Sustaining 28 Stitches, Amar’e Stoudemire Recounts Angry Outburst Against Dwyane Wade’s Heat

When emotions run high in the playoffs, even the best players can find themselves in regrettable situations. Amar’e Stoudemire knows this all too well. Appearing on The OGs podcast with Udonis Haslem recently, the former New York Knicks star revisited the infamous 2012 incident where frustration got the better of him, leading to a hand injury that shifted the series against Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat.

“The ball wasn’t moving. We dealt with it all season long… And guys weren’t able to be great,” Stoudemire shared, reflecting on what sparked his outburst. He further explained when he first got to New York, he wanted to ensure everybody in the team felt like they were involved and felt great.

“Wilson Chandler had a career year… Gallinari had a great year. Ray Felton. I got Timothy Moskov paid… Raymond Felton got paid…” the ex-Knicks star said, adding he felt moving the ball and getting everyone involved could be the way they could be a great team. But seems like they couldn’t achieve that even as they reached game 2 of the playoffs against the Heat and the realization got the better of him.

“And then we get in the playoffs. Well, all that entire season, the ball wasn’t moving. So I’m frustrated. And I walked through the hallway and I reached back and. And hit the wall. That’s when I cut my hand by accident,” he said. Further, during the podcast, the 6x All-Star revealed he sustained 28 stitches back then but still did not realize he had injured his hand at the moment until his teammates pointed it out.

For Knicks fans, the image of Amar’e Stoudemire leaving American Airlines Arena with his hand bandaged and arm in a sling was tough to swallow. It felt like the nail in the coffin for a team already struggling. Stoudemire later took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his remorse. “I am so mad at myself right now. I want to apologize to the fans and my team, not proud of my actions, headed home for a new start.”

By that point, Stoudemire had been having issues—both professional and personal. His brother’s tragic death and a back injury had derailed his season. Meanwhile, the Knicks were dealing with their own blows. Rookie Iman Shumpert tore his ACL in Game 1, and Jeremy Lin was still sidelined after knee surgery. Without Stoudemire in Game 3, the Knicks only fell deeper into the hole.

And let’s not forget the bigger question hanging over the team back then—could Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony ever find a way to truly thrive together?

Why did Amar’e Stoudemire’s pairing didn’t work with Carmelo Anthony?

When the Knicks brought in Melo in a blockbuster trade, it felt like New York finally had a duo to dream about. Yet, the partnership between him and STAT never hit the highs fans had hoped for. In 2015, Stoudemire opened up about the missed opportunity. He and Melo had envisioned running a pick-and-roll-heavy offense, one that could’ve been a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Picture this—STAT charging to the rim while Melo danced around the perimeter with his scoring touch. Sounds unstoppable, right? But the coaching staff—under Mike D’Antoni and Mike Woodson—didn’t fully embrace that vision. “I don’t think we had enough opportunities to play together,” Stoudemire admitted. His move to a bench role often meant Melo wasn’t on the court when he was.

On top of that, STAT’s knee injuries kept derailing their momentum. Even when they showed flashes of brilliance, those moments were too rare to create a lasting impact. Despite their combined star power, the Knicks never got past the second round during their four seasons together. The 2012 loss discussed by Amar’e Stoudemire on The OGs recently was just one such instance.