Amar'e Stoudemire Returns Tuesday After Taking Time Off To Mourn Brother's Death

Amare Stoudemire had a rather somber week as he returned home to mourn the death of his brother, who was killed in a car accident last week. The New York Knicks forward has had time to clear his head and plans to return to the court on Tuesday night for his team's game against the Toronto Raptors.

Stoudemire has missed the past several games, along with Carmelo Anthony, allowing the Jeremy Lin show to happen as the Knicks have gone on a winning streak. After practice on Monday, Stoudemire told ESPN New York that watching Lin exceed expectations was one of the few things keeping him upbeat while back home.

"The only positive for us during that whole week was we were watching the basketball games and we were watching Linsanity," Stoudemire said following practice on Monday. "My family was getting a kick out of it. That's the only smiles they really had all week. It was great to see that. It's been a tough week."

It'll be interesting to see how the Knicks look with Stoudemire back in the lineup considering Lin has kind of made the Knicks his team over the past five games, but SB Nation's Tom Ziller wrote on Monday that the team's new point guard should have a positive effect on STAT:

The impacts on Amare are less explosive, primarily because he desperately needed someone like Lin all along. Stoudemire will take a number of Chandler's pick-and-roll touches, at least immediately. If he thrives in that role, Lin will be heralded at the savior of S.T.A.T. If success doesn't come, those whispers about Stoudemire's end as an effective player will become audible. This season Amare has had the crutch of the team's lack of a point guard to deflect those concerns. With Lin in place, that excuse goes out of the window.

That sounds good in theory, but it'll be a whole 'nother thing to see if it actually plays out that well against the Raptors on Tuesday night.

For more on Stoudemire and the Knicks, visit Posting and Toasting and SB Nation New York.

Hazell Stoudemire, the 35-year old brother of New York Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire, has passed away after a car crash in Florida, the New York Knicks have confirmed. Stoudemire will not play in Monday's game against the Utah Jazz, but that is the least of Stoudemire's concerns right now.

Via Ken Berger of CBS Sports:

Knicks spokesman confirms Amar'e Stoudemire's older brother was killed in a car crash in Florida. Stoudemire en route to be with family.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) February 6, 2012

TMZ first reported the news of Hazell Stoudemire's death. Hazell Stoudemire was reportedly speeding and wasn't wearing a seat belt.

It remains unclear when Amar'e Stoudemire will return to the court, but that should be the least of our concerns right now. Our prayers go out to him and the entire Stoudemire family.

For more on the Knicks, visit Posting and Toasting and SB Nation New York.