Suns notebook: Stoudemire a 'bask-a-holic’

Amaré Stoudemire said he took about a week and a half after the Suns were eliminated from the playoffs to rest his knees and recharge his mind. Since then, he has been a regular visitor to US Airways Center in June, and he’s not just there to pick up his mail.

“I can’t help it. I just can’t leave the court,” Stoudemire said Friday after another one-on-one workout with Suns assistant Phil Weber. “I guess you can call me 'a bask-a-holic.’ ”

To prove it, Stoudemire watched every game of the NBA Finals between the Spurs and Cavaliers. And while he knew what the outcome would be, watching San Antonio’s inevitable championship didn’t make the pain of coming up short any easier.

“It hurts, but it lets me know we’re this close to winning a championship,” said Stoudemire, leaving just a little space between his thumb and forefinger. “Just a little more work and we’re there. That’s why I’m here.”

The Spurs lost only four of 20 games in the postseason — half of them to the Suns — and were 10-1 after Phoenix won Game 4 in San Antonio to square the conference semifinals at 2-2. But Stoudemire and teammate Boris Diaw were suspended for Game 5 for leaving the bench after Robert Horry’s hard foul on Steve Nash, and the Spurs rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final 11 minutes to win.

“We were 2-2 and this guy Stoudemire wasn’t able to play,” he said, smiling. “I think everyone knows that changed things. Everywhere I go, people are coming up and saying 'Amaré they (expletive) you. They stole it.’ ”

Stoudemire said he was aware of the rule about leaving the bench and doesn’t think it needs to be changed. But he feels that coaches and staff members need to be “more aware that a player’s first instinct is to protect a teammate.”

Stoudemire will be busy this summer. His first college class at ASU — a global history course — begins in July and he will then turn his attention to Team USA workouts in Las Vegas in preparation for the FIBA Americas Tournament in August.

During his workout, Stoudemire joked with a friend that he has an idea for next year’s Suns slogan.

“Forget about 'Eyes on the Prize,’ man,” he said. “Now it’s just gonna be 'Revenge.’”

CHECKING OUT THE BIGS

The Suns haven’t looked at a lot of big men in their predraft workouts, but took care of that detail Friday with a foursome of power forward/centers, headed by Duke’s Josh McRoberts and Nevada’s Nick Fazekas.

Fazekas, a second-team All-American averaged at least 20 points a game for three straight seasons with the Wolf Pack. Compared to Keith Van Horn as a player, he would give the Suns size and great shooting ability to help spread the floor.

McRoberts was projected to be a lottery pick last year, but he returned to Duke, and a subpar sophomore season negatively affected his stock. He should be gone long before the Suns’ first pick at No. 24.

“But it would be a dream come true to come here,” McRoberts said. “Probably something would have to happen (like a trade), but I still wouldn’t mind if I fell to 24 as long as I wound up here.”

BONUS SHOT

Marcus Banks, the subject of many summer trade rumors, was also working out with Suns coaches on Friday. He said he was leaning toward playing some games in the Vegas Summer League, but otherwise declined to speak to reporters. “I’m just here to work. It’s all basketball,” he said.