Last week, Amar’e Stoudemire announced his retirement from the NBA after signing a one-day contract with the Knicks. Soon, the 33-year-old will continue his playing days overseas.
On Monday, Stoudemire announced he will play for Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel, a team he had been part owner of. Stoudemire posted a photo of himself holding a No. 1 jersey, and declaring this his next chapter, to his Instagram account.
Stoudemire also wrote a post for The Players’ Tribune that was published Monday. In it he said this isn’t just about playing basketball, but also helping him become a better person.
I may be retiring from the NBA, but I’m not saying goodbye to basketball just yet. My next step is playing for Hapoel Jerusalem, one of the top teams in Europe. This isn’t about collecting a paycheck overseas, though; it’s a spiritual journey, too.
The Scripture speaks about Jerusalem as a holy place, and I can feel that whenever I’m in the city. This is a chance for me to be a better husband and a better father, to help me lead my family into righteousness. The opportunity to play there, and grow as a player and person, is a blessing.
Hapoel Jerusalem won its first Israeli Basketball Premier League championship in 2015 and finished as runners-up for the 2015-2016 season.
