Ranking 15 worst starters of the Dwyane Wade era
By Tyler Watts
12. Amar’e Stoudemire
Stoudemire was one of the best power forwards in the league during his prime, and the Seven Seconds of Less Suns were among the most exciting teams. Steve Nash helped STAT become a six-time All-Star. They were one of the most dynamic duos in the league, and Stoudemire was impossible to stop.
His prime was long gone by the time the 6’10 big man arrived in Miami. The 32-year-old washed out with the Knicks and Mavericks during the 2014-15 season, but the Heat signed him that summer. It was clear that STAT could only play 20-25 minutes per game and his production would be limited.
The Heat gave him 36 starts, but Stoudemire declined further. He averaged just 5.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 14.7 minutes per game. Miami made it to the playoffs and reached the second round before falling to the Raptors. Stoudemire missed the final three games of the opening round series and never left the bench in the final two versus Toronto.
The Miami Heat did not trust Amar’e Stoudemire when it mattered, which proves he never should have been starting. The six-time All-Star played his final NBA game with the Heat and became one of the worst starters around Dwyane Wade in the process.