Stoudemire points to New York as the defining move
Amar'e Stoudemire was asked to name the biggest power move of his career, and he did not need much time to decide. After a few false starts and some basketball banter, he settled on the one that changed the rest of his NBA life: signing with the Knicks.
The conversation touched on a couple of other candidates first. Not helping Shane Battier up? Stoudemire called that a "solid move," though not the one he would put at the top of the list. Steve Nash's memorable header dunk contest cameo also got a mention, which Stoudemire described as "innovative." A rare example of NBA nostalgia being both accurate and slightly ridiculous.
But when it came to the actual career-defining decision, Stoudemire pointed to his move to New York.
"I think my power move, right, was signing with the Knicks, honestly."
He explained that the choice worked because he fully embraced the city and, in return, the city embraced him. Stoudemire said the move helped build a fan base that stayed with him for the rest of his career.
That deal came after Phoenix was unwilling to pay him the maximum contract he wanted, and Stoudemire chose to walk away rather than stay put. In his telling, the gamble paid off far beyond the contract itself. It gave him a lasting connection with one of the league's biggest markets, which is probably the kind of detail front offices love to hear right after the fact.
