Knicks’ Stoudemire becomes part owner of Jerusalem basketball team

New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire has purchased a stake in the Israeli basketball team Hapoel Jerusalem.

Stoudemire said Friday on his Twitter feed that he joined an ownership group led by businessman Ori Allon that purchased the team, which participated this season in the Eurocup.

“Excited to join the partnership that is giving back to the city of Jerusalem by offering the Hapoel basketball team a fresh start,” Stoudemire tweeted.

“Proud to partner with @Amareisreal & others on building a promising future for the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball club,” Allon tweeted.

Stoudemire is serving as an assistant coach for the Canadian basketball team at the Maccabiah Games in Israel that start Thursday.

Since finding out his mother is Jewish, Stoudemire has taken a high-profile trip to Israel in 2010 and expressed his Jewish roots.