Amar’e Stoudemire, one of the most electrifying power forwards of his era, recently shared his thoughts on today’s NBA, the resurgence of dominant big men, and his personal inspirations. Known for his relentless attack on the rim and fearless playing style, Stoudemire sees glimpses of his own game in former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
On Today’s Game and Who Reminds Him of Himself
“I was a fearless guy. I get to the basket regardless of how many players were in the paint, right? I attacked the rim,” Stoudemire recalled. “To see that now, I don’t see a lot of that; guys are more layups and finger rolls and reverse Euro-steps. I always got to the basket. To the rim! But I think that the only player that I see right now who has that type of quality is Giannis Antetokounmpo who’s playing at a high level.”
On Nikola Jokić and the Next Generation of Dominant Big Men
With Nikola Jokić at the top of the game, Stoudemire sees the constant evolution of basketball as inevitable. “Who knows? The game of basketball is a forever evolving game. Players around the world are always going to play the game of basketball. It’s a beautiful sport to play. It’s a fun sport to play and it’s poetry in motion. So young players like myself when I was in school growing up loved to play the game because it’s a beautiful sport. The game is going to forever evolve, so Jokić right now is at the top of the game. He’s playing great basketball, he loves it, he’s nonchalant and he loves the sport. There’s more players behind him that’s going to step in and put on that crown.”
On Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-Level Season
Stoudemire had high praise for Oklahoma City Thunder’s young star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “Youngin’ is nice with it! He’s smooth, nonchalant, gets to the basket, you understand what I’m sayin’? And so to see him doing what he does from Canada, you understand? My compadre Steve Nash is also from Canada, and so to see him get to the basket and get baskets like he does is beautiful to see. And not only that, he’s fundamentally sound, which goes a long, long way in the game of basketball.”
On His Choice to Wear #32 in Phoenix
While some might have assumed he took inspiration from Magic Johnson or Shaquille O’Neal, Stoudemire revealed a deeply personal connection to his jersey number. “The number #32 was inspired by my brother (Rest in Peace) Hazell Stoudamire Jr., you feel me? And then Shaq also played for number #32 in Orlando, so that was also another great moment for myself. So, it’s a little bit of both.”
On Shaq’s Influence Growing Up
Growing up in Lake Wales, Florida, Stoudemire saw Shaquille O’Neal as a larger-than-life figure. “Shaq came out of LSU ripping down backboards, dominating, right? My brother was locked up doing an 8-year bid upstate New York, so his energy and his persona—the way he played the game, the way his personality was—reminded me of my brother, right? So, that energy that I took from him correlated with me. So that number #32 jersey, and they both played that same number, that made me want to take that #32 jersey to the next level.”
On His Wine Business and the Famous Wine Baths
Post-retirement, Stoudemire has found success in the wine industry, with Stoudamire Wines gaining international recognition. “[Smiling] No! Stoudamire Wines is now a major deal. Everyone around the country and the world actually loves Stoudamire Wines—from America to France to Italy to Israel… everybody loves Stoudamire Wines! Now the wine bath was a sense of recovery and perseverance through my training attributes that I was taking on. But Stoudamire Wines is out in the world; everyone loves it, it’s outta here, it’s the new thing, and it tastes great!”
Amar’e Stoudemire’s impact on the game of basketball is undeniable. His insights into the modern game, admiration for today’s rising stars, and successful ventures beyond the hardwood show that his influence extends well beyond his playing days. Whether on the court or in the world of wine, Stoudemire continues to make his mark.
