Amar'e Stoudemire: Latest News and Updates on Knicks Star's Status

UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 13 at 11:20 a.m. EDT

Following the emergence of Jeremy Lin at the point, the New York Knicks will see how he works with Amar'e Stoudemire in the paint. 

According to Newsday, the star power forward will return to the team today in preparation for their game against Toronto on Tuesday night. 

He has missed the last week after his brother was killed in a car accident. The team has caught fire with him and Carmelo Anthony away. They have won five straight games and climbed back into the playoff race in the Eastern Conference with a 13-15 record. 

UPDATE: Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 11:20 a.m. EDT

The New York Knicks are without their top two players. Carmelo Anthony strained his groin on Monday and will be out for one to two weeks. 

Amar'e Stoudemire has been out for the last three days, due to the death of his brother. He wanted to take time off to be with his family, so his timetable to return has been up in the air. 

According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, the All-Star power forward will be back with the team on Monday. 

Head coach Mike D'Antoni confirmed the report on Wednesday, saying that this is a "tough time for him."

He is going to have a difficult time adjusting mentally to playing after everything that has happened, so hopefully he can find some comfort on the court. It can serve as his respite from thinking about the tragedy that has befallen his family. 

Amar'e Stoudemire missed Monday's game against the Utah Jazz after the tragic death of his older brother, Hazell.

Now, Stoudemire will miss the New York Knicks' next three games, including Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards, per TMZ.com.

Stoudemire told TMZ.com on Tuesday:

"

I am going to take a few days to be with my family and grieve the loss of my big brother, Hazell Stoudemire.

I am humbled by all of the thoughts and prayers I have received.

"

Hazell was killed in a car crash on Monday morning. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, per TMZ.com, Hazell was "driving at a high rate of speed" when he collided with the rear of a tractor trailer. He died on the scene at 35 years of age.

Stoudemire has averaged 18.2 points and 8.1 rebounds in a down season for the New York Knicks. He's shooting under 45 percent from the floor and has seen his Knicks go 10-15 after some promising offseason pickups, including center Tyson Chandler.

There is some hope on the horizon, however. Second-year point guard Jeremy Lin, for one, has come out of nowhere to shock New York. He's scored a combined 53 points and dished out 15 assists in the Knicks' last two games, both wins.

There has also been some talk about former Denver Nuggets shooting guard J.R. Smith joining the Knicks once his season ends in China.

The Knicks could desperately use Smith's three-point-shooting ability, as they are shooting 30.5 percent from downtown, 27th in the NBA. Stoudemire hasn't had many adept long-range shooters to kick it out to this season.

However, there are rumblings that Smith would take over for Landry Fields in the starting lineup, which would inevitably hurt them on the defensive side of the ball.

Stoudemire is out indefinitely for the time being.