Amar’e Stoudemire, whom the Knicks refused to allow play in the World Championships 1 1/2 years ago, sounded miffed at the announcement yesterday he is not on the final 20-man U.S. Olympic Team roster, and said he would like to play.
Both Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler are on the roster, but it is expected only Anthony will make the final 12-man unit heading to London for the Summer Games.
The Knicks pulled Stoudemire off the World Championship team in the summer of 2010 only weeks after he signed an uninsured $100 million contract. It ticked off USA Basketball CEO Jerry Colangelo, who likely didn’t want to have to deal with the Garden politics again. Stoudemire said the Knicks haven’t said anything about him not being able to play for the Olympics and a team official said it doesn’t believe they have preference.
“It’s definitely not my choice,’’ Stoudemire said. “I would love to play. My loyalty is with USA Basketball. … If they need me, I’m there.’’
* Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing, who has been in Dwight Howard’s ear about remaining in Orlando, gave a warning to his prodigy. Ewing said he wonders if the Brooklyn Nets, with whom Howard has expressed interest in playing, will ever be more than second-class citizens in this area.
“Most of the fans will still be Knicks fans,’’ Ewing said. “Brooklyn is a great town, great city. It’s New York. But most of the people, like most people going to Nets games, are Knicks fans. They’re going to have their work cut out for them to try to change the culture.’’