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NBA Injuries: 20 Stars Who Deserve A Career Do-Over

By Gerald Bourguet

AUBURN HILLS, UNITED STATES: Detroit Pistons player Grant Hill (L) drives around Indiana Pacers player Chris Mullin during the first half of their game 07 February at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons beat the Pacers 107-98. AFP PHOTO/JEFF KOWALSKY (Photo credit should read JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, UNITED STATES: Detroit Pistons player Grant Hill (L) drives around Indiana Pacers player Chris Mullin during the first half of their game 07 February at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons beat the Pacers 107-98. AFP PHOTO/JEFF KOWALSKY (Photo credit should read JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images) /
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NBA Injuries
Feb 9, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks center Amar’e Stoudemire (1) adjusts his glasses before returning to the game during the second half against he Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Miami won 109-95. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

19. Amar’e Stoudemire

During his prime with the Phoenix Suns, Amar’e Stoudemire was part of the most dynamic pick-and-roll duo the NBA had seen since the days of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Unfortunately, he never quite had the elite status he might have for his whole career because of a couple of key injuries.

They didn’t know it at the time, but the Suns dodged one hell of a bullet when they refused to pay up to keep Stoudmire in the summer of 2010. Though STAT was a perennial All-Star alongside Steve Nash, that warlock training staff down in Phoenix avoided a massive headache and constant presence in their training room when he signed with the New York Knicks.

The Suns had seen Stoudemire’s injury problems before, like during the 2005-06 season when he played a grand total of three games because of knee problems that required microfracture surgery. But after an All-Star debut season in the Big Apple in which he averaged 25.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, Stoudemire’s body began to break down on him.

In the following three seasons, STAT missed 19 games, 53 games and 17 games before he was bought out of his bench role. He signed with the Dallas Maverick before re-establishing himself this year with the Miami Heat. Still, for a guy who averaged 21 and nine in eight seasons with those powerhouse Suns teams, Stoudemire fell woefully short of his full potential.

Perhaps in ’06, since he missed virtually the entire season, he and Steve Nash might have gotten their rings. He was always an uncomfortable fit alongside Carmelo Anthony in the Knicks frontcourt, but perhaps he would have found success elsewhere. But even though he still managed to have a fine NBA career, Stoudemire’s rapid decline in New York was hard to watch given the athleticism and scoring ability from his youth.

Next: No. 18