On December 30, 2002, Amar’e Stoudemire delivered the kind of performance that made the league stop and take notice. The rookie forward dropped 38 points on the Timberwolves, the highest total of his first year, and capped it with a moment fans still talk about: after a steal and fast break push by Randy Brown, Amar’e caught the ball in stride and launched into a spinning, wrap-around 360 dunk that shook the arena. Power, agility, and confidence—all in one motion. This season he became the first high school-to-pro player to win Rookie of the Year, and this game showed exactly why. No learning curve, no easing in. Amar’e was ready to dominate, and this night proved it. · Dec 31, 2002