Bklyn Nets Coach Amar’e Stouemire Won’t Work on Shabbat After Conversion in Israel

Former NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire has a new job! The one-time all star for the Phoenix Suns is currently serving as an assistant player development coach for the Brooklyn Nets and is on former teammate Steve Nash’s staff. In addition to Phoenix, Stoudemire played for the New York Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks.

As Stoudemire gets into the groove with his new position, he also knows that he won’t be compelled to work seven days a week. As has been previously reported, Stoudemire strictly observes the Jewish Sabbath and has undergone a formal Orthodox conversion to Judaism.

According to a report on the Sports Rabbi web site, Stoudemire recently completed his conversion in Israel. He completed his conversion in August of 2020, taking on the Biblical name Jehoshaphat.

Last season, Stoudemire won an MVP award with the Maccabi Tel Aviv team as well as winning the Israeli League championship.

According to the Sports Rabbi site, when asked how he stays grounded and humble despite being a celebrity, the former Six Time NBA All-Star answered that “The Torah helps help and knowing that we are all created by God.” Many people wanted to know if Stoudemire was married and if he was looking for a “Shidduch” a match, he said that he was no longer married and that he is ready, hopes to find one and needs to create a Shidduch resume.

On Monday, Marc Stein of the New York Times, who had written about Stoudemire and his new position on the coaching staff of the Brooklyn Nets as well as his request to take off for the Sabbath on a weekly basis, Stein tweeted that:

Following up on my recent story on Amar’e Stoudemire joining the Nets’ coaching staff as a player development assistant:@NYTSports has confirmed that the Nets are granting Shabbat off to Stoudemire every week — Friday sundown through Saturday sundown — at Stoudemire’s request https://t.co/Nht93Lv8sU

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 25, 2021

According to a JTA report, Stoudemire detailed his Jewish journey in a late December talk with the UJA-Federation of New York.

In addition to working for the Brooklyn Nets, Stoudemire also regularly attends Torah classes and takes classes at the University of Miami, according to the Sports Rabbi site. Moreover, Stoudemire’s collection of wines (stoudemirewines.com) are kosher.