Amar’e Stoudemire might rack up more SAG credits than basketball stats this season, thanks to his burgeoning television career and the lingering NBA lockout.
After guest appearances on “Law & Order: SVU,” “Entourage” and “Sesame Street” this year, the Knick will appear on TV Land’s “The Exes” opposite Kristen Johnston in a January episode. He plays an NBA star who dates Johnston, and we’re told the two end up kissing on screen.
The NBA lockout has “King of New York” Amar’e Stoudemire tightening his belt, sources say, as he loses millions from his $100 million, five-year contract with the Knicks. Stoudemire, who has homes in Miami, LA, Phoenix and Manhattan, was also renting Golden State Warrior David Lee’s apartment in White Plains to be closer to the Knicks’ training camp. But he moved out last month and won’t renew the lease to cut costs.
Stoudemire also leases a penthouse at 99 Jane St. at $37,500 a month. “He’s known for having ridiculous costs,” a source said.
“He’s thinking if the season doesn’t happen, he’s going to lose $20 million this year.” Stoudemire told us at Thursday’s Fashion Group International’s 28th annual Night of Stars event that he misses his longtime bodyguard, Max Cayard, who is employed by the Knicks.
“I can’t talk to him at all,” Stoudemire said, adding, “I haven’t talked to him since the last game, so I don’t know what he’s up to. I mean, you know, I was so used to hanging around with him, he’s been there with me every day. Not seeing him for months is a little different.”
Stoudemire’s rep told us, “Amar’e decided not to renew David Lee’s apartment in White Plains. He spent all of his time in the city, so he didn’t need two places. Like most players, Amar’e was told to prepare for a lockout or any losses that it would cause. He has the same size staff that he had since last August. One assistant and one chef are the only two people who work with him full-time.”
Justin Bieber couldn’t deny his devotion to the Lakers when he chatted with Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire at the Style Studio before the ESPY Awards last week in LA.
A spy reports that when Stoudemire asked if he was a hoops fan, Bieber replied, “I like ball, but I’m more of a hockey fan.” Amar’e followed with, “Are you a New York fan?” Bieber responded, “No, man, I’m a Lakers fan, but I respect New York.” Stoudemire told him to catch a Lakers-Knicks game next season.
The New York Knicks forward and team renaissance man was slated to attend Tuesday night’s Whitney Art Party with the “Goodies” singer, but arrived without her and spent a good portion of the night gazing at another masterpiece of the female form.
Stoudemire seemed to be a little sensitive to the fact that Ciara was not with him. When the ballplayer was asked where she was, he replied curtly: “She’s not here, buddy.” (Reps for Stoudemire and Ciara did not get back to us by deadline.)
Stoudemire did not have a difficult time finding a beautiful woman to keep him company, however. After making a couple of rounds through the young and fashionable crowd at the Highline Stages on W. 15th St., Stoudemire — who served as an honorary co-chair of the event with fashion designer Eddie Borgo and Pop editor-at-large Shala Monroque — headed to a makeshift VIP area with his agent, Happy Walters.
Towering over the crowd, Stoudemire quickly became a magnet for a parade of beautiful women who wanted to be in a photo with him. After dancing in place to the deejay for a bit, he became engrossed in conversation with a statuesque brunette who told us her name was Laura Belmont-de Gunzburg.
She said she works at the Pace Gallery and is the daughter of art collector Nathalie de Gunzburg, the chairman of the board of trustees at Dia Art Foundation.
Laura said she and Stoudemire were “just friends,” and the Knick eventually left the VIP area without her to peruse the artwork offered in the silent auction. He seemed to get a real kick out of a 3-D silk-screened boom-box piece by Ryan Humphrey. Entitled “Ghetto Blaster,” the artwork even came with silk-screened cassettes.
Earlier in the evening, Stoudemire told us that art and food were “areas of interest” in which “I want to learn more.”
On Monday night in Chelsea, the big man displayed his culinary curiosity at the American Express-sponsored Taste of the Nation event at Center 548. Stoudemire sported a special chef’s jacket embroidered with his nickname — “Chef Stat” — and assisted his personal chef, Maxcel Hardy, who served signature crab cakes and lamb chops. Stoudemire, for his part, said he can whip up a mean steak and eggs, but added: “That’s all I got.”
As if Amar’e Stoudemire didn’t have enough projects in the works, he’s now getting into the movie business as a producer of a Hollywood horror flick.
