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The Phoenix Suns today signed All-Star Amaré Stoudemire to a five-year contract extension, the maximum allowed by NBA rules. The contract extension will begin in the 2006-07 season. Per club policy, financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

InsideHoops.com is told that the deal is the NBA maximum for an extension at this time; a five year deal paying around $73 million.

“Amaré Stoudemire clearly represents the future of the NBA and now too, the future of the Phoenix Suns,” Suns President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo said. “This franchise and city are fortunate to have one of the league’s elite young players committed long term with a goal and determination of bringing a championship to Phoenix.”

The 22-year-old forward/center blossomed in his third NBA season in 2004-05, earning Second Team All-NBA honors and became the youngest player in franchise history to be named to the All-Star team. Stoudemire was the only player ranked in the NBA top 10 in points (26.0, 5th) and field goal percentage (.559, 2nd) last season as the Suns finished with an NBA-best and club record-tying 62 wins in the regular season. Fourteen of his top 15 career scoring efforts came in 2004-05, and he scored 40 or more points six times (plus three in the playoffs), including a career-high 50 points vs. Portland on Jan. 2.

The 6-10, 245-pound forward/center has increased his scoring output in each of his three seasons, and his 26.0 scoring average in 2004-05, trailed only Tom Chambers’ franchise record 27.2 scoring average set in 1989-90. Last season Stoudemire also broke Connie Hawkins’ single-season franchise record for free throws made (583) and free throws attempted (795).

Stoudemire’s production was amplified in the 2005 NBA Playoffs, as he averaged 29.9 points, the highest scoring average ever for a Suns player in a single postseason. He also broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record (34.2 points, 1970) for the highest scoring average ever for a player in his first conference finals by averaging 37.0 points in five games vs. the eventual NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs.

In three seasons with the Suns, Stoudemire has averaged 19.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and shot .511 from the field in 217 games. The Suns are 126-91 (.580) with Stoudemire in the lineup the last three seasons and 9-20 (.310) without him. Stoudemire, who was the ninth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, was the then youngest NBA Rookie of the Year ever after averaging 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in 2002-03, only one year removed after graduating from Cypress Creek High School (Fla.).

InsideHoops.com Editor's View: There are very few players in the league that deserve a maximum NBA contract. Amare Stoudemire is one of those guys. An amazingly exciting player that's awesome to watch, unbelievably talented, and able to take physical skills and apply them towards helping his team win basketball games, this move was a no-brainer for the Suns. Stoudemire is still raw. His skills are in development. Yet he's already almost unguardable. Watch out, NBA.

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