Mike D'Antoni is touting forward Amar'e Stoudemire as an MVP candidate this season.

"I'm hoping he's the MVP this year," D'Antoni said. "That's kind of what he should shoot for and I'm sure what he's trying to be."

Unless they deal for Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks will need a dominant season from Stoudemire in order to contend for a playoff spot.

Asked Thursday if he has reached his prime, Stoudemire said: "Not yet, not yet. I think this year is going to be the starting point of my prime."

Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal isn't interested in potentially winning the Sixth Man of the Year award this season.

"No," he said. "About four years ago, I gave up on the concept of winning individual awards. I'm focusing on the big one at the end of the year."

Boston has a storied history of impressive sixth men and Bill Walton took the award home at the end of his career. Walton is the only player in NBA history to win both an MVP and Sixth Man award.

"It's not for me," O'Neal said. "What's important to me is the six balls I have on the desk of my office at the top of a big building."

Asked to elaborate, he said, "I'm the CEO of the company. I just don't have the building yet."