Before Amar’e Stoudemire became an NBA All-Star, he had another career in mind. When elementary school teachers asked what he wanted to be, his answer was a police officer.
Decades later, that childhood ambition brought him to Miami Dade College.
“It’s something I always wanted to do since I was a kid,” he said.
Stoudemire, 43, recently graduated from the MDC School of Justice’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy at North Campus. The six-time NBA All-Star and newly inducted Basketball Hall of Famer will continue his training with the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department.
His basketball credentials offered no shortcuts. Stoudemire received no special treatment, training alongside fellow recruits and completing the same coursework and tests. His preparation included 848 hours of instruction covering subjects such as first aid, defensive tactics, vehicle operations and law, followed by a state exam.
Even after 14 NBA seasons, the physical demands presented a different challenge. Academy training required longer-distance running than the shorter bursts the 6-10 power forward knew from basketball, along with classroom study and practical exercises.
At graduation, he received the Harry “Coach” Everett Award for his contributions to the academy program throughout his training.
Law enforcement runs in his family, with relatives who have served as captains and a deputy, and a sister pursuing academy training. Those connections helped shape an interest that outlasted his playing career.
Stoudemire entered the NBA directly from high school as the ninth pick in the 2002 draft. The 2003 Rookie of the Year earned five All-NBA selections, including first-team honors in 2007. He also won a bronze medal with the U.S. basketball team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He averaged 21.4 points and 8.3 rebounds during eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns, then played for the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. Across 846 regular-season games, he averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 53.7% from the field.
Now, his next assignment will put him in schools, where he hopes to guide young people before they find themselves in trouble.
