Amar'e Stoudemire

Amar'e Stoudemire (born November 16, 1982) is an American-Israeli former professional basketball player who played primarily as a power forward and center, celebrated for his explosive dunks, scoring ability, and rebounding during a 14-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) and weighing 245 pounds (111 kg), Stoudemire was drafted ninth overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2002 NBA draft straight out of high school, forgoing college after leading his team at Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Florida. His NBA tenure spanned four teams, including eight seasons with the Suns (2002–2010), where he formed a dynamic pick-and-roll partnership with point guard Steve Nash, and five seasons with the New York Knicks (2010–2015), revitalizing the franchise upon his arrival.

Stoudemire's career highlights include six NBA All-Star selections (2005, 2007–2011), five All-NBA team honors—comprising one First Team (2007) and four Second Teams (2005, 2008, 2010, 2011)—and the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2003, when he averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Over 846 regular-season games, he compiled career averages of 18.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, with peak scoring seasons including 26.0 points per game in 2004–05 and 25.3 points per game in his debut Knicks year (2010–11), earning him All-NBA Second Team recognition. In the playoffs, he appeared in 78 games, most notably averaging 29.9 points per game during the Suns' run to the 2005 Western Conference Finals.

Amar'e Stoudemire's interest in Judaism developed gradually, beginning around 2009 when he explored his family's historical ties to Hebrew Israelite traditions through his mother's influence during his childhood, though his deeper engagement intensified after a 2010 visit to Israel where he first publicly expressed fascination with Jewish culture and heritage. This curiosity evolved into formal study under Orthodox rabbis, including sessions with Rabbi Yitzchok Rozenberg, culminating in his official conversion to Judaism on August 26, 2020, before a rabbinical court in Israel, where he adopted the Hebrew name Yahoshafat Ben Avraham.

Stoudemire's embrace of Judaism extended to his later basketball pursuits in Israel, which he described as a meaningful homecoming tied to his spiritual identity. His family, including his wife Alexis and children, has supported this journey, with some joining him in Jewish observances. In recognition of his achievements and contributions to Jewish sports, Stoudemire was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025 during a ceremony in October.