Amar'e Stoudemire, Mike D'Antoni praise Phoenix Suns in HOF speeches
Amar'e Stoudemire and Mike D'Antoni reminisce on their time with the Phoenix Suns in their Naismith Hall of Fame speeches Aug. 15 in Springfield Mass.
Former Phoenix Suns stars Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni recently delivered their Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction speeches in Springfield, Massachusetts on August 15. Both players received standing ovations after their speeches.
Stoudemire praised the Phoenix Suns organization for molding him as a basketball player. As a high school player from Florida, Stoudemire had a tumultuous journey to the NBA and credits the Suns for understanding his needs and helping him grow. The ninth overall pick in the 2002 draft, Stoudemire played two years of high school ball before entering the league.
He was voted NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2002-03 season and averaged 21.4 points and 8.9 rebounds in his eight seasons with the Suns. Stoudemire also returned from major left knee surgery in the 2005-06 season, making All-NBA first team the following season.
D’Antoni, 75, entered the Hall of Fame as a contributor, not a coach. He credits his time with the Suns for influencing the game and highlights the talent he worked with, including Amar’e Stoudemire, Steve Nash, and others. D’Antoni was presented by Nash and Stoudemire during his speech.
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