The New York Knicks are back in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2004. All of the attention these days, of both the media and -- seemingly -- Knicks' fans, seems to be focused on Carmelo Anthony. It's hard to argue with that. Anthony is a super star, a native New Yorker, former hero at Syracuse University, acquired in the trade deadline mega-deal with the Denver Nuggets.
It is easy to forget that the Knicks other superstar, Amare Stoudemire, is the player who has really had the most to do with the 38-38 Knicks finally being relevant in the NBA after years as a league laughingstock. Stoudemire is the one who came to New York as a free-agent last summer, taking $100 million with no guarantees any other top-notch players would join him, declaring that the Knicks were back, then putting the team on his shoulders until Anthony arrived and proving it.
In the wake of the Knicks qualifying for the playoffs, Stoudemire joined ESPN New York on The Michael Kay Show earlier this week to talk about where the Knicks are -- and where they ultimately want to be.
This is only a small piece of the pie. You know we’re really trying to make something special in New York happen and I think just finally getting back into the postseason is something that excites the fans, but again we’re still looking to accomplish more," Stoudemire told Kay.
Stoudemire said there was never any truth to reports that he did not want Anthony on the Knicks because he did not want to share the spotlight.
"That’s not true. You always need other great players with you in order to win a championship," Stoudemire said. "That’s the way I look at it, so whatever we can do to bring in the right pieces to ultimately win a championship. That’s the goal."
-- Sports Radio Interviews has the full transcript