Amar’e Stoudemire is 6-foot-10, 250 pounds. But he says he’s overlooked. In NBA history, that is.

The Phoenix Suns forward sees how Cleveland’s LeBron James is regarded by many as the first NBA player to star immediately after coming in from high school. That causes Stoudemire to pause and wonder, “What about me?”

“I definitely [get overlooked],” Stoudemire said in an interview with FanHouse. “That year it was tough going against Yao Ming as far as Rookie of the Year, and I was able to win that award. Sometimes you get lost in the shuffle when the year after such great players as Carmelo [Anthony of Denver], Dwyane [Wade of Miami] and Lebron came in. I think I did get overlooked a little.”

Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett did average 10.4 points in 1995-96, the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant 7.6 in 1996-97 and Toronto’s Tracy McGrady 7.0 in 1997-98. But none came close to being named Rookie of the Year.

“Garnett was OK,” said Stoudemire, who has built upon his fine start by averaging 21.0 points and 8.9 rebounds for his career and making five All-Star Games. “Kobe was OK. McGrady was OK. But I was able to win Rookie of the Year. I was the first to ever do it [straight from high school]. Then LeBron gets it the year after. I think when LeBron came after me, he had so much hype that [people] tend to forget the fact that I was the first.”