Last week, Amar’e Stoudemire announced his retirement from the NBA but that doesn’t mean he’s done playing for good.
Reports are circulating that STAT will join Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel. Stoudemire is part owner of the team. Amar’e is holding a press conference in New York tomorrow (August 1) and is expected to officially announce the decision.
In 2014, the 14-year NBA vet told the New York Post that “it would be great” to play in Israel after he’s done in the League. ““We’ll see,’’ he said. “You can’t rule anything out. The future is unknown and so if I have an opportunity to [play in Israel] and am still in great health, it would be great. I have one more year left on my deal and we’ll go from there.’’
The big man identifies as “culturally Jewish” and observes Jewish holidays. He has spent time in Israel in the past.
More from David Pick and the Jerusalem Post
Amar'e Stoudemire agreed to deal with co-owned Hapoel Jerusalem to become best-ever NBA star in Israel. https://t.co/FbRb03vzPJ
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) July 31, 2016
Hapoel Jerusalem is confident of signing Stoudemire, who has an ownership stake in the club since the summer of 2013. The 33-year-old forward has said in the past that it would be “great” to play for Jerusalem and Hapoel owner Ori Allon has always hoped he could convince him to come to Israel.
Stoudemire claims he has Jewish roots on his mother’s side and has visited Israel in the past. He is set to arrive in the country once more next week as part of the joint initiative between the Omri Casspi Foundation and NBA Cares, the league’s global community outreach initiative, aimed at presenting Israel in a positive light across the world. Jerusalem is hoping to make the most of the opportunity and officially unveil Stoudemire while he’s in the country.
