Amar’e Stoudemire is associated with disappointment more than he is anything else.
The six-time All-Star, who is averaging over 20 points and eight rebounds for his career, finds himself a roster liability and financial hindrance with the New York Knicks. This wasn’t how his tenure in the Big Apple was supposed to play out. And Carmelo Anthony knows it.
“As a friend, it’s hard for me to sit back and act like it doesn’t bother me because I know how hard of a worker he is [and] I know the time that he puts in the gym to train and rehab,” Anthony said, according to ESPN New York’s Ian Begley. “To see him go forward and then take some steps back every time, it’s just sad.”
Sad indeed. STAT signed a five-year contract with the Knicks worth roughly $100 million in 2010. Other teams, like the Phoenix Suns, weren’t willing to invest that much time or money in his knees. New York seemed to be the only organization willing to take the max-contract gamble Stoudemire was seeking.
Three years in, and owed more than $45 million over the next two years, it hasn’t worked out. A large portion of Stoudemire’s first season in New York was a fairy tale. He generated MVP chatter during the early part of the season and appeared in all but four of the Knicks’ regular-season contests. But it’s been all injuries, recurring injuries and unforeseen setbacks since then.
Stoudemire has appeared in just 76 games over the last two seasons, and no one seems to have a firm hold on when (or if) he’ll be ready this year. More importantly, he and ‘Melo haven’t had the opportunity to play together like they had once hoped. And they may never get it if STAT can’t return to 100 percent again.
“Yeah, I think about it. I think about [it] sometimes,” Anthony admitted, via Begley. “He was one of the reasons why I wanted to come to New York. So for me not to have that chance, the opportunity to get a full season in and get a rhythm going with him — it’s not something I thought would happen.”
He’s not alone. These two were supposed to save the Knicks franchise. Supposed to bring them the NBA title that has eluded the team for 40 years. Supposed to rival the star-rific Miami Heat, and their trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Yet they haven’t even come close. Per Begley, the Knicks are just 45-44 in regular-season games the two have played together, and 2-11 when they share the floor in the postseason. Meanwhile, their friends down South, the team they were modeled after, has two championships and three finals appearances in the last three years.
Equipped with that knowledge, Anthony will soon have a decision make: Does he re-sign with the Knicks next summer, even though Stoudemire, who realistically will never be 100 percent, is under contract for another year? Or does he remain in New York, take the money and fame, and hope the Knicks can retool in time for 2015-16 for what will be one of his last shots at a title?
We’ll know in one year’s time. One way or the other, closure will be provided on Anthony’s future in a New York. It’s just a shame the same cannot be said of this pairing, for which we will always be left to wonder “What if?”
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
