Stoudemire looks back ... and forward
Former Heat player returns for Big3 league
Amare’ Stoudemire is no stranger to drama with the Miami Heat or with Hassan Whiteside.
He lived it two years ago and is about to return to where it has percolated again.
As part of his association with the Big3 halfcourt basketball league, Stoudemire will be back at AmericanAirlines Arena on Friday night for Week 5 of the circuit’s tour.
It was during 2015-16, when Stoudemire was in the midst of what proved to his final NBA season (or at least what seemed to be), that he went from seldom-used reserve to Heat starter in place of Whiteside to postseason bench afterthought.
The dramatic shift in roles was as much being caught in coach Erik Spoelstra’s attempts to motivate Whiteside as any doing of his own.
“No regrets, no sour taste at all,” Stoudemire said of that experience as he looked ahead to Friday’s return. “I felt great about my time there.”
Following that season, the Heat signed Whiteside to the four-year, $98 million freeagent contract that has two seasons remaining. The irony of
10:00 Jaron Ennis vs. Armando Alvarez, welterweights; Thomas Mattice vs. Zhora Hamaazaryan, lightweights; Montana Love vs. Kenneth Sims Jr., junior welterweights 8:00* Tour de France, Stage 13 from Bourg d’ Oisans to Valence, France
12:00 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Foxwoods Resorts Casino 301, practice AUTO RACING: Scott Dixon won the Toronto IndyCar race for the third time. Simon Pagenaud was second, with Robert Wickens third. Defending champ Josef Newgarden led for most of the first 32 laps before hitting the wall. That allowed Dixon to take the lead and cruise to the victory.
CYCLING: John Degenkolb won a threeman sprint to conclude the cobblestoned Stage 9 of the Tour de France in Roubaix, while contender Richie Porte crashed out of the race. Yellow-jersey holder Greg Van Avermaet crossed second and increased his overall lead to 43 seconds ahead of Geraint Thomas. Porte crashed before the 15 cobblestone sections and exited with an apparent right shoulder injury.
GOLF: John Daly withdrew from the British Open, citing a knee injury, and will be replaced by former PGA champion Keegan Bradley. ... Michael Kim shot a final-round 66 to win the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., by a record-setting eight strokes and pick up his first victory on the PGA Tour. Kim finished at 27-under 257, breaking Steve Stricker’s tournament record from 2010 by one shot. Bronson Burgoon, Francesco Molinari, Joel Dahmen and Sam Ryder finished at 19 under. ... Vijay Singh birdied the second playoff hole to beat Jeff Maggert and win the Senior Players Championship in Highland Park, Ill., for his first major title on the PGA Tour Champions. Singh (67) and Maggert (68) finished at 20-under 268. Brandt Jobe (66) was two strokes behind. ... Brandon Stone narrowly missed becoming the first player to shoot 59 on the European Tour, settling for a 10-under 60 and winning the Scottish Open in Gullane. He barely missed an 8-foot putt at No. 18. ... Thidapa Suwannapura won her first LPGA Tour event, closing with a 6-under 65 and birdieing the first playoff hole to defeat Brittany Lincicome (67) at the Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. Suwannapura shot a 14-under 270. ... Laura Davies dominated the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open in Wheaton, Ill., claiming the title by 10 strokes over Juli Inkster. Davies shot a 5-under 68 to finish at 16-under 276.
NFL: Coach Mike Tomlin said he hopes the Steelers will sign RB Le’Veon Bell to a long-term contract before Monday’s deadline. Bell played under the franchise tag last season and has said he would play on this year’s tag, worth $14.5 million, if he doesn’t get an extension worth the tag number on an annual basis.
NHL: Former G Ray Emery drowned in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. He was 35. Emery played 11 seasons with the Senators, Flyers, Blackhawks and Ducks from 20032015. Emery dealt with many off-ice problems, including an incident of road rage, assaulting a trainer and behavior that led the Senators to send him home from training camp.
POKER: John Cynn of Indianapolis won the World Series of Poker no-limit Texas hold ’em main event in Las Vegas. Cynn’s king of clubs and jack of clubs were stronger than Tony Miles’ queen of clubs and eight of hearts. Cynn won $8.8 million.
SOCCER: West Ham signed Brazil midfielder Felipe Anderson for a reported fee of $42 million in what the Premier League club said was a “real statement of intent.” Stoudemire’s visit is it comes in the wake of sharply reduced minutes for Whiteside this past season and in the playoffs.
To Stoudemire, there is an appreciation for Spoelstra’s approach, with the NBA reverting to the uptempo, perimeter-based style that helped make Stoudemire such a unique force during his All-Star time with the Phoenix Suns.
But having been caught in Spoelstra’s initial attempts to maximize Whiteside, he also appreciates the needed response.
“I think for Hassan,” he said, “it’s all about him wanting to improve as a player and get better at whatever he’s doing. You can’t be satisfied with the money and the fame; you have to be able to work to become great. And that’s one thing that a lot players don’t understand. You can have amazing potential, but you’re never going to reach that potential unless you put in that work.
“I think for Hassan Whiteside, this summer is a pivotal summer for him to really sharpen up on his skills, get a nice back-to-thebasket game, being able to score when the ball’s thrown to him in the post. That way, traditional bigs can still keep a job.”
For his part, Stoudemire is more than willing to again mentor, hoping this time with the Big3 can showcase his skills, even at 35 and two seasons removed from the NBA, with a championship season in Israel followed by time off this past season.
“Hopefully I can get with a team before the Big3 ends,” he said. “So, as of right now, I’m showing my athletic ability and the way I move. I think a lot of teams haven’t really seen me play since the last time I played in Israel, so I just want them to see I have great health and am able to be on that level. Once they see how healthy I am and how good I feel, I think teams will be able to sign me at that point.
“I haven’t spoken to the Heat. The Heat is definitely a team I’m highly interested in.”
With a residence in Southwest Ranches, Stoudemire attended several Heat games last season, often seated courtside opposite the Heat bench. The style of the current game has proven particularly intriguing.
“Where the game is going, it’s fast paced and a quick game,” he said. “I’m one of the originators at that game and I feel I’m still able to compete at that game.”
For now, he is enjoying his time catching up with friends, former teammates and former rivals in the weekly halfcourt circuit.
Among Stoudemire’s teammates on his Tri-State entry are former Heat forward Jermaine O’Neal, former University of Miami guard Robert Hite, as well as former NBA players Bonzi Wells and Nate Robinson, with Julius Erving the coach. Others competing in the league with Heat ties are Chris “Birdman” Andersen, Rashard Lewis, Ricky Davis, Mike Bibby, Mike James, Jamario Moon, Qyntel Woods and Quentin Richardson, with Gary Payton serving as a coach.
“I knew the Big3 was about kind of retired players, or players that still wanted to play the game of basketball,” Stoudemire said. “So it gave them the opportunity to stay in shape and still play basketball at somewhat of a higher level. And then once I actually got involved with the Big3, I realized that this was a pretty big deal. Everything has that NBA feel to it. So it’s definitely been a surprise.”