HoopsHype.com Rumors

Hakeem Olajuwon can’t wait to get Stoudemire back to his Sugarland, Texas, ranch in August for another weeklong session at Hakeem University, work with him more on his low-post game and get him back to reaching his potential. “He put in so much work, was excited and so confident,” Olajuwon told The Post by phone from his winter home in Amman, Jordan. “To see he didn’t get a chance to really show it, I felt very bad for him. I felt for him this season because of how hard he worked. He looked so much forward to the season but with injuries he didn’t get a chance to show what he learned last summer.” New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Hakeem Olajuwon 

“The desire and enthusiasm he brought was so amazing,’’ said Olajuwon, the Hall of Famer whose team beat the Knicks to win the 1994 title. “It was a good experience for me because he was so eager. With him, it was the excitement. He was so excited.” New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Olajuwon admitted his lone concern is if the latest two knee surgeries lessens his elevating ability even moreso — but said he doubts it. Stoudemire is just 30 years old, and Olajuwon said the No. 1 goal is not to turn him back into a superstar, just a productive starter. “The only thing I want to see is his elevation,” Olajuwon said. “He needs good elevation. That’s why he needs his knees to be strong so he can finish strong. Once you have surgeries, it depends on how hard you work to get back. Once he’s comfortable, we can apply a little more innovation. If he’s moving good, it will be smoother and he’ll get good elevation, and he’ll get to another level. All summer he’ll have to strengthen his knees.” New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Injuries, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Olajuwon admitted his lone concern is if the latest two knee surgeries lessens his elevating ability even moreso — but said he doubts it. Stoudemire is just 30 years old, and Olajuwon said the No. 1 goal is not to turn him back into a superstar, just a productive starter. “The only thing I see want to see is his elevation,” Olajuwon said. “He needs good elevation. That’s why he needs his knees to be strong so he can finish strong. Once you have surgeries, it depends on how hard you work to get back. “Once he’s comfortable, we can apply a little more innovation. If he’s moving good, it will be smoother and he’ll get good elevation, and he’ll get to another level. All summer he’ll have to strengthen his knees.” New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Hakeem Olajuwon 

“I don’t think he’s too old, because he’s a hard worker and it’s about conditioning,” Olajuwon said. “Sometimes you can reverse it and the knees get stronger. To be an All-Star, it’s not the goal right now. But for the Knicks to challenge Miami, they need him to be close to his potential, and all he needs is just a good season.” Stoudemire has been laying low since the season ended last month because his new wife Alexis gave birth to a baby boy May 22, and he was unavailable to comment on Olajuwon. “One week is excellent,” Olajuwon said of the upcoming sessions. “It’s enough time, a very good time period with enough repetitions. I was amazed how athletic, he is, shooting jumping and running but he knew he had to develop his game to maximize it.” New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Hakeem Olajuwon 

A week after he retired from the NBA, Grant Hill celebrated with his wife as she performed for a feverish crowd in New York City on Saturday night. Hill and New York Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire watched from the VIP section of the Highline Ballroom as Tamia (tah-MEE’-uh) sang R&B tunes for a few hundred people. Washington Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Grant Hill 

David Pick: Spoke to @Happywalters, agent for Knicks PF-C Amar'e Stoudemire about latest reports in Israel. Said there's no truth to it. Twitter @IAmDPick

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire 

Stoudemire shot an impressive 54.1% (145-of-268) on two-pointers from 20 feet or further over the past six seasons, according to Stats LLC—easily the best mark in the league over that span. In fact, no other player has shot even 50% from that range over the same period. (By comparison, teammate and NBA scoring champ Carmelo Anthony had the 42nd-best percentage, and had shot 42.7% from the same range.) And Stoudemire has already shown an ability to hit threes from particular spots. He's shot a respectable 35.4% (12-of-34) for his career when launching triples from the corners, according to NBA.com. A closer look at his shot charts reveals that Stoudemire's attempts from the wing and the top of the key—where he's connected on just 20.2% (18 for 89) of his tries—have weighed down his career average. Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire 

