For the second time in a month, Amaré Stoudemire was named the NBA's Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday - which he thinks is nice and all, thank you very much.

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But while his primary focus remains pushing the Suns toward that elusive championship, Stoudemire has much loftier goals on the personal side: As in, player of the year, both conferences, as soon as possible.

And with a résumé that's becoming more impressive and a game that's becoming more polished, he doesn't mind taking time to toot his own horn in between all the jumpers, dunks, rebounds and blocks.

"I don't know what it is. I hear everyone's name being mentioned, as far as top players in the league, and my name isn't up there," Stoudemire said after scoring at least 30 points for the sixth time in his past 13 games in Saturday's win over Sacramento. "It definitely hurts.

"I put in the time and the effort and the work to be an elite player and ... my teammates and coaches notice, even if other people don't notice it."

The signs of improvement are everywhere. His once-erratic 18-foot jumper is now one of the safest bets in the Suns' arsenal. His shot-blocking is now at a high level and his return to the power forward position has allowed him to take his dunking fury up a notch after beating his man on the drive.

Stoudemire ranks among the top six in the NBA in scoring (24.3 points, sixth), field goal percentage (.585, fifth) and blocks (2.22, sixth) - numbers that rose after averaging 31.7 points and 11.3 rebounds (he's now at 9.3 for the year) during Phoenix's current four-game winning streak that led to another weekly nod from the league.

The national media sees Stoudemire's numbers and immediately ties it to the arrival of Shaquille O'Neal - who has allowed his protegee to move back to his natural power forward spot - where he won Rookie of the Year honors five years ago. But Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni says connecting those dots is an injustice to Stoudemire, who won last month's Player of the Week honor while O'Neal was still in street clothes.

"I saw it coming even before (the trade). He was really coming and taking that next step," D'Antoni said. "Amaré was a first-team All-NBA center last year. Now, he has a great jump shot and he's almost unguardable.

"Shaq's presence opens things up even more, yes. But I don't care who's on the floor with him ... I just see him and his game developing to the point where he's just becoming unbelievable."

But on a team with a two-time MVP (Steve Nash) and a world-wide icon (O'Neal), sometimes Stoudemire finds waiting for his own accolades difficult. So he fired his management and publicity representation recently - not the first time he's shaken up his off-the-court team - in the hopes of getting his name into that first breath of NBA mega stars.

Another step forward defensively certainly wouldn't hurt his pleas, although D'Antoni cautions, "His defense is really improving, especially on the perimeter. This is the best I've seen him. Total game - offense, passing, defense - I don't think he's been any better."

So at the ripe old age of 25, Stoudemire feels he just waiting for the world to catch up with him.

"I think I've definitely done things to earn my respect," he said.

"I won Rookie of the Year right out of high school, the first in history to do that. I came back from microfracture (surgery) to be first-team All-NBA - that right there says I'm top five in the league.

"I am the first to give respect to all the great players in the league, from (Kevin) Garnett, to (Tim) Duncan, to Shaq, to Steve, to Kobe (Bryant), and I'm going to keep doing that in the hope that I'll get the same at some point. I'm waiting for my turn."