Amar’e Stoudemire spent Friday night promoting a new game, but when it comes to the NBA lockout, the Knicks star certainly isn’t in a playful mood.
Stoudemire, who was a special guest at the launch party for Activision’s “Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure” video game at Guastavino’s in Midtown, backed up his claim that the locked out players will start their own league if the work stoppage doesn’t end soon.
“Absolutely, it’s time to game, if we get locked out for X amount of time, what’s next for us? How can you find jobs for the ones who aren’t fortunate enough to have a job? We can do the best thing and start a league,” Stoudemire said.
Earlier this week the six-time NBA all-star said the plan to start a new league is “very serious.”
Stoudemire also expressed frustration over players not being able to speak with or see team physicians, and considering how NFL players have been succumbing to injury following their lockout, the Knicks forward described it as a lose-lose situation.
“It’s the NFL’s fault and the NBA’s fault. It doesn’t make sense for players not to be able to talk to their team physicians during the lockout because when the season does resolve, the players get hurt and the team is hurt because the players are hurt,” Stoudemire said.
“There are so many NFL teams now that are struggling because their star players are now hurt because they weren’t able to talk to their physicians during the lockout. So guys have to find a way to stay healthy if they can but it would be great to talk to the physician.”
As far as his own health, Stoudemire said he is doing well.
“Body’s doing good, my back is still getting a little tight every now and then, I’m still working on that, but other than that I feel good,” Stoudemire said.
Stoudemire has been hitting the gym for three to four hours every day, working on his skills for when (or if) he resumes play this season.
“I’m working on my ball-handling skills, trying to increase my skills. I want to leave the game with nothing on the table,” Stoudemire said.
Asked if he had any sort of inside information when the owners and players may reach a new labor agreement, Stoudemire lived up to his large frame.
“As of right now I can’t see it and we are willing to stand as long as we have to,” Stoudemire said.