Long before the current Knicks had Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, Amar’e Stoudemire was the one giving the franchise a jolt. After a rough stretch through the 2000’s, Stoudemire arrived in New York in the same offseason that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces in South Beach, and he helped restore some relevance to the Knicks.
Now a Hall of Famer, Stoudemire’s induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame was shaped by more than his time in New York. His Phoenix Suns years also played a major part in the honor. Still, the Knicks connection clearly mattered, and Jeremy Lin made that clear when he reflected on his former teammate during the Hall of Fame festivities.
“Very, very happy for him, well-deserved. Amazing guy.
He supported and loved all of us. He was really kind to me even when I was the 15th guy well before Linsanity,” Lin said recently during the Hall of Fame.
“He was almost happier for me than I was for myself. It’s just who he is.
He’s just a super down-to-earth guy. Really about the team and I really enjoyed playing with him.
Obviously one of the most dominant, fear-instilling power forwards that we’ve seen in the history of the game.”
Lin and Stoudemire were teammates for just one season, before Lin left in free agency and signed with the Houston Rockets after the Linsanity run.
Stoudemire’s top Knicks season came in his first year with the team, when he put up 25.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from 3-point range and 79.2 percent at the free-throw line.
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Knicks Title Just Made The Nets Rebuild Look Even Worse
The Knicks title run has only sharpened the contrast across town, where the Nets are still trying to crawl out of a prolonged downturn. Brooklyn has now missed the playoffs for three straight years and just came off a 20-62 season, a stretch that has left the organization trying to sell patience while its crosstown rival celebrates the sports biggest prize.
Joe Tsai didnt hide how awkward the moment felt, calling the Knicks championship embarrassing for his side while sticking to the rebuilding script. The Nets at least added a piece to build around with the sixth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, using it on Mikel Brown Jr., who flashed some promise in summer league despite dealing with back issues, but the real test is still ahead for a team that has yet to prove the plan is working. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Backup Center Plan Still Feels Far From Settled
The Knicks entered the season with only Andre Drummond and Karl-Anthony Towns on the center depth chart, and the early read around the roster is that the situation is more temporary fix than settled plan. Drummond gives New York an experienced body in the middle, but his age and defensive limitations make him look more like a stopgap while the front office keeps an eye on longer-term options.
New York still has time to sort it out before the trade deadline, and the expectation is that the market could get more interesting as February approaches. For now, the Knicks seem content to manage the position with patience rather than force a decision early, leaving the backup center spot as one of the more obvious areas to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Karl-Anthony Towns Gave Knicks Fans One More Reason To Celebrate
Karl-Anthony Towns had another big August moment away from the court, marrying Jordyn Woods on Aug. 15 in Malibu, Calif., in a celebration that drew a mix of family, friends and a few familiar faces from across sports and entertainment. Among the guests were Gayle King, Kylie Jenner and several NBA players, adding to what was already a high-profile night for the former Knicks center.
The reception also had a very New York basketball touch to it, with the actual Larry OBrien NBA Championship Trophy on the dance floor as part of the celebration. Towns father added to the night with a toast that centered on a rare double accomplishment, noting his son had earned both an NBA championship ring and a wedding ring in the same year. [Read more 🡒]