Amar’e Stoudemire Wasn’t Surprised Dwight Howard Went To Lakers, Believes Knicks Front Office Did A Great Job This Offseason

If the New York Knicks want to be a legitimate postseason threat, Amar’e Stoudemire needs to have a dominant low-post game. Last season the Knicks power forward struggled with not only injuries and poor on-the-court performance, but also the anguish and distraction that accompanied the personal tragedy of losing his brother who was killed in a February car crash. This summer Stoudemire has tried to pull out all the stops. He’s been working with Hakeem Olajuwon in the hopes of becoming the low-post player he would like to become. Amar’e Stoudemire joined KNBR in San Francisco with Murph and Mac to discuss Jeremy Lin signing with the Houston Rockets, the Gold Medal match between Spain and the United States, Spain having the size advantage over the United States, and Dwight Howard being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

How does the departure of Jeremy Lin effect the Knicks this season?

“Jeremy had a great run for us. He uplifted us a lot last season. To see him leave…it’s never fun to see one of your teammates leave, but again that’s the name of the game. It happens all the time, but the front office did a great job of bringing in players to improve the team and we are looking pretty good.”

Did you watch the Gold Medal match between the U.S. and Spain? What did you think of Carmelo Anthony’s performance during the Olympics?

“I was watching Carmelo and also Tyson Chandler. Both of those guys did a phenomenal job for the USA.”

Did you think Spain had a matchup advantage over the U.S. down in the paint? They could have used a guy like you?

“Spain played well liked they always do with the Gasol brothers and Serge Ibaka. They were without Ricky Rubio, so they had a pretty good ball club, but we were able to hang on and get the win.”

Do you have any opinion on Dwight Howard leaving the Eastern Conference and going to the Lakers? Was it a surprise to you?

“It wasn’t. I figured something was going to happen. There was a lot of talk between Dwight going somewhere else, so we knew something was going to happen. I just hope that his back is healed up and he’s able to come back full strength.”