More knee surgery for Stoudemire

The Suns said the 23-year-old All-Star had an exploratory procedure for a cyst behind the knee.

Stoudemire had left knee surgery in October and missed the first 66 games of the season before trying a comeback late last month. He played three games — with diminished minutes in each — and complained of soreness in his knees following a March 27 contest against New Jersey.

After undergoing surgery to repair a joint surface defect in his left knee on October 11, 2005, Stoudemire returned to the lineup on March 23 against Portland and posted 20 points with nine rebounds in a 125-108 victory.

He played just 19 minutes against the Trail Blazers, then managed just six points in 16 minutes on March 25 against Denver and missed each of his six shots in limited action against the Nets the following Monday.

It was then determined that Stoudemire would have the knee examined.

The 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year was coming off a stellar 2004-05 season that saw him lead Phoenix to the league’s best regular-season record (62-20). He averaged 26 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, while also ranking second in the NBA in field goal percentage (.559) and first in free throw attempts (795).

Stoudemire was even better during the playoffs, but his team ultimately lost in five games during the Western Conference finals to San Antonio.

The 6-foot-10 Stoudemire was the first player to enter the NBA directly from high school and win its top rookie honor. The ninth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Stoudemire entered this season averaging 19.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 217 career games with the Suns.

Stoudemire, a 2004-05 All-Star, agreed to a contract extension prior to this season that will keep him with the team through the 2010-11 season.