Amar'e Stoudemire's retirement apparently will be short-lived, although not his retirement from the NBA.
After spending last season with the Miami Heat before formally announcing his NBA retirement last week by signing a ceremonial contract with the New York Knicks, Stoudemire, 33, is poised to play for the Israeli League team in which he holds an ownership stake, Hapoel Jerusalem.
Stoudemire, who considers himself a "cultural Jew," has spent time coaching youth in Israel as well as working with his team there. Hapoel Jerusalem currently lists a roster that features U.S. players Curtis Jerrels, Travis Peterson, Jerome Dyson, Tarence Kinsey and Shawn Jones, who played scholastically at Hialeah High School.
Israel-based reporter David Pick, known for his international connections, posted Sunday on Twitter, "Amar'e Stoudemire agreed to deal with co-owned Hapoel Jerusalem to become best-ever NBA star in Israel."
Shortly thereafter, Heat owner Micky Arison posted on Twitter, "Good luck [at sign]Amareisreal in Israel" with an emoji of an Israeli flag.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Stoudemire, "is set to arrive in the country once more next week as part of the joint initiative between the Omri Casspi Foundation and NBA Cares, the league's global community outreach initiative, aimed at presenting Israel in a positive light across the world. Jerusalem is hoping to make the most of the opportunity and officially unveil Stoudemire while he's in the country."
In 2014, Stoudemire told The New York Post, "The future is unknown and so if I have an opportunity to [play in Israel] and am still in great health, it would be great,"
Hapoel Jerusalem plays its home games at 11,600-seat Jerusalem Arena, which opened in 2014.
Among notable former NBA players who previously played for Hapoel Jerusalem were former Heat forward Billy Thompson, former Heat guard Roger Mason Jr. and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt,
Hapoel Jerusalem won the Israeli title in 2015 before finishing as runner-up this past season, scheduled to play in the Eurocup this coming season.
