Knicks Power Forward Amar'e Stoudemire: 'I Feel Dominant'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Amar'e Stoudemire is still Amar'e Stoudemire, and he doesn't want you to forget it.
The Knicks' power forward has been hampered by injuries and limited playing time in recent years, and he's entering the final season of the five-year deal he signed with New York back in 2010.
The 31-year-old has something to prove, and he's ready to rise to the occasion.
"Obviously to reach back to my dominant self, I feel like I'm there now," the six-time NBA All-Star told reporters. "I feel like my body is feeling so much stronger (than last year at this time), so I feel dominant."
Once a bona fide superstar in this league, Stoudemire -- a former All-NBA First Team selection, four-time All-NBA Second Team selection and Rookie of the Year -- didn't start any games in 2012-13 and started just 21 last season.
"Yeah, I think so," the former first-round pick said in regard to fans forgetting what a difference-maker he can be. "I think the previous years of battling injuries, people have forgot. But it's my job to remind them."
The 6-foot-11, 245-pound big man averaged 11.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 22.6 minutes last season. He appeared in 65 games, more than double the 29 he appeared in the year before.
"This is definitely not the last year for myself," Stoudemire said. "I feel like the work I put in this offseason and the way I feel now is great motivation for me to continuing to play. There have been times where rehabbing and recovering from injuries has been very tough on the mind and the mental. But I have been able to persevere.
"And the life that I get from playing well kind of motivates me to continue striving to continue to get better."
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