Valley of the Suns
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12 days of X-Mas – Obscure stats in Suns history Day 9

(Original Caption) Philadelphia 76ers' basketball coach Roy Rubin huddles with three of his players at team's pre-season training camp at University of Scranton's John Long Center here, 9/12. From left to right are Rubin, 6-10 John Block of Maryland; 6-2 Hal Greer of Marshall and 6-7 Gary Gregor of South Carolina. 76ers open season September 21 against Baltimore Bullets in NBA exhibition.
(Original Caption) Philadelphia 76ers' basketball coach Roy Rubin huddles with three of his players at team's pre-season training camp at University of Scranton's John Long Center here, 9/12. From left to right are Rubin, 6-10 John Block of Maryland; 6-2 Hal Greer of Marshall and 6-7 Gary Gregor of South Carolina. 76ers open season September 21 against Baltimore Bullets in NBA exhibition.
9 of 10

Amar’e Stoudemire

PHOENIX – NOVEMBER 25: Forward Amare Stoudemire #32 of the Phoenix Suns and Guard Michael Redd #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks look up at the basket during the game on November 25, 2002 at America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rockets won 85-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – NOVEMBER 25: Forward Amare Stoudemire #32 of the Phoenix Suns and Guard Michael Redd #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks look up at the basket during the game on November 25, 2002 at America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rockets won 85-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images)

When the Phoenix Suns selected Amare Stoudemire 9th overall in the 2002 NBA Draft, many fans boo’d. Not only was “STAT” attempting to make the leap from high school, meaning that the Suns were passing over more polished potential players, but it had been widely known that Stoudemire was not a very good shooter and in fact his pre-draft workout had proven just how raw his shooting really was.

Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns

Phoenix Suns

However, none of that mattered to Bryan Colangelo and staff as Stoudemire had a raw athleticism to him that was uncanny, especially for a player of both his age and height.

To put it simply, STAT could both jump out of the gym and slam the ball with elite strength and authority.

Shooting be damned, Stoudemire put on a show his rookie season, to the pleasant surprise of Phoenix Suns fans. His athleticism allowed for not only those aforementioned dunks, but great rebounding as well. STAT averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds his rookie year, accumulating 25 double-doubles, including his first 20 rebound game of his career on January 10, 2003 when he finished with 16 points and 21 boards including three clutch rebounds in the final 2:20.

Stoudemire would go on to win the league’s Rookie of the Year award over Yao Ming in one of the closest votes of all-time, garnering 59 first place votes to Ming’s 45.

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