Amar'e Stoudemire was caught off guard when he learned he would be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. In an interview with TMZ Sports, the former NBA star described his reaction upon receiving the life-changing news.
"Man, I was ecstatic. I was caught by surprise," Stoudemire said. "I got a call saying, 'Hey Amar'e, we got some good news for you.' I said, 'Ok, alright, hit me with it.' He's like, 'You are now gonna be enshrined into the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame.'"
Stoudemire, who played 14 seasons in the NBA and averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, said he was immediately flooded with calls and congratulations from friends, family, and peers.
The six-time All-Star and 2003 Rookie of the Year reflected on the dedication required to reach such heights: "You train before and after practice and in the offseason. You sacrifice family time to be on the basketball court, and to hit the weights, and really get yourself in top shape year after year after year."
Stoudemire's induction ceremony is set for August 15 in Springfield, Massachusetts.