Dunk artist Stoudemire retires after injury-riddled finish

N EW YOR K • Amare Stoudemire’s greatest success was in Phoenix, where as Steve Nash’s pick-and-roll partner he was one of the NBA’s most fearsome finishers.

But he chose to leave the league as a member of the Knicks, the franchise that was mired in a lengthy playoff drought before he signed in 2010 and revitalized the franchise.

Stoudemire retired Tuesday after signing a contract with the Knicks with much less fanfare than the US$100-million deal he inked six years ago to halt the team’s downward spiral.

“Although my career has taken me to other places around the country, my heart had always remained in the Big Apple,” he said in a statement. “Once a Knick, Always a Knick.”

Stoudemire was a six-time all-star, but battled knee injuries after his sensational first season in New York, when he became the first Knicks player to be voted an all-star starter since Patrick Ewing in 1997.

Still just 33 years old but with knees that hadn’t been healthy in years, the 6 -foot-10 forward asked team president Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills to add another signing to the ones they hope will lead to the first playoff berth since Stoudemire left.

“I came to New York in 2010 to help revitalize this franchise and we did just t h a t ,” Stoudemire said. “Carmelo (Anthony), Phil and Steve have continued this quest, and with this y e a r ’s acquisitions, the team looks playoff-bound once again.”