Amare Stoudemire’s competitive basketball play was back Tuesday and so was his eyewear. Going against a defender for the first time since a 42-point game on Feb. 18, Stoudemire played four-on-four, half-court games at US Airways Center with teammates also participating in voluntary workouts.
“Sometimes, I felt like it was going faster than I expected, as far as competition,” Stoudemire said. “Other than that, I felt great. To finally be back out there with the guys and running sprints with them, I got my family back. It’s almost like you ran away from home for a while. Now, you’re back home and you feel how great it is to be around your family.”
He was aggressive in his play, facing teammate Lou Amundson. Stoudemire had a highlight-worthy spin move for a dunk, although Amundson’s team won four of five games.
For an hour of play, Stoudemire wore the protective that he donned early last season after suffering a torn iris during training camp. He wore the glasses for four weeks in the fall before finding them too uncomfortable, and his vision was blurred.
Stoudemire knows he must use protective eyewear the rest of his career after the discovery of a detached retina ended his season in February.
