Amar? Remains with Nike

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A bigger team beat Phoenix to an extension with Amar? Stoudemire - team Nike.

Stoudemire is closing in on signing a contract extension with the Suns next week, but he finished an extension deal with the world's athletic shoe giant. Stoudemire signed a six-year extension with Nike this month.

The new deal, which takes effect Oct. 1, eventually will include a signature shoe, but Stoudemire will pitch the Nike Force model for now. Financial terms were not disclosed, but it is believed to be the largest shoe deal an NBA big man has received.

"That's huge," Stoudemire said. "It's something I always dreamed of. It was one of my goals to sign and be with an elite company. I'm looking forward to selling apparel and product and make both parties happy.

"It's mainly the respect level from the company to believe I can sell apparel and give me a signature shoe. Having a signature shoe is great. Kids can say, 'I want to get the Amar? Stoudemire shoe.' That makes me feel real blessed."

Stoudemire stuck to Nike growing up, wearing mostly Air Jordans and Charles Barkley's Air Force. He even stirred the summer basketball circuit as a teenager when he jumped from the adidas circuit to Nike, which also has deals with fellow Suns All-Stars Shawn Marion and Steve Nash.

Nike brought in Stoudemire for star power Tuesday at its annual shareholders meeting in Memphis.

Nike did not return a request for comment.

"Amar?, in his career, has elevated himself to the point he can achieve a deal of this magnitude," said Rodney Rice, Stoudemire's business manager who negotiated the Nike deal. "He may not have come into the league with the fanfare of others, but now companies are seeing from a marketing standpoint he can be at that elite level."</div>

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