By Steve McPherson

For every Kobe Bryant who refuses to bow as time breaks him slowly, there’s a Vince Carter who transmutes himself into a support role. This is where six-time NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire finds himself with the Miami Heat this year, a team with three other former All-Stars in Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng, a dominant young big man in Hassan Whiteside and a promising lottery pick in Justise Winslow. In a tumultuous Eastern Conference, they could end up anywhere from the second seed to out of the playoffs entirely.

“The adjustment to becoming a team player is far more important when you get to the latter half of your career,” Stoudemire says. “Earlier on I was extremely healthy and I was a phenom on the basketball court, so it would have been unacceptable for me to accept that role in my younger years. But now as you get older and you’re not as athletic or fast as you used to be, you still can be very effective by having less minutes.”

To continue reading, please visit Rolling Stone.