Jerusalem beckons Stoudemire

Amare Stoudemire isn't done yet.

After retiring from the NBA on July 26, Stoudemire on Monday signed a two-year contract to play for Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel's national league.

Stoudemire said the decision was very emotional for him and his family. The six-time NBA All-Star has visited Jerusalem on multiple occasions, but said getting the opportunity to play in Jerusalem will be a "spiritual journey."

Shortly after signing a five-year, $100 million contract with the New York Knicks in the summer of 2010, Stoudemire traveled to Israel to explore what he believed might be "Hebrew roots" through his mother, Carrie.

Stoudemire has a Star of David tattoo and knows multiple Hebrew phrases.

"My interests in playing in Israel, at this moment that dream has come true," Stoudemire said. "I'm now able to play for Hapoel Jerusalem, a team that I'm looking forward to playing with."

With the Israeli and American flag both present at Stoudemire's media conference at Madison Square Garden, he signed his contract, put on his new team hat and showed off his new Hapoel Jerusalem jersey.

"It's like a dream come true," Stoudemire said. "When I was in high school I always wanted to put on my college hat to show what school I was going to and never did it. I put on an NBA hat."

Stoudemire and his wife, Alexis, will travel to Jerusalem next week to look at schools for their four children. After returning to their Florida home for a week, the family will move to Jerusalem in late August for training camp.

"My wife and I always talked about living abroad and experiencing different cultures, and what better culture to experience for us than living in Jerusalem?" Stoudemire said.

This isn't Stoudemire's first interaction with Hapoel Jerusalem.

The 6-foot-10 forward was part of an ownership group that purchased the team in 2013. As part of his new contract, he will sell his shares to majority owner Ori Allon.

"Jerusalem is a very special city as you guys know and Amare is a very special person, other than the fact that he is a very good basketball player," Allon said.

"I'm very excited about this and the whole city of Jerusalem is celebrating with us right now."

Stoudemire has high hopes for his career in Israel.

"Just go on YouTube and look up the top 100 plays for Amare Stoudemire," Stoudemire said. "That's what they (the fans) are going to get."

Hapoel Jerusalem won the 2014-15 Israeli Basketball League championship and will compete in the 2016-17 EuroCup tournament.

(China Daily 08/03/2016 page22)