New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire wanted to change his game by seeking the guidance of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon to help develop better post moves in the paint.
Stoudemire has said he's already noticed improvements and insists that he can't wait to show off his new found skills on the court.
"He helped me a lot," Stoudemire said. "A lot of moves that he has really, really translate to my game. To now develop a post game is going to be remarkable for me. It's going to catch a lot of my opponents off guard and it's going to be a great year for me.
"I have the IQ to implement this and learn fast, but it's not easy. There's a lot of detail that goes into it. He's very, very swift with his footwork, and he's very agile also, at (age) 50 still. It's great to learn from him. This is a great opportunity because you know never how long he's going to be able to do this. So while I'm young and can still learn from one of the best, (I'm) very blessed to be a part of it."
Not only is Stoudemire excited about the upcoming season, but his mentor Olajuwon is excited as well to see how his student looks when facing real competition.
"That's the most satisfying," said Olajuwon, who's trained Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and LeBron James in the past three summers. "Because when I watch the game and when I see them work on that and take the opportunity, I actually see the guys in their comfort zone. That's why you see they can't wait for their season to start."
Stoudemire has always been a terrific pick-and-roll big man, and his mid-range game has improved dramatically over the years. But if the Knicks could run more of their offense through him in the post, it could take the ball out of Anthony's hands and make 'Melo more of a an off-the-ball scorer, the role in which he's flourished with the U.S. Team.
