Former New York Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire has traded the basketball court docket for a badge.
Stoudemire, 43, graduated from the Miami-Dade Police Academy Wednesday “after months of rigorous training” and will be part of the county’s faculty police division.
“Amar’e Stoudemire made his mark on the basketball court. A six-time NBA All-Star, 2003 Rookie of the Year and newly inducted Basketball Hall of Famer, he played for some of the league’s biggest teams, including our very own Miami Heat,” Miami Dade College posted on Instagram, alongside footage of Stoudemire’s commencement.
Former Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire graduates from the Miami-Dade Police Academy, Oct. 14, 2026. Miami Dade College
“Today, he’s celebrating a very different milestone: graduating from the MDC School of Justice Basic Law Enforcement Academy after months of rigorous training,” the publish continued.
“And he’s graduating with special recognition, receiving the Harry ‘Coach’ Everett Award for his contributions to the success of the academy program throughout his training,” the school added.
Stoudemire, who spent 5 seasons with the Knicks from 2010 to 2015, revealed that changing into a police officer had been a lifelong ambition.
“It’s something I always wanted to do since I was a kid,” the six-time All-Star advised Sports Illustrated Wednesday.
“I remember back when I was in grade school, elementary school. They asked you on career day, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ And my initial response was a police officer.”
Stoudemire, 43, will be part of the Miami-Dade faculty police division now that he has accomplished his coaching. Miami Dade College
“It runs in the family. My uncle was a captain. His brother was a deputy. My cousin is a captain. My sister’s in the academy. So, it’s a family tradition, basically,” he added.
Stoudemire, a former first spherical draft decide, spent almost 11 months in the academy, which featured classroom periods and “prime military” coaching drills that he described as more bodily demanding than the NBA.
The six-time NBA All-Star said changing into a police officer was a childhood dream. Miami Dade College
“Yeah, it was a little bit [more] challenging actually because now I’m running a lot more than I had before,” Stoudemire advised the outlet.
“Obviously, in the NBA you run short distances, right? And the police academy, you’re running more long-distance mileage.”
Stoudemire admitted his spouse initially had reservations about the profession change because of the dangers concerned.
Stoudemire performed 5 seasons for the Knicks from 2010 to 2015. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“My wife at first was a little bit concerned because obviously being a police officer, there’s some danger to it,” he said.
“But if you are well-trained and you understand your policies and procedures, you’re able to somewhat have officer safety, which is very important, and that’s the goal.”
Stoudemire’s newest milestone comes after a turbulent interval away from basketball.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Aug. 15, 2026. Getty Images
In December 2022, he was arrested after allegedly punching and slapping one of his teenage daughters. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office dropped the misdemeanor prices in January 2023.
His basketball achievements have also acquired contemporary recognition.
In August, Stoudemire was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
He performed 14 NBA seasons, averaging 18.9 factors and 7.8 rebounds across 846 video games.
After starting his profession with the Phoenix Suns in 2002, he joined the Knicks in 2010 before later stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat.
Stoudemire also performed abroad for Hapoel Jerusalem, the Fujian Sturgeons and Maccabi Tel Aviv before retiring from skilled basketball in 2020.
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