A 50-point game from a young Amar’e Stoudemire
It was a takeoff year for Amar’e Stoudemire. By the time he barely celebrated his 22nd birthday on January 2, 2005, the interior had given full measure to Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo system.
Arriving last summer, Steve Nash gave him balls under the rim, but Joe Johnson, Sean Marion and Quentin Richardson were also there to send him into orbit, either on the fast game or even in the half court, with two or three plays that hit and allowed Phoenix to post the best record (62-20) in the NBA.
This duel against Zach Randolph and the Blazers is the apotheosis for the young “Stoud”, who makes a series of big dunks, but also ends up with a lot of touches or even mid-range shots. In the end: 50 points on 20/27 shooting, 11 rebounds and 3 assists! Only downside: 10/17 on throws…
“Amar’e Stoudemire looked like Wilt Chamberlain” Quentin Richardson will explain. “I told him if he learns how to shoot, he can score 75 points. Nobody scores 50 points if they miss 7 shots.”
Encouraged by the entire public and teammates to 50 points, Amar’e Stoudemire was clearly happy after the meeting. At only 22 years old, and in her third NBA season, she saw this game from the inside as “tip of the iceberg”the best is still below the surface.
Unfortunately, by the following summer, “Stoud’s” knees began to be a problem and despite returning to the forefront (six-time All-Star, All-NBA First Team member in 2007), he ended up never having the career that this early career promised him. And it will never reach the 50-point mark again.
2025-11-16 17:32:00
