Amar’e Stoudemire says he was “caught by surprise” when he got the call that he would be enshrined in the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, sharing how overwhelming the congratulations became—and when his induction ceremony will take place.
When Amar’e Stoudemire found out he was headed to the Hall of Fame, his first reaction wasn’t calm or rehearsed—it was pure disbelief.
“I was ecstatic… I was ecstatic. I was caught by surprise,” the former NBA star recalled. “I got a call saying. ‘Hey Amar’e. we got some good news for you.’ I said. ‘Ok. alright. hit me with it.’ He’s like. ‘You are now gonna be enshrined into the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame. ’” Stoudemire said. “I was like, ‘What?!’ I was ecstatic about it.”.
After that call, the floodgates opened. Stoudemire said he was “bombarded with phone calls and congratulations from top to bottom,” underscoring just how quickly the news moved—and how big it felt even to the person at the center of it.
This wasn’t some obscure milestone in the rearview mirror. Stoudemire’s career came with major hardware, including making 6 All-Star teams and winning the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2003. Across 14 seasons in the NBA, he averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds.
Asked if he ever saw himself reaching the place he now has—one of the sport’s most exclusive honors—Stoudemire described the long grind that came before the moment. “You always play the game to reach your full potential. You want to try to exceed expectations,” he said. “You train before and after practice and in the offseason. You sacrifice family time to be on the basketball court. and to hit the weights. and really get yourself in top shape year after year after year. ” Stoudemire added.
Still, there was no guarantee it would end this way. “It’s a lot to take on,” he said. “As you try to reach that full potential, you never know what it’ll end up being. And for me, thank God it ended up in the Hall of Fame.”
The induction ceremony for the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame is set for August 15 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Amar'e Stoudemire Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony Springfield Massachusetts NBA Rookie of the Year 2003 6 All-Star teams