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Former Phoenix Suns forward Amar'e Stoudemire reportedly set to play overseas next season

Posted at 12:50 PM, Jul 31, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-31 15:51:56-04

Well, so much for retirement.

Just days after he announced the end of his NBA career -- and angered a number of Phoenix Suns fans in the process -- former Suns draft pick and six-time All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire is likely to announce Monday that he will play for Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel next season, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

Stoudemire has an ownership stake in the team.

"Sources told ESPN.com that basketball officials in Israel say Stoudemire's move to join Hapoel Jerusalem as an active player is now a mere formality," Stein wrote Sunday.

"Stoudemire is scheduled to travel to Israel next week as part of an NBA Cares initiative organized by the first Israeli to ever play in the NBA -- Sacramento's Omri Casspi -- and has taken a great interest in the country over the past few years since revealing that he has Jewish roots on his mother's side."

Stein noted Stoudemire has been a part owner of the team since 2013.

On Tuesday, Stoudemire retired as a member of the New York Knicks, essentially spurning the Suns, who drafted him in 2002 and for whom he played the majority of his career. Stoudemire was a five-time All-Star in Phoenix and led the team to a pair of Western Conference Finals appearances.