Amare Stoudemire’s best 5 seasons

Table of Contents

Alright, if you've followed the NBA for any period during the 2000s, you remember the ferocity, the agility, and the overall dominance of Amare Stoudemire. Picture a hypothetical mash-up of a young Shawn Kemp with a sprinkle of Karl Malone's power, with the finesse of a prime Chris Webber. That’s STAT for you. However, it wasn’t just about highlight-reel plays; Amare put together some all-time great seasons. So let's don the rose-tinted glasses and dive into ranking Amare’s five best seasons, while embracing the allure of delightful tangents.

5. 2008-2009: The “Wait, I Can Shoot Mid-range Too” Season

Stat Line: 21.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 53.4 FG%

You remember where you were when the Suns started to evolve. Mike D'Antoni was out, Terry Porter was in, and the Suns' fast-paced era was, let's just say, experiencing turbulence. This season for Amare was akin to the plot of ‘Rocky III.’ After tasting success, facing a bit of a setback, then bouncing back with newfound skills. Despite playing fewer games due to an eye injury, Amare showcased a more refined mid-range game. It was like watching Paul McCartney suddenly decide, "You know what? I'll learn the drums too." The Suns didn’t hit the crescendo we anticipated, but Amare’s evolution kept the desert buzzing.

4. 2004-2005: The “I’m Here to Take Over” Season

Stat Line: 26.0 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 55.9 FG%

This is the season when Amare wasn’t just knocking on superstardom’s door; he kicked it down with a vengeance. Now, think of this as the sequel to the first 'Terminator' movie, only instead of machines, it was Amare terrorizing the paint. The Suns were the talk of the NBA with that irresistible Steve Nash-led offense. But remember, Nash was Batman, and Amare? A souped-up, ultra-aggressive Robin. Nash’s dishes and Stoudemire’s dunks were like Lennon-McCartney harmonies—perfectly in sync. Oh, and those battles with Tim Duncan in the playoffs? We witnessed an NBA version of Ali-Frazier in the paint.

3. 2010-2011: The “New York State of Mind” Season

Stat Line: 25.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 50.2 FG%

Trading the desert for skyscrapers, Amare arrived in New York with a point to prove, channeling his inner Sinatra, aiming to make it in a city known to chew and spit out stars. And for most of that season, boy, did he deliver. This was Amare’s “I can carry a team on my broad shoulders” manifesto. With a spike in his assists, it felt like watching Scorsese not only direct but also co-write and produce – he was orchestrating the whole show. He made Madison Square Garden relevant again, and even if it was a short-lived apex, it was mesmerizing.

2. 2006-2007: The “Phoenix Rises from the Ashes” Season

Stat Line: 20.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 57.5 FG%

The lore of this season isn’t encapsulated just in numbers. Context matters. This was post-microfracture surgery Amare. Many thought he’d lose that explosive step, akin to Dylan going electric and fans worrying about losing the acoustic magic. But he came back, not just as the same beast but perhaps even better. He grabbed boards like a kid grabbing free candy, and those pick-and-roll plays with Nash? Basketball poetry in motion. The tragic "hip-check" episode in the playoffs doesn’t dim the beauty of this season. It's like enjoying 'Goodfellas' even if you knew the ending.

1. 2007-2008: The “I’m Unstoppable, Prove Me Wrong” Season

Stat Line: 25.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 59.0 FG%

Oh, where to begin. If you wanted to introduce an alien to basketball and specifically to the prowess of Amare, you'd show them tapes from this season. Remember that time Neo finally realizes he's "The One" in 'The Matrix'? That was Amare all of this season. Nearly 60% shooting from the field? That's vintage Shaq territory! The partnership with Nash was like watching Scorsese and De Niro, Spielberg and Hanks – they just knew how to bring the best out of each other. This was peak Stoudemire, a force that gravity seemingly forgot, a spectacle every time he took the court.