Amar'e Stoudemire Determined To Play Harder

As the NBA enters the second half of the season, New York Knicks power forward Amar’e Stoudemire is determined to return to an elite level of play, according to NewsDay.

Formerly one of the most explosive players in the league, Stoudemire told Newsday to “Stay tuned,” expressing his promise to himself and his team that he is set on returning to the level of play that helped bring the New York Knicks back to relevance in 2010-11.

Stoudemire’s points per game average is down eight points from last season, and he says he has not been able to finish around the basket like he once did.   Enduring many setbacks including back issues before that were bothering him leading into the campaign, gaining 15 pounds, and most recently, his brother’s death, Stoudemire has acknowledged that these factors have had a negative effect on his performance during the first half of the season.