National Basketball Association

Amar'e Stoudemire announces his retirement from the NBA

Published Jul. 26, 2016 5:07 p.m. ET

foxsports

Amar'e Stoudemire announced his retirement from the NBA on Tuesday and chose to do so as a member of the New York Knicks.

"I want to thank Mr. Dolan, Phil [Jackson] and Steve [Mills] for signing me so that I can officially retire as a New York Knick," Stoudemire said, via the team's official release. "I came to New York in 2010 to help revitalize this franchise and we did just that. Carmelo [Anthony], Phil and Steve have continued this quest, and with this year's acquisitions, the team looks playoff-bound once again. Although my career has taken me to other places around the country, my heart had always remained in the Big Apple. Once a Knick, Always a Knick."

.@Amareisreal is retiring a Knick: "My heart had always remained in the Big Apple." #CongratsSTAT pic.twitter.com/36urYziiw8
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) July 26, 2016

Stoudemire, 33, played his first eight NBA seasons with the Suns and came to New York in free agency during the summer of 2010 after Phoenix wouldn't provide him with the max-level contract offer he was seeking in order to stay. He was selected to five All-Star teams with the Suns and made it to one more during his first season with the Knicks.

Stoudemire was one of the most athletic big men of his generation before a long list of injuries eventually slowed his abilities. He was devastating in the pick-and-roll playing alongside Steve Nash and was a key component of high-scoring Phoenix teams that made it to the conference finals three times in a six-year span.

Stoudemire's play in his first season with the Knicks (along with a midseason trade for Carmelo Anthony) helped New York return to the playoffs after a six-year absence. He finished his 14-year career by appearing in 52 games for the Heat last season, averaging 5.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per contest.