Former NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire has traded the basketball court for law enforcement, graduating from the Miami Dade College School of Justice Basic Law Enforcement Academy.

The college announced his graduation Wednesday, noting that the 43-year-old also received the Harry “Coach” Everett Award in recognition of his contributions to the academy during training. Stoudemire is now set to begin in-house training with the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department.

Stoudemire said joining the police force fulfills a childhood dream and continues a family tradition of public service. Several of his relatives have served in law enforcement, including an uncle who was a captain and a cousin who is also a captain. His sister is currently attending the academy as well.

Stoudemire’s transition is another example of a high-profile NBA figure pursuing police work after retirement. Shaquille O’Neal has also trained with law enforcement agencies and served in reserve officer and sheriff’s deputy roles in Florida and Georgia.

On the court, Stoudemire built a distinguished 14-season NBA career, earning six All-Star selections and the 2003 Rookie of the Year award. He spent eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns, who retired his No. 32 jersey in 2024, and won a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2004 Olympics. He is also set to enter the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026.

His basketball journey extended to Israel, where he won two Israeli Premier League championships, was selected as an All-Star twice and earned Finals MVP honors in 2020. He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.

Stoudemire converted to Judaism in 2020 and has spoken publicly about his religious studies, frequently sharing posts about learning Gemara and other seforim. He has coached at Israel’s Maccabiah Games and launched his own kosher wine line.

In 2022, Stoudemire stepped away from an assistant coaching position with the Brooklyn Nets to observe Shabbos. His latest career move adds another unexpected chapter to a life that has included professional basketball, coaching, business ventures and Jewish religious study. We wish Amare much Hatzlacha.

NBA legend Amare Stoudamire has become a police officer in Miami, Florida.

When asked why he decided to join the department, he said that it is something he has always wanted to do since childhood. https://t.co/NpX4HvZhqp

— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL) 🇺🇸 (@ANTHONYBLOGAN) October 15, 2026