Watch highlights from Amare Stoudemire's induction into Basketball Hall of Fame

Amare Stoudemire is a no-brainer Hall of Famer. Saturday, that became official.

Congrats to Class of 2026 @Hoophall inductee, Amar'e Stoudemire! pic.twitter.com/yPT3DXr2Ez

He is a five-time All-NBA player, six-time All-Star and the 2003 Rookie of the Year who averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds a game over 14 NBA seasons. He, along with fellow inductee Mike D'Antoni, was at the heart of the seven-seconds-or-less Phoenix Suns that changed the NBA game and put everyone on the path to the modern game.

Stoudemire is also a legendary Knick.

a message for STAT from the knicks brotherhood pic.twitter.com/s0Oh5D9LAe

At the podium Saturday night, he talked about how he started on the path to here.

“The first basketball I got was from my mom as a gift, and that basketball became my best friend, became my therapist.”@Amareisreal on the very first basketball he ever owned

Watch the Class of 2026 Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV and the NBA App. pic.twitter.com/K3iZ8AfmrP

And what it took along the way.

Amar’e Stoudemire closed his @Hoophall enshrinement speech hammering home one thing: Perseverance.

Watch the Class of 2026 Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV and the NBA App. pic.twitter.com/nEshOiMzYH

Stoudemire joins Steve Nash and now Mike D'Antoni from those Suns in the Hall.