USA - Stoudemire: "I know I could have helped Team USA"

COLOGNE (FIBA) - Amare Stoudemire should play a key role for the United States next summer at the FIBA Americas Championship.

The team will attempt to qualify for the Beijing Olympics after failing to win the gold medal at this summer’s FIBA World Champioship, which would have sealed their place at the 2008 Games.

The power forward was not fully fit from a lingering knee injury and was unable to play for Team USA in Japan.

Stoudemire, 23, is expected to play against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday as he and the Phoenix Suns continue their pre-season preparations as part of NBA Europe Live.

He spoke to PA Sport's David Hein on behalf of FIBA.

FIBA: “Amare, welcome to Germany. How does the knee feel?”

Stoudemire: “It feels really good. It's nice to play full speed on it. And I hope it holds up.”

FIBA: “This past summer, you were forced to cut short your time at the United States training camp because of the knee and had to watch the FIBA World Championship at home. How difficult was that?”

Stoudemire: “Man, it was just as tough as watching the Western Conference finals (the Suns lost to the Dallas Mavericks in six games). I know I could have helped them.”

FIBA: “Now you're in Europe, and preparing for a game against the Philadelphia 76ers and then a Euroleague team the following day, either Maccabi Tel Aviv or CSKA Moscow. What do you think about NBA Europe Live?"

Stoudemire: “I think it's pretty big time. Basketball is now a global sport, and a great sport. I think the world is embracing it because it's such a great sport. It's great for it to be worldwide.”

FIBA: “The Suns beat Roma 100-93 a couple nights ago in Italy. And now you're going to play either CSKA Moscow or Maccabi Tel Aviv, who are both a level better than than Roma. Talk a little bit about the strength of European teams.”

Stoudemire: “It's a lot of fun to play against competitive teams in Europe. And they are definitely compepetitive. The game is definitely improving all around the world. So we definitely have to bring our A game night in and night out as if we were playing in the NBA league.”

FIBA: “What do you think is the biggest difference between the NBA and the European game?”

Stoudemire: “I think in the NBA you have more athletic players. With the athleticism it makes it a little tougher to get the fundamentals down. Coaches nowadays don't teach the fundamentals like the old school coaches. Here in Europe, the coaches really teach the fundamentals of the game to the players because they're not quite as athletic. So they can't rely on athleticism.”

FIBA: “And do you see that changing in the United States at all?”

Stoudemire: “Once the United States starts teaching the fundamentals over again as back in the day with Bob Cousy and Bill Russell and those guys, once we get that going, it's going to be amazing.”

Exclusively for FIBA