The Knicks star, who’s also a fashion designer and actor, is now in discussions with Relativity Media mogul Ryan Kavanaugh to executive-produce “The Strangers 2,” a sequel to the creepy 2008 chiller “The Strangers.”
The original flick starred Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as a couple staying in an isolated summer house who are terrorized by masked assailants. It was produced by Relativity’s Rogue division with a mere $9 million budget and grossed more than $80 million worldwide.
Stoudemire raved about “The Strangers” to us at Tuesday night’s Whitney Art Party in Chelsea, which he co-hosted along with Shala Monroque and Eddie Borgo. “Ever see ‘The Strangers?’ It’s a scary movie . . . It’s crazy,” he told us. Relativity Media finances and distributes films including “Bridesmaids,” “Limitless,” “The Fighter” and “The Social Network.”
The 6-foot-10 NBA star was linked to Kavanaugh through Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, who is president of Relativity’s music division and of its sports-management firm, Rogue Sports.
Stoudemire is keeping busy in the off-season: He’s heading to Los Angeles this week to film a cameo in “Entourage,” and recently filmed a cameo in the Garry Marshall-directed comedy “New Year’s Eve.” He’s also preparing to launch a women’s clothing line with Rachel Roy in September.
Stoudemire, who said his walls were full of paintings of Michael Jackson, The Beatles, and the Rolling Stones, mingled with Whitney guests including Shenae Grimes, Jason Wu, Lauren Santo Domingo, Prabal Gurung, Yigal Azrouel, Maggie Betts and Lauren Remington Platt.
Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire has set his sights on Grammy-winning singer and model Ciara.
New York’s hottest sports hero has been spotted dining out with the stunning songbird in recent weeks, and on Monday night, the pair shared dinner at STK with a group of 15, including fellow Knick Carmelo Anthony and his wife, LaLa Vazquez. But sources tell us Amar’e and Ciara have also been seen together alone at the restaurant and at other Meatpacking hot spots.
One said, “Ciara is best friends with LaLa and has been attending Knicks games with her, including Monday’s game. Through Melo and LaLa, her friendship with Amar’e has developed. They have been seen out together on numerous occasions.”
One spy said Ciara and Amar’e had dinner at STK alone together two weeks ago, when Amar’e was overheard asking for a private table as they arrived. They’ve also been spotted at The Collective.
Five-time Grammy nominee Ciara has released three albums and had hits including “Love Sex Magic” with Justin Timberlake. She previously dated Bow Wow and has been linked to 50 Cent. A rumor linking her to Miami Heat star LeBron James in January was denied.
A rep for Stoudemire told us, “I know that they are friends,” but declined to comment further. But a source close to the team added, “Ciara is extremely close to LaLa and always sits with her in Carmelo’s seats at the games. Ciara has become friends with Amar’e because they are all spending time together.” Reps for Ciara didn’t get back to us.
Last night, the Knicks threw an official “Welcome to New York” party for Carmelo at Abe & Arthur’s.
Sources said the team booked a private room for the 75-person bash and ordered a three-tier cake decorated with Melo’s jersey, yellow taxi cabs and the New York skyline.
The Knicks’ $100 million man, Amar’e Stoudemire, tells Vogue’s Hamish Bowles that it’s fashion that makes him feel “rich.”
In a profile in the April issue, he says, “When you put your fashion on — you know, your tailor-made suits or bow ties and fedoras — you feel like you’re swagger. You feel elegant and rich.”
In addition to those, Stoudemire has already indulged in a Maybach 62S, a Bentley convertible and a $37,500-a-month penthouse apartment in the Meatpacking District, complete with a recording studio and barber shop.
The Knicks star is designing a women’s fashion line with Rachel Roy because, he told us, “We’re trying to give the women something to wear when they go to sporting events. I want to add some flair to the hoodies and T-shirts.”
He leaves the sketching up to Roy, but “she shows them to me and then I give her the yea or nay.” Amar’e sat front-row Sunday at the Tommy Hilfiger women’s runway show with Anna Wintour, who attended Friday’s Knicks game against the Lakers.
The Knicks star just did a photo shoot for Vogue’s April issue.
Sources say Hamish Bowles and the Vogue team took over Riverside Boulevard apartment building The Alydn’s full-size basketball court earlier this week.
It was revealed last year that Wintour, who put LeBron James on her cover a few years back, has been courting the Knicks’ $100 million man, and personally invited him to shows including the Fashion’s Night Out runway show in September. Vogue declined to comment.
