Amar'e Stoudemire expected to debut for Dallas on Sunday night
The Dallas Mavericks' recently acquired center Amar'e Stoudemire is expected to debut for the team on Sunday night at home against the Charlotte Hornets, the team announced on Sunday.
Stoudemire signed with the team on Wednesday after receiving a buyout from the New York Knicks. He did not play in Dallas' loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday or in the home victory against the Houston Rockets on Friday.
"It's just going to take a little time to get acclimated," Stoudemire said. "I want to make sure I'm sharp and ready to go from the start, so a few extra days is always great to learn the offense and the defensive strategies and get more acclimated with the team."
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Stoudemire, a six-time NBA All-Star, is expected to back up Mavericks starting center Tyson Chandler.
Stoudemire, 32, was drafted in 2002 and has spent his thirteen seasons with the Phoenix Suns and the Knicks. He has averaged 20 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks in 771 career NBA games.
In 36 games, including 14 starts, for the Knicks this season, Stoudemire averaged 12 points and 6.8 rebounds with 54.3 percent shooting in 24 minutes per game.
The 6-foot-10 Stoudemire was named to the All-NBA first team in 2007 and has received All-NBA second team honors four times.
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Dallas, 37-20 overall and 19-15 in the Western Conference, play the Hornets at home at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Mavericks are currently sixth in the conference and third in the Southwest division behind the Memphis Grizzlies and the Rockets.
- Christopher Woody
