The only mission for Amare Stoudemire in his long-awaited return to game conditions was running freely. The aim was moving with the confidence he didn't have back in March, when he had to abort his comeback from microfracture knee surgery after three games.

"This was the first time I was out there just playing," Stoudemire said, looking satisfied. "Not thinking."

That's all his bosses wanted to see, but Stoudemire managed to give them a little bit extra at UNLV's Cox Pavilion. Sporting a new No. 1 on his jersey, and logging 30 minutes in a 40-minute game in the Las Vegas Summer League.