No Canadian will ever forget the magic of Steve Nash at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, in which he somehow inspired a motley crew of marginally-talented teammates to play at a level well beyond their skill level, or his tears as he left the court after a quarterfinal loss to France, in which he was mauled, manhandled and mugged by a French defender.
“You have to move on,” said Nash. “But that doesn’t diminish the pain right now. This was an unbelievable group of guys. That’s what made it worthwhile. That’s why it hurts so much because I care so much for them. I feel like they should still be playing.”
They should still be playing.
Therein lies the grace and the subtlety, the simplicity and the complexity, of Steve Nash, the unassuming and unique superstar who reads Dostoevski, who used the backdrop of the NBA all-star game to speak out against the war in Iraq, and of whom his college coach, Dick Davey, once said: “He’s not about Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. He’s down to earth, a humane type of individual.”
Two-time NBA player of the year. Point guard extraordinaire. Order of Canada recipient. Philanthropist. Uncanny hardcourt artist. And an unstintingly civil man who Time Magazine in 2006 chose as one of the most influential people in the world, prompting former NBA all-star Charles Barkley to note that “over the past few years, his popularity has exploded. His ego could have swelled – everyone else’s does. But he still just wants to pass the ball.”
Playing the point is “the most creative position,” Nash once told Toro magazine. “In sports, you need both imagination and discipline. Imagination is actually a part of maintaining discipline. I challenge myself to be inspired by something every day. It’s one reason I continue to improve. My game comes out of my mind. It’s a huge source of self-expression. I am making statements all the time on the court about who I am.”
Basketball purists accord him the honour of mentioning his name in the same breath as such legends as Magic Johnson, Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson and John Stockton.
Any rational Canadian would, of course, put him at the top of that list. So familiar has his name become that not a soul introduced to this author’s Husky-Pyrenees puppy failed to ask: “After Steve Nash?”
Was there ever a doubt? A sure-fire Hall of Famer in Canadian minds, no Canadian has made a bigger contribution to the game since fellow Canadian James Naismith invented it.
Nash was born Feb 7, 1974, in Johannesburg, South Africa, where his father was toiling as a semi-pro soccer player. He lived there for 18 months, until parents, English-born John and Welsh-born Jean relocated to Canada because they didn’t want their children to be raised within South Africa’s apartheid system.
As a multi-talented kid growing up in Victoria, which was then known primarily for churning out rugby players, Nash was the most unlikely of basketball heroes. He played soccer, lacrosse and ice hockey, often with younger brother Martin (who subsequently became a professional soccer player) while not taking up hoops until the age of 12 or 13. He dreamed of playing soccer for father John’s hometown squad, the Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League. Once he took up basketball, Nash told NBA.com, “my heroes were Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson. I think they were just so competitive and creative. Especially Isiah, he was somebody that wasn’t very tall. He had played the game mostly on the floor and it made me feel that I could find a way to do the same.”
Nash enrolled at Mount Douglas Secondary and led his team to a junior provincial title while being named MVP of the tournament. But out of concern for his grades, his parents transferred him to the private boarding school, St. Michael’s University, where he sat out his grade 10 year. He eventually played basketball, soccer and rugby, toiling as a reserve point guard (behind Jason Reynolds) for a Blue Devils (now the Jaguars) unit, coached by Ian Hyde-Lay, that made the provincials in 1990-91 but lost in the opening round.
As a starter in his senior season in 1991-92, Nash averaged 21.3 ppg, 11.2 apg and 9.1 rpg, while leading St. Michael’s to the provincial AAA title and being named the tournament’s MVP. “He came into our school, into a really well-established, dominant athletic group, a team that would’ve been very successful in its own right and immediately became the leader,” Ian Hyde-Lay told Fastbreak Magazine in 1996. “The tougher the situation, the more he wanted to be right in there taking the last shot or whatever. There was just something about him. There was just kind of a sparkle in his eyes that just tells you he’s a little different than most guys.”
In 1991, Nash was chosen MVP of the juvenile national tournament while leading British Columbia to a crown. Two years later, he led British Columbia to a bronze medal at the Canada Summer Games in Kamloops.
As British Columbia’s under-17 team starting point guard, Nash said he received letters of inquiry from the universities of Indiana, Virginia, Miami and Maryland but no actual scholarship offers. He was determined, though, to play in the American college ranks. Years later, he asserted that “I decided that I couldn’t be as good as I wanted to be if I stayed in Canada. I had to come.” To that end, Hyde-Lay shipped videos and letters to dozens of American universities. No one bit, except for Santa Clara’s Davey.
