “was a pretty good coach when I was here.”
9-29-08 - Amare embraces change.
On Suns media day Amare seemed excited about the Porter era, and even more that the D’Antoni era was over: “We’ve been playing a certain (style) over the past four years, and it hasn’t brought us a title. So I definitely think it’s time for a change, and the change we’re making is a positive change.”
11-20-08- Amare starts to have 2nd thoughts.
After the Suns 105-92 loss to the Lakers, he embraces the coach he seemed so eager to see leave: “We played so well here within the fast break under Coach D’Antoni. With Terry Porter it’s a little different, so we have to adjust.”
11-28-08- Amare officially has 2nd thoughts.
In an ESPN.com article by Stephen A. Smith, Amare openly questions his role in the new Porter offense, and leaves an open ended feeling about where he’ll be playing in 2010.
Monday- Amare is asked if he has any regret about his comments in the ESPN.com piece.
His response: “No”
Terry Porter joined Burnsy on “The Terry Porter Show”: and discussed Amare’s recent problems with the offense.
“(Amare) leads us in minutes, he leads us in shots, so from that standpoint he is our go-to-guy. Sometimes every guy likes to get more. I don’t know.”
Terry Porter - Part I [6:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (206) Terry Porter - Part II [4:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (196)
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If Amare wants to leave… let him go. One addtional note…I listen to the Terry Porter show, and he is so bland-vague-and his segment is a complete waste of time. He never has an answer to the problem, its always hem and haw. “well, you know…” Not a lot of conviction. That aloof tone/approach inherently resonates with players. He’d better do something inspiring or start winning some games - cause I’d like to help pack his bags as well.
Stat needs to grow up cuz its not the system its him. He thnks everything should be handed to him on a siver platter and he has go out there and play with intnsity on a nightly basis
If Amare is leaving after his contract is up in 2010, why not trade him now, remove the distractions he is causing, and not waste some of the last years for Nash, Shaq, and Grant Hill?
Very good points Mr Burns. I also thought back to Amare’s behavior and comments during the whole D’Antoni saga. I am of the opinion that he has proved that he is not what the suns need to become a real championship “team”. Too bad we didnt read the writing on the wall when Garnett was available.