Former Suns player Amar’e Stoudemire had his No. 32 jersey retired during a Ring Of Honor ceremony at halftime of the Suns-Rockets game on Saturday.
Joined by his kids, his esteemed colleagues, and adoring fans, Stoudemire watched his jersey join those of other Suns legends.
Before his jersey was raised to the rafters, Stoudemire expressed his gratitude in a speech to those who supported him throughout his career.
“I want to thank my family, my heartbeat, because playing basketball is a grueling sport. You have to train, you have to be on top of your game, you have to constantly, you know, be in top shape, and have determination to be the best that you can possibly be, and that requires sometimes being away from home. You’re traveling, and in the summer times, you’re also training at a high level. So, for my family to be there and support me throughout my career, I want to thank them for the support,” he said.
Drafted by the Suns in 2002, Stoudemire quickly rose to prominence, earning accolades as a five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA player during his tenure. Following his stint with the Suns until 2010, he played for the New York Knicks for five years. His later career included playing for Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel.
Reflecting on his journey, Stoudemire remarked, “When I was drafted here in Phoenix, my mission was to be the best player that I could possibly be. A kid out of high school that was determined to be a top NBA player and also to be a winner was my objective.”
He continued, “When I was a young kid growing up in Lake Wales, Florida, there was a lot of adversity that needed to take place for me to be successful. I would always say my prayers every night, and I would ask God to be the best player for 100 years! It was just a prayer as a little kid wanting to be successful, so I want to thank God for tonight, because it seems as if my prayers have been answered.”
Photo: Suns’ Instagram