Davey told Fastbreak that he went to see Nash at the BC provincials after receiving a “homegrown video tape” in the mail. “I was in the gym for about 30 seconds and I was praying no other colleges were there. It doesn’t take a Nobel Prize winner to see he was pretty good. It was just a case of hoping that none of the big names came around.” Davey added that he told Nash “you’ve got to be the worst defensive player I’ve ever seen” during a meeting with the family after the game. “Just the tough mindedness about him as a kid was really kind of refreshing. He’s demanding of himself. He doesn’t like to fail in anything he does. We had another one like him in [Kurt] Rambis. Different position, different guy, different skills and all that, but they’re the two most deranged players I’ve ever been around as far as wanting to see themselves improve. … If you’d asked me back in college if he would ever be MVP of the NBA, I would have told you, ‘you have rocks in your head’. But he’s so diligent about work ethic and getting good at whatever he does.”
As a freshman at Santa Clara in 1993, Nash came off the bench as the Broncos sixth man. He played in 31 games, for an average 24 mpg. He hit 78-184 (.424) from the floor, 49-120 (.408) from the arc and 47-57 (.825) from the line, while garnering 79 boards (2.5 rpg), 54 fouls, 67 assists (2.2 apg), 62 turnovers, 4 blocks (0.1 bpg), 26 steals (0.8 spg) and 252 points, for an 8.1 ppg. He hit 10-13 from beyond the arc in the West Coast Conference postseason tournament, scoring 20 points in the second half to lead Santa Clara into the NCAA tourney, while being selected the conference’s postseason TR MVP. The 15th-seeded Broncos knocked off second-seeded Arizona 64-61 in the western regional with Nash hitting six free throws in final 31 seconds of play, before losing 68-57 in the second round to Temple. Nash was singled out as being responsible for the Arizona upset. The Broncos, coached by Davey, finished 19-12 overall and 9-5 (3rd) in West Coast Conference play.
As a sophomore in 1994, Nash played in 26 games, for an average 29.9 mpg. He hit 122-295 (.414) from the floor, 67/168 (.399) from the arc and 69-83 (.831) from the line, while garnering 65 boards (2.5 rpg), 57 fouls, 95 assists (3.7 apg), 74 turnovers (2.8 tpg), 1 block, 34 steals (1.3 spg) and 380 points, for a 14.6 ppg. He played the off-guard spot, only moving to the point in his junior year. He was described in Bay area papers as a “poor man’s Bobby Hurley.” Santa Clara, coached by Davey, finished the season 13-14 and 6-8 (tied 5th) in the West Coast Conference.
Nash blossomed as a junior, winning the WCC most valuable player award and leading the team to its first regular season title in 25 years. The Broncos finished 12-2 (1st) in conference play and 21-7 overall. Nash won the conference scoring title (20.9 ppg) and finished first in the conference in assists (6.4 apg) as well as three-point shooting (.454). He finished second in the conference in free throw shooting and fourth in steals. Overall, he played in 27 games for an average 22.4 mpg. He hit 164-369 (.444) from the floor, 84-185 (.454) from the arc and 153-174 (.879) from the line, while garnering 102 boards (3.8 rpg), 53 fouls, 174 assists (6.4 apg), 113 turnovers (4.2 tpg), 2 blocks, 48 steals (1.8 spg) and 565 points, for a ppg of 20.9.
Davey noted “we’re not a great team, let’s face it. But Steve brings us to a higher level because he demands so much of himself. The other kids are embarrassed if they don’t do more. We’ve got the greatest leader in America.” Although the Broncos were upset in the opening round of the WCC tourney, they received an NCAA bid but they lost 75-67 to Mississippi State in round one of the west regional. Nash spent the summer in the weight room to add more muscle. Many believed him to be the best point guard playing college ball. He contemplated turning pro but backed off when it became apparent he would not be selected in the first round.
