PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct 3 (AFP) - Phoenix Suns all-star Amare Stoudemire signed a five-year contract extension with the National Basketball League club on Monday.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but the centre-forward Stoudemire likely received the maximum allowed under the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement.
Under the current salary cap structure, the 22-year-old Stoudemire would make 72.5 million dollars over the five years.
Stoudemire and China’s Yao Ming, of the Houston Rockets, are the only players from the 2002 draft to sign contract extensions.
The rapid development of Stoudemire and the acquisition of guard Steve Nash, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, helped the Suns compile a league-best 62-20 record last season.
In just his third season, the 6ft 10in Stoudemire spearheaded the top-scoring offense in the league by averaging 26 points a game - fifth-best in the NBA - while shooting nearly 56 percent from the field, second best in the league. He also averaged 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
Stoudemire was often forced to play centre last season due to the Suns’ lack of size. In the offseason, the Suns acquired forward-center Kurt Thomas from New York and signed forward Brian Grant to help Stoudemire inside.
Stoudemire matched up against San Antonio Spurs superstar Tim Duncan in the Western Conference finals and averaged 37 points a game. However, the Suns lost in five games.
The ninth overall pick in the 2002 draft, Stoudemire won NBA Rookie of the Year honours over Yao.