Amar'e Stoudemire Talks Chris Paul, Woodson, Iman Shumpert and Fashion with B/R

Last week, I was fortunate enough to get an interview with one of the stars of my beloved New York Knicks, forward Amar'e Stoudemire.  At a promotional event in a Wall Street Duane Reade, Stoudemire talked with me and many others about multiple topics: his new product, his off-court ventures and, of course, the NBA lockout.

While all were great subjects to talk about, I was of the opinion that Stoudemire needed a break from all the labor talk.  Thus, I chose to focus my questions on another area: both his and the Knicks' offseasons and how he was spending his time during the lockout.

Sure enough, Stoudemire provided some great insight into his life off the court and his point of view on certain subjects.

The Hiring of Mike Woodson

One of the main reasons Amar'e Stoudemire came to New York, minus the chance to play in a big market, was to reunite with Mike D'Antoni.  The offensive guru was the 6'10" forward's coach in Phoenix and Stoudemire helped those Suns teams reach the Conference Finals twice.

Yet, D'Antoni is entering the last year of his contract and does not have much to show for his time in New York.  In a move that could be interpreted as sending a message, the Knicks front office hired former Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson as an assistant coach.  I asked Stoudemire what he thought of the hiring of the defensive-minded Woodson and how his style would mesh with that of D'Antoni.  Sure enough, the man was surprisingly optimistic.

"He's going to be great," said Stoudemire.  "Implementing defense is a huge factor for us.  It's going to make us a better team.  It’s going to be phenomenal once we get going and we start implementing that defensive scheme, we’re going to be successful on that end of the court."

Considering how Woodson turned the Hawks from a 13-win team his first season to a perennial playoff contender in six years, I too am excited at the prospect of what he can do with an already-talented team.

The Drafting of Iman Shumpert

At this year's NBA draft, Knicks fans were hoping that the team would select a big man with 17th pick.  Yet, with guys like Chris Singleton and Kenneth Faried still available, team management did something different.  Rather than go for rebounding and toughness, the Knicks drafted defensive whiz and wild-shooting guard Iman Shumpert out of Georgia Tech.  Sure enough, the fans groaned.

Shumpert isn't a bad player by any means, as he averaged 17.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals his junior year.  Those are pretty impressive numbers for a 6'5" guard.  Yet, Shumpert's three-point shooting was a below-average 28 percent last year and with Mike D'Antoni as his head coach, that won't fly.

I asked Stoudemire what he thought Shumpert would bring to the team and once again, Stoudemire's eyes lit up.

"I actually saw him last month down in Georgia, in Atlanta," he said.  "We hung out for a bit and he opened up the court for me at Georgia Tech.  I watched him train.  I think he's going to be a great, great fit for us."

Well, now that Shumpert has an NBA veteran's seal of approval, I guess it's time for Knicks fans to get excited as well.  He may not be the defender we hoped for, but the defense he brings to the table will be welcome nonetheless.

Is Chris Paul in Your Future?

Not too long ago, both Stoudemire and teammate Carmelo Anthony appeared in a charity game down in Miami.  In this game, they had the opportunity to be on the same team as New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul.  Even though this was not an official game, the trio worked the pick-and-roll well and just communicated excellently on the court.

Seeing as how Paul is a free agent after next season, Stoudemire was asked for his thoughts on playing with him in the future.

"Chris Paul is a great point guard," said Stoudemire.  "He's one of the top point guards in the league for sure.  Anytime we get a chance to play with Chris, whether it’s charity games or All-Star games, it’s always been official.  So, we’ll see."

As a Knicks fan, I would love to have Paul on the team.  He is a phenomenal all-around player who has shown he can both score effectively as well as pass the ball when needed, not to mention play phenomenal defense.

Seeing as how the team needs a point guard who can both shoot and pass, the prospect of Paul coming to New York is very exciting.

Amar'e's Busy Life Away from the Court

It's no secret that Amar'e Stoudemire is more than just a basketball player.  He has Sheets and also is active in the fashion world.  Thus, let the speculation begin: is this Stoudemire's plan for life after basketball?

Surprisingly, Stoudemire has a lot of other stuff going on as well both professionally and, believe it or not, academically.

"I've been doing a lot of acting," he said.  "I also study a lot since I'm in school down at FIU.  Also, I’m involved in Sheets, I have a fashion line out, I have a children’s book that’s being released real soon.  It’s just a matter of giving back to the community and uplifting the youth.  That’s my game plan."

I've sampled the sheets and have seen what Stoudemire can do with fashion, but I must say I'm excited to see what he can do as an actor as well as an author.

Yet, could there be a rivalry?

Amar'e vs. Kanye West: The Ultimate Fashion Showdown?

Seeing as how Stoudemire is slowly becoming an icon in the fashion world, there are chances that he may have to compete with some top designers.  Yet, rather than big names like Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren, Stoudemire was asked about the fashion work of another pop culture icon: rapper Kanye West.  Could it be that the controversial star's work in the industry inspired the All-Star forward?

"I’m already ahead of the curve, man," he said.  "I already released my clothing line a month before Kanye released his.  I released a women’s line, also.  But Kanye’s doing a great job.  He’s definitely fashion-forward, so we’re kind of on the same platform."

Well, I guess that just means there's one thing left to do.  At some point, Stoudemire and West need to have a walk-off, Zoolander style.

Is He Ready for the Season?

Last season, the Knicks faced the Boston Celtics in the playoffs and were swept in four games.  The team's underachieving can be blamed on, save for being outmatched, the fact that Stoudemire was not at his best and playing through a painful back strain.  At the same time, point guard Chauncey Billups was unavailable with a knee strain.

Sure enough, after discussing the importance of staying in shape, Stoudemire was asked about his back.

"My back’s good!" said the All-Star.  "It gets a little tight after a while, but it feels good."

Shortly afterward, he was asked about his physical status for the start of the regular season.  His answer was simple: "I'm ready to go."