MIAMI (AP) — Former Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire faces a misdemeanor assault charge after allegedly punching one of his teenage daughters in the face.
Miami-Dade County court records show Stoudemire, 40, was arrested Sunday and released after posting $1,500 bail with a court order to stay away from the daughter.
Miami police officers have not immediately responded to a phone message from The Associated Press related to the incident.
However, citing a police report, The Miami Herald newspaper said Stoudemire hit one of his two teenage daughters during an argument Saturday night at his home in Miami. The newspaper indicated that the former player has two daughters, ages 14 and 17, but the report did not clarify which of the two he allegedly hit.
According to the newspaper, the former player of 2.10 meters (6 feet 10 inches) and 115 kilograms (225 pounds) confronted the minor and accused her of disrespecting the former basketball player’s mother during a phone call. When she denied it, he told her: “You’re talking back to me” and he punched her in the jaw, leaving her bloody, her report detailed.
The teenager contacted her mother, Stoudemire’s ex-wife, who arrived at the home and picked up the two minors, her two brothers, and called the police.
The report added that when officers arrived at her home, Stoudemire told them the teen called her mother “because she was sad after receiving a reprimand for disrespect and lying.” He subsequently invoked her right to remain silent.
Court records do not list an attorney for Stoudemire, whose Instagram page shows that he received his master’s degree from the University of Miami that Saturday.
Stoudemire played 15 seasons in the NBA. He was named the Rookie of the Year after the 2002-03 season after being selected by the Suns in the draft. After spending eight years with Phoenix, the Suns sent him to New York, a team with which he played for five years. He ended his NBA career after spending one season with the Dallas Mavericks and another with the Miami Heat before playing in Israel. He retired in 2017.
In his NBA career, Stoudemire made five All-Star Games and averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.