As a senior in 1996, Nash was again selected the most valuable player in the conference. Overall, he played in 29 games, for an average 33.8 mpg. He hit 164-381 (.430) from the floor, 63-183 (.344) from the arc and 101-113 (.894) from the line, while garnering 103 boards (3.6 rpg), 43 fouls, 174 assists (6.0 apg), 103 turnovers (3.6 tpg), 39 steals (1.3 spg) and 492 points, for a 17.0 ppg. The Broncos, coached by Davey, finished 20-9 overall and 10-4 (tied 1st) in the West Coast play. They upset Maryland 91-79 in the first round of the NCAA tourney before being thumped in the second round 76-51 by Kansas. Nash was a first team all-conference selection and led the league in assists and free throw percentage. He was named an honorable mention All-American by both the Associated Press and the United States Basketball Writers Association. He received one vote in AP balloting for national player of the year.
Nash also won the eighth annual NCAA national three-point shootout, topping an eight-man field that included Chris Collins of Duke, Ryan Minor of Oklahoma and Drew Barry of Georgia Tech. “It was just a lot of fun,” Nash said. “And I’m kind of competitive. Once I got there, I just wanted to win.”
Ten years later, Santa Clara made Nash the first student-athlete to have his jersey (#11) retired. Over the course of his Broncos career, Nash played in 113 games for 3,402 minutes, or 30.1 mpg. He hit 528-1,299 (.430) from the field, 263-656 (.401) form the arc and 370-427 (.867) from the line, while garnering 348 boards (3.1 rpg), 510 assists, (4.5 apg), 147 steals, 7 blocks, 352 turnovers, 207 fouls and 1,689 points for a 14.9 ppg.
At the June 26, 1996 NBA draft, Nash was selected by the Phoenix Suns, which drew boos from fans at Phoenix’s America West Arena. “I don’t look like I’m going to be a tremendous basketball player on appearance,” Nash said. “I probably would’ve booed myself too, but I’m going to be a really good player and I’m going to help the team a lot. I have a lot of faith in myself and hopefully they’ll enjoy watching me play. They want to win and I wouldn’t want fans who just sat back and didn’t care, so I’m excited to be in a passionate city.” He told the Edmonton Journal a year later that he made the NBA because “I worked harder than anybody else. Put in more time. I learned more, and probably was a little bit more observant than a lot of players. I tried to pick up a lot of things. But I worked harder than anybody. That’s the simplest way to look at it.”
The seventh Canadian to be chosen in the first round of an NBA draft, the 6-3, 178-pound guard signed a three-year contract worth US$3.1-million. He spent two years toiling in regular obscurity behind point guards Kevin Johnson, Sam Cassell and Jason Kidd.
In his rookie season, Nash averaged 10.5 minutes per game. In those limited minutes, he averaged 3.3 ppg, 2.1 apg, while hitting .423 from the floor, .824 from the line and .418 from the arc. In his only start, against the Vancouver Grizzlies, he notched 17 points, 12 assists and seven boards.
In his second season, 1997-98, Nash improved his numbers to 5.8 ppg, 1.3 apg, while hitting .415 (13th in the league) from the arc and .860 from the line. But he capitalized on a friendship he developed at Santa Clara with Donnie Nelson, then an assistant coach in the NBA. Nelson convinced his father, Don Nelson, coach and general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, to acquire Nash on June 24/98 for Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells, the draft rights to Pat Garrity and a first round 1999 draft pick.
Nash quickly became a starter for the Mavericks and was appointed team co-captain in his first year with Dallas (1998-99), signing a six-year contract extension worth $36-million (U.S.). In the lockout shortened 1998-99 campaign, he started 40 games, missing the final 10 games of the season with lower back strain. Nash averaged 7.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 5.5 apg. Dallas finished 20-30, missing the playoffs.
A year later in 1999-00, Nash missed 25 games with an ankle tendon strain but returned to average 8.6 ppg and 4.9 apg. The Mavericks finished 40-42, missing the playoffs.
The Suns were vastly improved in 2000-01, making the playoffs for the first time in a decade as Nash began to click with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, or what came to be known as the “Big Three.” Nash averaged 15.6 ppg and 7.3 apg, finishing 11th in league standings in assists and fourth in free throw shooting (.895). The Suns lost in the Western semis 4g-2 to the San Antonio Spurs. Nash missed 10 games during the season because of a sore left hamstring.
Nash’s breakout season occurred in 2001-02 when he was named a third-team NBA all-star and became the first Canadian to be chosen the NBA all-star game. He averaged 17.9 ppg and 7.7 apg. He finished 9th in the league in assists per game, fifth in free throw percentage (.887) and fifth in three-point field goal percentage (.455). He was 14th in the league in voting for player of the year. The Mavericks again made the playoffs, losing 4g-1 in the Western semis to the Sacramento Kings. In May 2002, Nash made the first of what turned out to be many appearances on the David Letterman show.
