NEW YORK (AP) — Tapos na si Amare Stoudemire sa NBA, ngunit hindi sa kanyang career.

Matapos magretiro sa NBA nitong Hulyo 26, lumagda ng dalawang taong kontrata si Stoudemire nitong Lunes (Martes sa Manila) para lumaro sa Israeli team Hapoel Jerusalem.

Inilarawan ni Stoudemire ang desisyon bilang katuparan ng kanyang pangarap at bahagi ng kanyang “spiritual journey”.

Naging madalas ang pagtungo ng six-time NBA All-Star sa tinaguriang “Promised Land” matapos itong maging co-owner ng koponan may ilang taon na ang nakalilipas.

May cash incentives din; Karl Eldrew Yulo, tumanggap ng ₱500K mula kay Chavit!

Para maging isang ganap na player, pumayag si Stoudemire na ibenta ang kanyang share kay majority owner Ori Allon.

"My interests in playing in Israel, at this moment that dream has come true," pahayag ni Stoudemire sa isinagawang press conferemce sa Madison Square Garden.

"I'm now able to play for Hapoel Jerusalem. A team that I'm looking forward to playing with.

"It's like a dream come true. When I was in high school I always wanted to put on my college hat to show what school I was going to and never did it. I put on an NBA hat."

Tinapos ni Stoudemire ang career sa Knicks na nagbigay sa kanya ng US$100 million para sa anim na taong kontrata noong 2010.

"Jerusalem is a very special city as you guys know and Amar'e is a very special person, other than the fact that he is a very good basketball player," pahayag ni Allon.

"I'm very excited about this and the whole city of Jerusalem is celebrating right now."

Ang Hapoel Jerusalem ang kampeon sa 2014-15 Israeli Basketball League at sasabak sa 2016-17 EuroCup tournament.