Amar'e Stoudemire 'absolutely' considering playing in Israel when contract ends in 2015
When Amar'e Stoudemire's contract with the New York Knicks expires following the 2014-15 NBA season, don't be surprised if it's the last the NBA sees of Stat for a while.
Amar'e says he's "absolutely" considering playing for the Israeli club that he owns after his contract ends in 2015. 1st reported by NY Post
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 15, 2014
If that seems absurd, consider that not only has Stoudemire applied for Israeli citizenship, he is also part-owner of the Israeli basketball club Hapoel Jerusalem. The team hasn't seen much success recently, but they were League Cup champions in 2009 and 2010, and boast former NBA player Ronald Dupree as a potential teammate.
Stoudemire have earned more than $165 million by the end of next season, so it's not like he needs another NBA pay check.
However, as a six-time All-Star, Stoudemire, off as it may seem, could be well-served to play another few years to pad his stat totals for his Hall of Fame candidacy. It's easy to forget that Stoudemire was among the game's elite for half a decade, and he'll be just 32 years old when his contract expires.
He currently ranks 129th all-time in scoring, 152nd in rebounds, 89th in blocked shots, 29th in field goal percentage, 28th in player efficiency rating and 113th in win shares. It wouldn't take much more to solidify his case for the Hall.