In 2002-03, Nash again earned third-team All-NBA honours, was again selected to the all-star game and led the Mavericks to the Western finals, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs 4g-2. Nash averaged 17.7 ppg and 7.3 apg. He finished 8th in league in assists, third in free throw percentage (.909) and 6th in three-point field goal percentage (.413). He finished 11th in league voting for player of the year.
In December 2002, Nash became the first basketball player to win the Lionel Connacher Award as Canada’s male athlete of the year, earning 23 of 111 first-place votes. “I’m sure I never really envisioned a basketball player being athlete of the year over a hockey player, that’s for sure,” Nash told Canadian Press. “Steve is first class on the court and off,” Dallas owner Mark Cuban said. “He is emblematic of everything that is good in sports. He works hard, is professional, he cares about those around him and, whenever he can, he finds a way to help those less fortunate than himself. He has remained amazingly humble through all the accolades, and more than everything else, is someone I truly consider a friend.”
At the 2003 all-star game in Texas, Nash used the event as backdrop to speak out against the war in Iraq. He wore a custom-made T-Shirt saying “No war, shoot for peace” and was assailed by sports commentators and sportswriters, as well as NBA players alike, who felt all Americans should support the troops.
But Nash told an NBA-sanctioned press conference that “for us to go to this depleted country and to go to war with them is a horrible thing to do. Being a humanitarian, I think that war is wrong in 99.9 per cent of all cases. I think it has much more to do with oil or some sort of distraction, because I don’t feel as though we should be worrying about Iraq.”
For weeks, rival fans shouted “communist” or “go back to Canada” during games. Nash was nonplussed. “I get a few comments like ‘Why are you living in America?’,” he told reporters. “America is a wonderful country. But I wanted the world and America to make an informed decision – one that saves lives and is in the best interests of the betterment of our planet rather than to its detriment.”
In 2003-04, Nash averaged a career high 8.8 apg and a career high .916 from the line but remarkably, wasn’t selected to the all-star game or an NBA all-star. He finished third in the league in assists per game and second in the league in free throw percentage, and 11th in three-point field goal percentage (.405). He was named to NBA All-Interview First Team for his communication skills. The Mavericks made the playoffs, losing 4g-1 in the opening round to the Sacramento Kings.
The Mavericks offered contract extensions to Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley at the start of the season, but not to Nash, prompting him to opt out of his contract and become a free agent after the 2003-04 season. Dallas owner Mark Cuban indifferently offered him a US$45 million/five-year contract, confidently expecting Nash to sign. Said Cuban to reporters: “I think Steve probably expected to come back, we expected him to come back, and then Phoenix made him a crazy offer, and that’s their choice.”
On July 14, 2004, Nash inked US$45-million, five-year free agent deal with the Phoenix Suns, with a “partial guarantee” for a sixth year. Cuban refused to match the offer. Nash’s agent Bill Duffy told reporters “I think it was his intention to stay with the Mavericks. Everything just turned around so quickly. Phoenix came up to the plate and put together a very significant offer and we accepted it. The numbers were significant, but it was also the years. It was a five-year deal and that is very significant for someone Steve’s age.” After the season, in October, Nash and long-time girlfriend Alejandra Amarilla become parents of twin daughters Lola and Bella. Nash notes that becoming a parent tops being an all-star any day. “It’s not changed my perspective on the game,” Nash told the Globe & Mail. “But it gives my life more meaning. Life is more fun. Life means more now.”
In 2004-05, Nash becomes just the third point guard, after Bob Cousy and Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, and the lowest-draft player ever, to be chosen the league’s player of the year, after leading the league with an 11.5 apg, the highest assist average since John Stockton in 1994-95, while shooting .431 from the arc (6th in the league), .887 from the line (1st in the league) and .502 from the floor (20th in the league). He was named a first-team NBA all-star and was selected to the all-star game for the third time, winning the PlayStation Skills Challenge on all-star weekend. Nash joined Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria as the only international player to have won the league’s MVP award. Nash helped the Suns improve their record from 29-53 to a league best 62-20. The Suns averaged a league-high 110.9 ppg and coach Mike D’Antoni implemented a high-octane, up-tempo style of play that has fans raving. D’Antoni also brought in athletic run-and-gunners, including Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudamire and Joe Johnson, who were a perfect fit with Nash’s free-flowing game. Nash led the Suns past the Memphis Grizzlies in four straight in the opening round of the playoffs. They defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4g-2 in the second round, before losing 4g-1 to the eventual NBA champ San Antonio Spurs in the Western division finals. During the playoffs, Nash averaged 23.9 ppg and 11.3 apg.
