At the age of 14, Amar’e began to play organized basketball, which changed his life forever. Despite playing only two years of high school basketball, Stoudemire earned many awards, including the USA Today All-USA Basketball First Team, Florida’s Mr. Basketball, Orlando Sentinel Florida High School Player of the Year and was invited to play in the McDonald’s All-America Game.
His phenomenal skills earned him interest from colleges around the country, but with his star on the rise, Stoudemire entered his name in the 2002 NBA draft. He didn’t take long to become one of the NBA’s top players…
![Stoudemire joined the Mavericks two days after the New York Knicks let him out of his contract with a buyout.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/Amaremavs.jpeg)
2015: Amar’e signs with the Dallas Mavericks
Stoudemire joined the Mavericks two days after the New York Knicks let him out of his contract with a buyout.![](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/IMGM1204-300x200.jpg)
2015: Amar’e Joins the Miami Heat
![The Phoenix Suns select Amar’e Stoudemire in the first round of the 2002 NBA Draft, making him the only player drafted straight out of high school that year.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/gallery_stoudemire_stern-247x300.jpg)
2002: Amar'e Drafted #9 Overall
The Phoenix Suns select Amar’e Stoudemire in the first round of the 2002 NBA Draft, making him the only player drafted straight out of high school that year.![Stoudemire averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game to become the first player drafted out of high school to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/12325607-300x218.jpg)
2003: NBA Rookie of the Year
Stoudemire averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game to become the first player drafted out of high school to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.![During the summer of 2004, Stoudemire was selected to play for the eventual bronze medal-winning United States national team in the Summer Olympics.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/large-4-241x300.jpg)
2004: Summer Olympics
During the summer of 2004, Stoudemire was selected to play for the eventual bronze medal-winning United States national team in the Summer Olympics.![Amar’e averaged 26 points per game, earning his first All-Star nod. In the Western Conference Finals, Stoudemire performed magnificently, averaging 37 points per game.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/0221_D46-207x300.jpg)
2005: First-Time All-Star
Amar’e averaged 26 points per game, earning his first All-Star nod. In the Western Conference Finals, Stoudemire performed magnificently, averaging 37 points per game.![After an injury-plagued 2005-2006 season, Amar’e achieved perhaps the most successful comeback from microfracture surgery of any athlete. Before the season, Stoudemire changed his jersey number from 32 to 1.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/Phoenix+Suns+v+Denver+Nuggets+GeIjQ1lYV-al-300x196.jpg)
2006: Return from Microfracture Surgery
After an injury-plagued 2005-2006 season, Amar’e achieved perhaps the most successful comeback from microfracture surgery of any athlete. Before the season, Stoudemire changed his jersey number from 32 to 1.![Stoudemire appeared in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, his second all-star game appearance. He tallied 29 points and 9 rebounds, and was runner-up for MVP.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/2007+NBA+All+Star+Game+ymKiVtKIFIwl-197x300.jpg)
2007: NBA All-Star Game
Stoudemire appeared in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, his second all-star game appearance. He tallied 29 points and 9 rebounds, and was runner-up for MVP.![Amar’e led the Suns in scoring and rebounding and was elected to start the 2008 NBA All-Star Game.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/stoudemire_500x300_080217-300x180.jpg)
2008: All-Star Starter
Amar’e led the Suns in scoring and rebounding and was elected to start the 2008 NBA All-Star Game.![Amar’e was once again named an All-Star, and led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/allstar_amare1-300x300.jpg)
2009-10 Season
Amar’e was once again named an All-Star, and led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals.![In the 2009–10 season, Stoudemire was once again named to the Western Conference All-Star team.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/amare-253x300.jpg)
2009: NBA All-Star
In the 2009–10 season, Stoudemire was once again named to the Western Conference All-Star team.![On June 30, 2010, Stoudemire became an unrestricted free agent. He signed a 5-year contract with the New York Knicks, immediately proclaiming, “The New York Knicks are back.”](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/Amare-Stoudemire-New-York-Knicks-Press-Conference_display_image-266x300.jpg)
2010: Amar'e joins the Knicks
On June 30, 2010, Stoudemire became an unrestricted free agent. He signed a 5-year contract with the New York Knicks, immediately proclaiming, “The New York Knicks are back.”![Amar’e became the first Knick to start the All-Star Game since Patrick Ewing. He scored 29 points to lead the East in scoring.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/2011-all-stars-Amare-300x300.jpg)
2011: Eastern Conference All-Star
Amar’e became the first Knick to start the All-Star Game since Patrick Ewing. He scored 29 points to lead the East in scoring.![Amar’e enjoyed a career year, averaging 25.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists to lead the Knicks to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team.](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/11/153216536_100-197x300.jpg)