Amar’e Stoudemire has graduated from Miami Dade College’s School of Justice Basic Law Enforcement Academy at 43 years old.
Stoudemire will now join the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department, fulfilling a childhood dream that dates back long before his NBA career.
“For Amar’e, this is more than a second career,” Miami Dade College said in a statement shared on X. “Becoming a police officer was a childhood dream, inspired in part by family members who served in law enforcement.”
“Now, he will begin a new chapter as a police officer with the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department, giving back to our community and serving as a positive influence for the next generation,” the college added.
The former Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks star also received the Harry “Coach” Everett Award for his contributions to the academy throughout his training.
Despite spending 14 seasons in the NBA, Stoudemire revealed that law enforcement had always been part of his plans.
“It’s something I always wanted to do since I was a kid,” Stoudemire told Sports Illustrated. “I remember back when I was in grade school, elementary school. They asked you on career day, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ And my initial response was a police officer. It runs in the family. My uncle was a captain. His brother was a deputy. My cousin is a captain. My sister’s in the academy. So, it’s a family tradition, basically.”
Stoudemire’s NBA career included Rookie of the Year honors in 2003, six All-Star selections and career averages of 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds.
He also spent time with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat before later serving as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets from 2020 to 2022.
After being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year, Stoudemire has now added another achievement to his résumé, this time away from basketball.
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