After becoming the first Canadian to be named the NBA’s MVP on May 8, 2005, Nash said “this is beyond my wildest dreams. … I guess it’s an incredible oddity in many ways. My neighbourhood didn’t have any NBA players. I was offered one scholarship. Obviously, hockey is the first, second and third story in our country so to be here is very unlikely. But at the same time I think it makes it a great accomplishment for me to kind of cherish and there was a lot more obstacles just to get to be a professional basketball player. To be here is definitely unforeseen.” NBA legend Magic Johnson noted in a league press conference that “Dallas is probably kicking themselves right now for the fact they didn’t sign him back.” After the season, Nash and Amarilla were married.
In 2005-06, Nash is the overwhelming choice as the NBA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, becoming just the ninth player in the history of the league to garner the laurels in back-to-back campaigns. Nash garnered 924 (and 57 of 125 first-place votes) points over runner-up LeBron James of Cleveland (688 points and 16 first-place votes). He averaged 18.8 ppg, 35.5 mpg and 4.2 rpg on the season. His 10.5 apg led the league as he helped six teammates achieve career highs in scoring average. He became just the fourth player in league history to shoot at least .500 from the field, .400 from the arc and .900 from the line on the season. His .921 free throw percentage also led the league. He hit .512 from the field and .439 from the arc, finishing 6th in league standings. He was again selected to the all-star game and was a first-team NBA all-star.
“I have to admit, it’s a little bit uncomfortable to be singled out amongst all these great players two years in a row,” Nash told a press conference in Phoenix. “I have to pinch myself. I couldn’t believe it last year, and to do it again is even more difficult to understand. But I’m not going to give it back. … It’s shocking. It was shocking last year. It’s incredible to be back. At the start of the season, I truly believed there would be chance in the world that I’d be back here again. After a month or two and people start bringing it up again and asking you about it every day, it strangely becomes a possibility. … Part of me just tries to find the comedy in it. It’s thrilling. It’s comedic and it’s unbelievable. I just love playing and I love working at it, trying to get better at challenging myself. I’m extremely honoured to be recognized. I’ve come along way, and I’ve enjoyed it.” Asked about the possibility of a three-peat, Nash replied: “I can’t win whatever I say. I’ll leave it at no.” The news of Nash’s win leaked out shortly before the Suns playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers. Some believed the award should have gone to Laker Kobe Bryant, the NBA’s leading scorer. The Lakers took a 3-1 series lead but Nash took over, helping the Suns win game 5 at home, game 6 in overtime in Los Angeles (as Nash scored 32 and dished 13 assists) and then game 7 in Phoenix in a rout to become just the 8th team in NBA history to take a series after rallying from a 3-1 deficit. In a June 2006 appearance on the David Letterman Show, Mavericks own Mark Cuban mused “Steve’s a great guy and I love him to death, but why couldn’t he play like an MVP for us?”
Canadian national team coach Leo Rautins forecast that Nash’s back-to-back MVP awards would have an enormous impact on youngsters, prompting many to turn to the sport. Canada Basketball executive-director Fred Nykamp added that “his example is so powerful. He’s a hero. He’s hall of fame bound and whenever we do any kind of clinics or anything with kids, he’s always top of mind. He’s the first person everyone wants to ask questions about.” Nash again led the Suns to a regular season division title, although Amare Stoudamire suffered a knee injury. The Suns finished 54-28, with seven players averaging double figures. Nash was voted a starter to the NBA all-star game and led the league in assists (10.5) and free throw percentage (.921). In the opening round of the playoffs, the Suns overcome a 3g-1 deficit and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the opening round. They then defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 4g-3 before losing 4g-2 to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western conference finals.
In December, 2005, Nash wins the Lou Marsh Trophy as athlete of the year and again won the Conacher, with one of the largest margins in the award’s history. “It’s a huge compliment to be chosen by numerous people for this award,” Nash told Canadian Press. “I feel in some ways it’s awkward to be singled out, just because there are so many Canadians doing so many terrific and special things in the world of sport. I wish that everyone could share it. But it’s very humbling and exciting to be mentioned.”
