Phoenix – Across the street from US Airways Center is Amare Stoudemire’s new restaurant, Stoudemire’s Downtown. Just two weeks ago it seemed Phoenix Suns fans would have had a better chance of seeing their star forward talking shop there with chef Eddie Matney than catching an alley-oop pass from Steve Nash at the arena.
That changed when Stoudemire returned to action for the first time this season Thursday following knee surgery about five months ago. There is enough time to prepare for the postseason and for the Suns to adjust to him.
“I felt the only way to get into top-notch shape was to go ahead and play,” Stoudemire said Saturday.
Not long after signing a five-year, $72.6 million contract extension, Stoudemire underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee in October. The procedure has stymied the likes of Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin this season, as well as many former all-stars: Chris Webber, Terrell Brandon, Penny Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn and Allan Houston. An optimistic Stoudemire expected to be back after All-Star Weekend in February, but his recovery took a little longer.
After missing the first 66 games of the season, Stoudemire had 20 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes Thursday against Portland. The 2005 all-star, however, scored just six points on 2-of-7 shooting Saturday and had five rebounds in 16 minutes during a 107-96 win over Denver.
“We’re still working Amare in,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said. “His body was dead tonight and didn’t have the juice, probably the adrenaline, from last time.”
This Suns team is much different than the one Stoudemire played on last season, the one that advanced to the Western Conference finals.
Joe Johnson, Quentin Richardson, Steven Hunter and Jim Jackson are gone. Newcomers include Boris Diaw, Brian Grant, Kurt Thomas, James Jones, Raja Bell and Tim Thomas. During the final stretch of the season, Stoudemire has to not only get comfortable with his surgically repaired knee but also a new team. The 6-foot-10, 245-pounder also still needs to work on conditioning, timing and regaining his explosiveness. Nash acknowledged he would be a little cautious when throwing alley-oops to the highlight-reel filling Stoudemire.
“(Stoudemire) at 75 percent is still pretty remarkable,” Nash said. “It’s going to take some time to get used to him again. We didn’t even play together in practice.
“It’s going to take some time to feel out the spacing, the dynamics, the new guys and to see where he is most comfortable on his road back to 100 percent.”
Stoudemire will be tested the most during back-to-back games. The first will be Tuesday when Phoenix plays on the road at Milwaukee after playing New Jersey the night before.
“I’ve taken the time to take care of my body. I should be ready on back-to-backs,” he said.
If Stoudemire can get close to where he was when he averaged 26 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season by the time the playoffs start, the Suns can seriously challenge reigning champion San Antonio.
“In the end, there is nobody that doesn’t want a team to be whole going into the playoffs when you play people,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “You don’t say, ‘That guy’s hurt, that guy’s hurt, so I hope we can beat them.’ No one really thinks like that. So if he can come back and be Amare, it’s great for everybody.”
Says Stoudemire: “We got great teams in the West right now. San Antonio is playing great. Those guys are the world champs so we’ve got to keep an eye out for those guys.”
And the Spurs and the rest of the NBA will have their eyes on Amare.
Two camps for USA hoops
USA Basketball will announce two training camp sessions this week at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center in preparation for the World Championships in Japan. The first is July 18-24 with all 23 players taking part in two-a-day practices. The second will be July 31-Aug. 4 with the 12 players who will be on the U.S. roster at the championships.
“I don’t think it’s too much,” Stoudemire said about the two sessions. “For the older guys it will be. But for the younger guys, I think it’s a chance to sharpen our skills and get a chance prepare for the hype worldwide.”
Stoudemire is going to test his surgically repaired knee for the remainder of the regular season before deciding whether he can play this summer.
There will be an exhibition game Aug. 3 in Las Vegas against a yet-to-be-named team.
Nicholson chooses agent
University of Denver senior center Yemi Nicholson selected New York-based agent Andy Miller to represent him.
Miller represents Detroit all-star guard and Denver native Chauncey Billups, Minnesota all-star forward Kevin Garnett, Detroit forward Antonio McDyess and Latvia Riga guard and Denver native Rodney Billups.
Footnotes
Considering his potential and stellar play with USA Basketball’s under-21 team last year, don’t be surprised if Kentucky sophomore point guard Rajon Rondo enters the draft after making an announcement late this week and stays in it. … Free-agent forward-center Shawn Kemp is down to 271 pounds, his lightest weight since 1997, and is hopeful to sign a 10-day contract soon. The six-time all-star, who hasn’t played since the 2002-03 season with Orlando, would likely sign with a non-playoff team interested in taking a look at him for next season.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com. Spears also can be heard Thursdays at 4 p.m. on “Roundball Rap” on ESPN 560 AM with former NBA player Popeye Jones.
