Amar’e Stoudemire spent 14 seasons in the NBA, earning Rookie of the Year honours in 2003 and making six All-Star teams.
He was known for his athleticism and played a central role in the Phoenix Suns’ high-tempo “7 seconds or less” style.
Despite his impact, injuries—particularly knee problems—eventually caught up with him, and he never managed to win a title with Steve Nash and the Suns.
After leaving Phoenix, Stoudemire had stops with the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and Miami Heat before calling time on his NBA career in 2016.
Amar’e Stoudemire: Giannis, Jokic and Doncic are the NBA’s three best players
Amar’e Stoudemire may be retired, but he’s still paying close attention to the level of talent in today’s NBA.
It’s hard not to notice just how much impact international players are having across the league.
In a chat with Essentially Sports, Stoudemire was asked for his opinion on who currently holds the title of the league’s best player.
He didn’t settle on just one name. Instead, he listed Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic as the top three players in his view.
“Right now, I’d say Giannis and Jokic are at the top,” Stoudemire told Essentially Sports. “Giannis because of his sheer dominance on both ends, and Jokic because of his unique skill set and ability to control the game as a center who passes like a point guard.
Luka is right there, too. It depends on what style you prefer, but those guys are defining this era.”
International players are reshaping the league
With 135 foreign-born players on opening-night rosters for the 2025-26 season, it’s clear that international talent is having a bigger impact than ever before.
Beyond Doncic, Giannis and Jokic, there are several other standouts from outside the US. Victor Wembanyama has already made a strong impression early in his career, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam continue to be top performers.
READ MORE: Cooper Flagg discloses reason for ‘flat’ 2-point outing against the Oklahoma City Thunder
The past seven NBA MVPs were all born outside the United States, which speaks volumes about how much the landscape of the sport has shifted.
And with more talent coming through each year, it doesn’t look like that trend is going to slow down any time soon.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
