New York Knicks: Amar'e Stoudemire Walks With a Different Swagger

Amar'e Stoudemire looks at his knees as he slowly walks towards the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. Yes, those are the same knees that not so long ago underwent microfracture surgery. The same knees that made him miss all the regular season in 2006 because of ongoing stiffness.  It was also the knees that brought him to New York, when the Phoenix Suns wouldn't give him a guaranteed contract.

It’s walking on a different swagger now. It looks like it sipped all the youthfulness on the fountain of youth…it’s back…it’s definitely back.

Amar'e has been the Knicks mercurial leader. He has carried this team despite his unstable knees. Leadership is getting everybody from where they are; to where they have not been. He carries the promise of a championship, a glimmer of hope from a franchise that hasn't gotten to the playoffs since 2004. But he knows basketball is still a team game. He still needs all the help he can get.

The Knicks gave up almost half of their roster (Wilson Chandler, Danilo Galinari, Raymond Felton, Anthony Randolph, Timothy Mozgov and Eddy Curry, along with New York’s first-round draft pick in 2014, second round draft picks in 2012 and 2013 and cash), just to get Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman, and Shelden Williams from the Nuggets and Corey Brewer from Minnesota.

The new and revitalized roster opened up a lot of possibilities for the Knicks. They now have the one-two punch on the offensive side with Amar'e and 'Melo. Then they have a good backcourt general in Billups.

Many questioned the Knicks decision. They could have waited out the season and signed Carmelo in free agency, giving up less in return. However, there is no perfect time than now. They knew the New Jersey Nets were offering a much lucrative and similar deal. However, like a game of Chess, the Nets have already been checkmated long before they made their first move. The promise of Amar'e, weighs much bigger than any of the Nets offer.

The Knicks are done with rebuilding. They have now 'Melo, and with the right pieces to the puzzle, everything seems to be possible.

Amidst all the debates and questions about Amar'e Stoudemire’s knees; it seems to be working perfectly fine now. The Knicks could go deep into the playoffs and maybe, just maybe, into the finals.

Amar'e walks with a different swagger because he knows everything has fallen into the right places. He doesn’t have to focus anymore on carrying the team.

It’s all about winning now.