Time flies when I see that Amar’e Stoudemire is being enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame later today.
2002 NBA Draft, he was taken with the ninth pick by the Suns. The next night, the 19-year-old was sitting across from me at KTAR Radio for a half-hour live conversation that started a very good line of communication between us, good or bad. He would go on to win Rookie of the Year, and eventually his #32 jersey was hung in the rafters.
2009 NBA Draft night, Amar’e was very close to being traded to Golden State for the seventh pick, a kid named Steph Curry. You might’ve heard of him. Stat would leave in a sign-and-trade a year later with the New York Knicks(opting out of the deal with PHX). It was the start of the “Decade of Decline” (good documentary title), which saw the Suns miss the playoffs for 10 straight seasons and employ a grand total of 15 different GMs, head coaches, and team presidents in the offices at 201 E. Jefferson Street. Decade of Decline indeed.
As is the case with almost every athlete I’ve covered, seeing how they move into life after sports is fascinating. Some become what I call, “lost souls” they don’t get the media and society attention,,the rush of running out of tunnel, and all the stuff. Big houses, multiple cars, etc., etc., etc. They want to work in media, and I usually tell them they aren’t tough enough to succeed in the business. Just because they had a big name doesn’t mean they know how to be broadcasters or want to work at it. Amar’e was different.
I’ve had him on a few times over the years here at Sports360az. Once when he was playing for a team overseas in Jerusalem, Israel, and had an ownership share in the team. He found his faith, converting to Judaism. Not surprised how it’s turned out for him. Not surprised that Phoenix Suns glory days of Colangelo, D’Antoni(also inducted), Rick Welts(easily the best team president in the NBA I’ve ever dealt with), Nash, Hill, Trix, great times that did have their share of sandpaper between the players. 
Happy for Stat…