4. Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks
The contract: 5 years, $100 million (2010)
During the summer of 2010, with all the attention surrounding LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, the New York Knicks quickly went all-in on signing Amar’e Stoudemire away from the Phoenix Suns. They were looking to make a big splash and they got their next face of the franchise in Stoudemire. The Knicks desperately needed a star and Stoudemire wanted to be the player to bring the Knicks franchise “back.” It seemed like a great move for both sides.
And for the Stoudemire’s first season in New York, it was playing out perfectly. Stoudemire averaged 25 points and eight rebounds per game on 50 percent shooting from the field. He also helped the Knicks return to the playoffs for the first time in seven years. However, it all fell apart after that first season.
The injury bug hit Stoudemire hard after that first season in New York. Stoudemire would 111 games over the next four seasons in New York and became a spot starter through his final three seasons with the Knicks. After his first season, he would only average more than 14 points per game once and the team (with Carmelo Anthony, who was acquired by the team in 2011) fizzled out after a second-round playoff exit in 2013.
The Knicks would go on to miss the playoffs during Stoudemire’s final two years with the team and quickly pivoted to a complete rebuild. After his first season in New York, Stoudemire (largely due to injuries) was never the same player again.