Suns Legend Amar'e Stoudemire Says Kobe Bryant Assisted in Favorite Play

The Phoenix Suns announced earlier this week the admission of Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion into the team's Ring of Honor.

They join a slew of other franchise legends (17 in total with their presence) to have their numbers retired in what will be a "reimagined" Ring of Honor according to the team in their press release. More details are expected to be released later this month.

Stoudemire's resume includes four All-NBA nods with five All-Star selections to his name, too. Via the team's release, Stoudemire ranks seventh in franchise history in points (11,035), fifth in scoring average (21.4), third in rebounds (4,613) and fifth in blocks (722).

Plenty of those points came from thunderous dunks that helped establish STAT's dominance, first beginning in his rookie season in 2002 where he took home NBA Rookie of the Year honors.

While there's a few memorable plays that stick out, Stoudemire recently told Arizona Sports his favorite dunk came in an All-Star game where he caught a lob from none other than the late Kobe Bryant:

“There’s also a play in the All-Star game when Kobe Bryant threw me a lob from halfcourt and I was able to catch it and kind of windmill to the other side of the basketball and dunk it through,” Stoudemire told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta.

“Being the late great Kobe Bryant, bless the memory, having that opportunity to catch that lob from him was also one of my favorites.”

Stoudemire has always been found of Bryant:

“Kobe has a different intellect with the game. Well, he talked whenever you talked to him, he was all business and it was, like, strategic. LeBron was probably harder to play against because he was also more explosive. Actually, I take that back, Kobe’s harder to guard because Kobe, there was no weaknesses," said Stoudemire when asked about the great Kobe-LeBron debate.

When asked what it meant to be inducted into the Ring of Honor, Stoudemire said, “I bleed purple and orange, making this a tremendous honor to be inducted.

“My best and most transformative years came in Phoenix with the Suns. I have so much love for Suns fans and appreciation for the love they have always shown me. I am excited to reconnect with the fanbase in joining the Ring of Honor.”