On May 8/06, Time Magazine names him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley wrote in the citation: “I’ve been all over the world, and I always think people won’t know who I am. They do. The way basketball has been embraced globally always amazes me. And I’m glad the world has got a chance to learn from a guy like Steve Nash. What has he taught us? It pays to be selfless. You can be content just to make the players around you better. There are too many scoring point guards in the NBA today, and the game has suffered. People think that in order to be a great player, you have to lead the league in scoring. Forget that — despite averaging only 15.5 points a game, fourth best on his team, Nash was the MVP of the NBA last season, the first Canadian ever to win that honor. He deserved it: his 11.5 assists per game clinched it for him. And he’s doing an even better job this season. To top it off, Nash, 32, is just a nice guy. He recently used endorsement money to help pay for a new pediatric cardiology ward in a Paraguayan hospital. That’s beyond admirable. Over the past few years, his popularity has exploded. His ego could have swelled — everyone else’s does. But he still just wants to pass the ball. I’m a lucky guy to be living in Phoenix. The sun. The golf. And I get to watch Nash act like a magician on the court. Can’t top that. And who knows? Maybe he’ll inspire a whole new generation of kids to pass out of double teams the way he does. Like Nash, maybe they’ll be selfless off the court too. That would be even better.”
In 2006-07, Nash was chosen as a unanimous first-team NBA all-star for the third consecutive campaign after averaging a career-high 11.6 apg and 18.6 ppg, the first player since Magic Johnson to achieve such heights. He finished as runner-up in player of the year voting, getting 44 first place votes to 83 for ex-teammate Dirk Nowitzki. He again led the league in assists per game, finished 2nd in three-point field goal shooting (.455), 5th in free throw shooting (.899), while leading all NBA guards in field goal percentage (.532). He was again chosen to the all-star game. He was the only NBA player ranked in the top 25 in scoring, field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage. The Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 4g-1 in the opening round of the playoffs. In the second round, San Antonio Spurs forward Robert Horry sent Nash flying into the scorer’s table with a fierce body check in the final minutes of the Suns win in the fourth game of their Western semi-final playoffs series. Horry was suspended for two games, but the Suns Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw were also suspended one game apiece for leaving the bench to defend Nash. The undermanned Suns subsequently lost game five at home and then the series 4g-2. In the playoffs, he notched 23 assists in one game against the Lakers on April 29, becoming just the third NBA playe,r along with Magic Johnson and John Stockton, to do so. Nash was also awarded the NBA’s Walter J. Kennedy Citizenship Award for exemplary community service.
In 2007-08, Nash was named to the NBA all-star second-team and earned his sixth trip to the mid-season extravaganza. He averaged 16.9 ppg and 11.1 apg, become the first player in the NBA since Magic Johnson to to not lead the league in assists, despite dishing more than 11 per game (finishing 2nd). He finished 5th in the league in free throw percentage (.906) and 2nd in three-point field goal percentage (.470). He finished 9th in voting for NBA player of the year. In averaging a double-double for the fourth consecutive campaign, Nash joined Dwight Howard as one of only two players in NBA history to accomplish the task. The Suns finished 55-26 and then lost 3g-2 to the San Antonio Spurs in the opening round of the playoffs. Observers accused him of “elimination game jitters” as he coughed up the ball twice in the final two minutes of the decisive fifth match.
In December 2007, Nash was named a recipient of the Order of Canada for his athletic accomplishments and humanitarian efforts through the Steve Nash Foundation. “None of my friends got it when I was growing up, so I didn’t know much about it,” Nash told NBA.com. “I’m just blown away and just extremely excited. It’s the highest honor in our country, and it’s just incredible to be recognized in that way. That puts me in some incredible company.”
In 2008-09, Nash and the Suns struggled with new coach Terry Porter’s desire for a more structured, traditional offence. In mid-season, with the Suns holding a 29-28 record, Porter was replaced by Alvin Gentry but it made little difference and they failed to make the playoffs. Nash became the first player in NBA history to shoot 50 percent from the field (50%), 40 percent from three-point range (44%) and 90 percent from the free-throw line (93%) in three different seasons. Nash finished 3rd in the league in assists per game (9.7), third in free-throw percentage (.933) and ninth in three-point field-goal percentage (.439). In the postseason playoffs, Nash becomes the NBA Finals correspondent for the David Letterman Show.
