Amar’e and Fat Joe Talk NY Hoops

Over at XXL, STAT and BX rapper Fat Joe speak about the resurgence of professional basketball in the Big Apple. Here’s a couple of excerpts:

FAT JOE: Yo, Amar’e, what’s the chances of [the New York Knicks] getting Carmelo Anthony [from the Denver Nuggets]? ’Cause you know I been on him heavy. I been harassing him, harassing his wife [La La Vazquez]. You think we [Knicks fans] might get him next year?

AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE: [Laughs] I hope so. It’s possible, man. I think ’Melo is looking to make a decision soon. Hopefully we can land him in New York. We could use him.

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FAT JOE: I got that newspaper clipping when you took that picture [signing with the Knicks in early July]. You had your hands open at the front of Madison Square Garden. I was just so excited, and I still am. In New York, we’ve been thirsty for so long—we need this. Who else was really on you to go [to their team]?

AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE: Well, Miami kept calling me. Houston kept calling me. Phoenix kept calling me. Chicago was calling. New Jersey asked for a meeting. But I figured New York is… From a platform standpoint, playing in Madison Square Garden, as a player, you can’t look to do anything bigger than that. That’s, like, an ultimate goal from a basketball-player perspective.

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Read the rest of the conversation between the two here.