Donnie Walsh Q&A: Amar'e Stoudemire
Jul 8 2010 5:38PM
Related Images
Landing Amar'e Stoudemire was a momentous moment in Donnie Walsh's storied career.
MSG Photos
Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh sat down for a brief Q&A following the introduction of Amar’e Stoudemire. Here is what he had to say about the newest Knick.
NYKnicks.com: First off, where does today rank over all your years in the NBA?
Donnie Walsh: Oh, it’s up there! You don’t get the opportunity to get a play of this caliber very often. The only way to get him is through free agency, and we were able to get him. So I am trying to think of any free agents or players I have brought in over the years. I brought in Chris Mullin, but this is beyond that because Amar’e is a young player.
NYKnicks.com: When you were introduced two years ago, you talked about this moment. Here it is today. How rewarding is this?
Walsh: Well, I’m glad the hard part is over in the sense of trying to get us under the cap and making very difficult decisions and not getting a lot of reward because we couldn’t improve the team right away. Now, we can just get into basketball and basically still manage our cap so we are out there every year. But we can start making players now to make us a good team, and that is very, very rewarding.
NYKnicks.com: How exciting has this whole experience been for you?
Walsh: Oh, very! It is very exciting. I can’t wait for the season to get started and see what we do next.
NYKnicks.com: How do you think Amar’e will fit in with guys like Danilo Gallinari, Toney Douglas, Wilson Chander…
Walsh: I think he is going to really help them because he has got the kind of game where he imposes his will on the game. None of those players at this point can do that. One man cannot guard Amar’e Stoudemire, and that opens up the game for guys like Gallinari, Wilson and so on.
NYKnicks.com: What kind of impact will his presence inside also have on the team?
Walsh: More than any other player who came into play at The Garden, he got to the free throw line the most by far. That is huge. I have to stress how huge that is. NYKnicks.com: What do you think Knicks fans will like most about Amar’e?
Walsh: He is not afraid. The fans will love that about him. I do.
NYKnicks.com: Finally, what was it like when Amar’e agreed to come to the Knicks? What was that moment like between the two of you?
Walsh: What I really like about Amar’e is that he came in wanting to be a Knick. And that meant a lot to me.
NYKnicks.com: First off, where does today rank over all your years in the NBA?
Donnie Walsh: Oh, it’s up there! You don’t get the opportunity to get a play of this caliber very often. The only way to get him is through free agency, and we were able to get him. So I am trying to think of any free agents or players I have brought in over the years. I brought in Chris Mullin, but this is beyond that because Amar’e is a young player.
NYKnicks.com: When you were introduced two years ago, you talked about this moment. Here it is today. How rewarding is this?
Walsh: Well, I’m glad the hard part is over in the sense of trying to get us under the cap and making very difficult decisions and not getting a lot of reward because we couldn’t improve the team right away. Now, we can just get into basketball and basically still manage our cap so we are out there every year. But we can start making players now to make us a good team, and that is very, very rewarding.
NYKnicks.com: How exciting has this whole experience been for you?
Walsh: Oh, very! It is very exciting. I can’t wait for the season to get started and see what we do next.
NYKnicks.com: How do you think Amar’e will fit in with guys like Danilo Gallinari, Toney Douglas, Wilson Chander…
Walsh: I think he is going to really help them because he has got the kind of game where he imposes his will on the game. None of those players at this point can do that. One man cannot guard Amar’e Stoudemire, and that opens up the game for guys like Gallinari, Wilson and so on.
NYKnicks.com: What kind of impact will his presence inside also have on the team?
Walsh: More than any other player who came into play at The Garden, he got to the free throw line the most by far. That is huge. I have to stress how huge that is. NYKnicks.com: What do you think Knicks fans will like most about Amar’e?
Walsh: He is not afraid. The fans will love that about him. I do.
NYKnicks.com: Finally, what was it like when Amar’e agreed to come to the Knicks? What was that moment like between the two of you?
Walsh: What I really like about Amar’e is that he came in wanting to be a Knick. And that meant a lot to me.