It isn't unprecedented for a player of Stoudemire's caliber to move to the three-point line. Jack Sikma—a seven time All-Star who, like Stoudemire, is 6-foot-11—underwent such a transformation at 32 while playing for Milwaukee. Threes accounted for 26% of Sikma's attempts in 1988, a huge increase from 1987, when they made up just 1.3% of his attempts. He went on to shoot a team-best 38% from behind the arc in 1988, better than the league average of 32.3%. "If you can knock down a 20-footer for two [points], why not step back to 23 feet and get three?" said Sikma, now a Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach. "As a big man, you can do some serious damage as far as mismatches and spacing if you show you can shoot from that far out." Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Jack Sikma 

Amar'e Stoudemire will resume working out with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon for the second summer in a row, according to his training adviser, Travis King. King said the workouts will take place "sometime in August" at Olajuwon's ranch outside of Houston. It's not clear yet if Tyson Chandler will join him, which was on the table in 2012. ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, Hakeem Olajuwon 

Congratulations to New York Knicks player Amar’e Stoudemire and his wife Alexis who welcomed a baby boy on Wednesday (May 22). The couple already have three children – daughters Ar’e, 7, and Assata, 4, and son Amar’e Jr., 6. The 30-year-old NBA star tweeted the news writing: “We are proud to announce we added a healthy baby boy to the Stoudemire team. Alexis and the baby are doing great. #Blessed.” Celebrity Baby Scoop

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire 

Grunwald also said there’s a chance Amar’e Stoudemire will be on a minutes restriction again next season but considered his health a major key to their 2013-14 success. New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Injuries 

Marc Berman: Grunwald said could be minutes restriction on Stoudemire. On his health. "We're hopeful but there's no guarantee." Twitter @NYPost_Berman

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire 

Al Iannazzone: Among the players who didn't speak to the media today were J.R. Smith, Amar'e Stoudemire and Jason Kidd. Twitter @Al_Iannazzone

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Jason Kidd, J.R. Smith 

Jonah Ballow: "As a friend, it's hard for me to sit back & watch somebody that I wanted to play w/ go through the ups & downs" Melo on STAT #Knicks Twitter @jonahballow

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony 

Moreover, the window on this alleged title drive could close after next season. Anthony can opt out of his five-year deal next summer and probably will if the Knicks are second-round losers again. Amar’e Stoudemire will finally be a trade candidate next summer in 2014 because he will have an expiring contract. Tyson Chandler may have to be traded then, too, if the Knicks blow it up. New York Post

New York Knicks, Trade, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler 

When asked if next season he should come back as a starter alongside Carmelo Anthony, Stoudemire made his loudest statement. “We didn’t give it a chance,’’ Stoudemire said after the Knicks’ season ended in heartbreak in a 106-99 loss to the Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. “We need to understand exactly what my style of play is and what I bring to the table. It’s something I have to sit down with Coach Woody and express to him.’’ New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire 

Chris Herring: Stoudemire, on second-half benching: "It's tough. It's tough. It's never easy. But its coach's decision." Twitter @HerringWSJ

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire 

Tina Cervasio: Amar'e says HIS knee responded well, still 15 min cap. wants to establish strong post position vs IND, says can help NY offensively tonight. Twitter @TinaCervasio

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Injuries 

He played nine minutes in the Knicks’ 82-71 loss to the Pacers in Game 3, having been shelved for the final 23 regular season games and the first eight playoff games following right knee debridement. Stoudemire’s last game prior to Saturday was on March 7 — before the Big East Tournament started. “I feel good,” he said yesterday. “The minutes I played were only nine minutes, but the process before that — I was in shootaround, we’re going hard in shootaround and then the pregame of training — [was] equivalent to about an hour’s worth of work. Hard intensity work. I feel good today.” New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire