Amar'e Stoudemire has been officially inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2026. He is the 8th Jewish professional basketball player enshrined in Springfield. The first since Larry Brown in 2002.
The news lands days before Pesach. That timing carries weight. In a 2021 GQ profile, Stoudemire spoke about what the holiday means to him:¹
"I think the notion of just leaving Mitzrayim speaks to me. It allows you to understand, like, whenever you decide to change as a person and become a better person, it's OK to change and it's OK not to look back, and if you embrace that change and move forward, then you go to your promised land."
Jewish Basketball Hall of Famers⁷
| # | Name | League | Years | Inducted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barney Sedran | ABL | 1911–'38 | 1962 |
| 2 | Nat Holman | EBL / ABL | 1922–'30 | 1964 |
| 3 | Max "Marty" Friedman | Various | 1910–'27 | 1972 |
| 4 | Dolph Schayes | BAA / NBA | 1948–'64 | 1973 |
| 5 | Les Harrison | NBL | 1948–'55 | 1980 |
| 6 | William "Red" Holzman | NBL / NBA | 1945–'54 | 1986 |
| 7 | Larry Brown | ABA | 1967–'72 | 2002 |
| 8 | Amar'e Stoudemire NEW | NBA | 2002–'16 | 2026 |
שפט
Stoudemire took the Hebrew name Yehoshafat (יהושפט), meaning "Hashem has judged."² The root is שפט: to judge.
The enshrinement ceremony will be held Motzei Shabbos, August 15, 2026. That Shabbos is Parshas Shoftim (שופטים), Devarim 16:18 to 21:9. The parsha opens:
Same root. שפט. The man named "Hashem has judged" enters the hall of greats on the Shabbos of "Judges."
The Career
Ninth overall pick, 2002 NBA Draft. Prep-to-pro out of Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Florida's Mr. Basketball. McDonald's All-American. The only high school player taken in the first round that year.
2003 NBA Rookie of the Year, the first player drafted out of high school to win it. NBA All-Rookie First Team. Six-time NBA All-Star (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). Five-time All-NBA: First Team in 2007, Second Team four times (2005, 2008, 2010, 2011). Career averages of 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds across 846 games and 14 seasons. 15,994 career points. 6,632 career rebounds. 1,054 career blocks. Career high of 50 points. Led the NBA in true shooting percentage in 2007-08. $167.7 million in career earnings.
Stoudemire redefined the pick-and-roll alongside Steve Nash in Mike D'Antoni's "Seven Seconds or Less" offense in Phoenix. Averaged 26 points per game in 2004-05 and led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, averaging 37 points per game against San Antonio in the WCF. 2004 Olympic bronze medalist with Team USA. 2007 FIBA Americas Championship gold medalist.
He revitalized Madison Square Garden when he signed with the Knicks in July 2010. Played four teams total: Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat. Seventh in Suns franchise history in points (11,035), third in rebounds (4,613), fifth in blocks (722). The 14th Sun inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
After the NBA, he moved to Israel. Signed with Hapoel Jerusalem in August 2016, a team he co-owns. Won the Israeli Basketball League Cup in October 2016. In his first EuroCup season he averaged 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds on .620 shooting across 19 games, led the tournament in blocks (23) and free throws (62), and earned All-EuroCup Second Team honors. Won the Israeli Premier League championship with Hapoel Jerusalem in June 2017. Israeli League All-Star.
Retired in September 2017. Came back. Re-signed with Hapoel Jerusalem for 2018-19. Won the Israeli State Cup and Israeli League Cup in 2019. Became an Israeli citizen in March 2019. Played 11 games for the Fujian Sturgeons in the CBA in China (19.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG). Then signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Won the Israeli Premier League championship in July 2020. Israeli Basketball Premier League Finals MVP. Israeli League All-Star again in 2020.
Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor, inducted March 2, 2024. International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2025. Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2026.
The Learning
He learned at Ohr Somayach in Yerushalayim for about a year under Rabbi Dr. Guy Matalon, head of the beginners program. Chumash, Gemara, halacha. He then learned b'chavrusah with an avreich from Yeshivas Orchos Yosher in Bnei Brak, the kollel headed by HaRav Avraham Yishayahu Kanievsky. Even on game days in Israel, he arrived at yeshiva in the morning to learn before practice.
While serving as player development assistant for the Brooklyn Nets (2020-2022), he did not work on Shabbos.
He spoke at Yeshiva University in February 2021, hosted by the Yeshiva Student Union, to over 125 students and faculty. The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington featured him as a speaker. The National Council of Young Israel called him a role model for the Jewish community. International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2025.
Off the Court
Notes
¹ Yaron Weitzman, "Amar'e Stoudemire Searches for Chametz," GQ, March 30, 2021. Reported by Jew in the City.
² "On the advice of his rebbi, he has taken the Hebrew name Yehoshafat." Algemeiner, Feb 9, 2021. He later said he investigated the name and discovered Yehoshafat was a king of Yehuda who disseminated Torah.
³ The Jerusalem Post, April 2, 2021.
⁴ Photo and reporting by The Florida Scoop (WhatsApp channel), January 12, 2026. HaRav David Yosef is the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel and son of HaRav Ovadia Yosef zt"l.
⁵ ל (30) + ב (2) = 32. לב means "heart." Stoudemire referenced the gematria of his jersey number during his Suns Ring of Honor speech on March 2, 2024. First noted by JewSwish at studio3.space.
⁶ Books by Amar'e Stoudemire: Home Court · Double Team · Slam Dunk · Schooled · Most Valuable (STAT series, Scholastic) · Cooking with Amar'e (HarperCollins). Links are affiliate links via Amazon Associates.
⁷ JewSwish master list criteria: played in a professional basketball league in the United States. Jewish by matrilineal descent or by a conversion recognized by the State of Israel. Players only, no coaches or managers. Exceptions noted. USA career years and teams only. Full list at studio3.space.
Compiled by Jamie Moshe Straz / Studio 3 Current as of March 2026 studio3.space