Amar’e Stoudemire was on hand Tuesday at the Garden for spiritual reasons, to help the Knicks celebrate Hanukkah Night. But the retired ex-Knick also delivered a spiritual message to fellow power forward Kristaps Porzingis.
Likely referring to Porzingis’ blowing off of last April’s exit meetings with the coaches and former team president Phil Jackson, Stoudemire gave an interesting response when asked what advice he’d give the 7-foot-3 Latvian.
“My first advice is to listen to your coaches,’’ Stoudemire said before the Knicks hosted the Lakers. “That’s the first advice. Because they’re the ones who will give you a true mindset, true information on what it takes to be great. If that’s your goal to be great, coaches are the ones who will get you there. Anyone on the outside, family, friends, media, you have to put that to the side. You have to focus on our craft and sport. Everything’s going to grow from there.’’
Porzingis, who had a salty relationship with Jeff Hornacek last season, has 10 30-point games this season, after be broke out of a slump by dropping 37 points in the Knicks’ overtime win over the Lakers.
“Porzingis has tremendous amount of potential and he’s tapping into it now a bit,’’ Stoudemire said. “When the game slows down for him, then you’ll see his true potential. It’s a matter of experience for that to happen. It takes time. I’m excited to see the progress.”
In his first game back at the Garden since retiring, Stoudemire was to light the menorah on the first night of Hanukkah. Stoudemire has a Star of David tattoo on his left thumb and follows holiday rituals, including fasting on Yom Kippur and keeping kosher. Stoudemire’s exact Jewish heritage is murky, though his mother told him as a teenager he was a descendant of Hebrew Israelites.
Stoudemire played last season with the team he owned, Hapoel Jerusalem, won a title and then retired.
“My goal was to win a championship,’’ Stoudemire said. “Unfortunately I wasn’t able to do that in the NBA but I got a championship in Israel. I miss New York like you wouldn’t believe. As far as playing, I haven’t started missing the game yet. I don’t have the itch wanting to play. I’m content the way I retired.’’
Living in Miami, Stoudemire hasn’t followed the NBA much but he realizes he’s the pioneer for the league’s small-ball craze, since he was with Mike D’Antoni’s Suns when the coach begged him to play center 10 years ago against his will.
Tuesday’s game is the only one he’s attended this season. But he senses the Knicks needed to move on without Carmelo Anthony.
“Hopefully it works out best for both parties,’’ Stoudemire said. “That’s how I felt when I decided to play in Dallas [and accept a buyout in 2015]. I wanted to make sure it was best for both parties. Both parties were satisfied with what took place.”
Stoudemire said he has “projects’’ in the works, like a new wine collection (for drinking not bathing), an online academy and coaching his son’s sixth-grade team, though, he said, “I’ve never drawn up a play.’’
Working as a coach or in a front office is something he hasn’t ruled out down the line, but those are not things he’s pining to do.
Stoudemire, who came off the bench in Israel, backed out of the second year of his pact. He admitted the long bus rides and flying coach were an adjustment.
Stoudemire was one of many Americans who have played in Israel. Chris Smith, the ex-Knicks guard who is J.R. Smith’s younger brother, took Stoudemire’s lead last week. He converted to Judaism and has signed with an Israeli club, Ironi Nahariya.
The Knicks are slated to play on Christmas Day against the Sixers but the franchise wanted to honor its Jewish roots — with Stoudemire as centerpiece.
“I was like, sure, I’ll go back to New York, hang out with the Knicks, sit courtside and eat popcorn,’’ he said.