In 2009-10, Nash was chosen an NBA second team all-star, as well as a Western division starter in the all-star game. He again won the skills challenge at the all-star game. After signing a contract extension at the start of the season, Nash averaged 11.0 assists in 32.8 mpg, leading the league for the fifth time, and his playmaking allowed the Suns to lead the league in scoring for the fifth consecutive year. He was eighth in voting for league MVP. He also averaged 16.5 ppg, led the league in free throw shooting with a .938 percentage, and was 10th in three-point field-goal percentage (.426) as the Suns snapped back from a poor season, opening the campaign with an 8-1 record, finishing with a 54-28 record and then defeating the Portland Trailblazers 4g-2 in the opening round of the playoffs. Phoenix then swept the San Antonio Spurs in four straight before losing 4g-2 to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western division finals.
In 2010, Nash became the first NBA player in Olympic history to carry the torch in the opening ceremony and to participate in the procedure to light the Olympic cauldron.
In 2010-11, at the age of 35, Nash led the NBA in assists (11.4) for the second straight season, while becoming just the third player in league history to lead it in assists in five different campaigns. Nash also led the Suns in scoring with a 14.7 ppg, and was third in the league in free-throw percentage (.912). The Suns finished 40-42, missing the playoffs. In September of 2010, Nash left his wife of five years one day after she gives birth, amidst rumours that she was allegedly having an affair with Suns teammate Jason Richardson, who was promptly traded. Nash soon filed for divorce, forking over US$5 million in a settlement. Three years later, she moved to California and the couple became embroiled in a nasty legal dispute over child support (the states have differing laws regarding child custody). It was settled out of court.
In 2011-12, Nash again led the league in total assists (664) and was second in league in assists per game (10.7), fourth in the league in free throw percentage (.894), and 9th in voting for NBA player of the year. He was named to the all-star game for the eighth time. He registered 28 double-doubles. He missed four games because of quad contusions. The Suns finished 33-33, missing the playoffs. After the season, Nash became a free agent. The Toronto Raptors asserted that they made him a $36-million three-year offer, but instead he inked a US$27.9-million/three year offer (with a 15% trade kicker) with the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal in which the Suns acquired a 2013 first round draft pick, a 2013 second round draft pick, a 2014 second round draft pick and a 2015 first round draft pick. In a statement released by agent Bill Duffy, Nash said that he asked the Suns to pursue a deal with Los Angeles “because it is very important to me to stay near my children and family,” who live in Phoenix. “They were very apprehensive and didn’t want to do it. Fortunately for me, they reconsidered. They saw that they were able to get assets for their team that will make them better, assets they would not have otherwise had, and it made sense for them to do a deal that helps their team get better.”
In 2012-13, his first with the Lakers, Nash missed 32 games because of injury, including 24 with a non-displaced fracture of his left leg and eight games because of a strained right hamstring. He appeared in 50 games, averaging 12.7 ppg and 6.7 apg. The Lakers finished 45-37 before being swept four straight by the San Antonio Spurs in the opening round of the playoffs. Nash appeared in just two of the playoff games because of the hamstring injury.
In 2013-14, the Lakers finished 27-55, failing to make the playoffs. Nash, who suffers from a chronic back condition called spondylolisthesis, which causes muscle tightness and forces him to lie on his back on the sidelines rather than sit on the bench. He appeared in 15 games, averaging 14.3 ppg.
In July, while in Slovenia as general manager of the Canadian senior men’s team, the 40-year-old Nash, the oldest player in the NBA, said “I think this is my last season. But I still love to play, practice and work on my game. I’m going to spend hopefully many many years living this life without basketball. It’ll be nice to play one more year.”
Asked to what he attributed his tremendous success in the NBA, Nash told the Globe & Mail “maybe partly delusional. I always thought that if you get a little better every day, why is there a ceiling? So I always just kept at it every single day. I didn’t take any days off and stuck with the plan and a vision. A lot of days I didn’t want to do it. But I knew if I was going to realize this little project, I’d have to stick with it.”
Nash officially retired on March 21 2015.
“I’m retiring,” Nash wrote. “I heard someone once say there comes a day when they tell us all that we can’t play anymore. We’re not good enough. Surplus to requirements. Too slow, maybe. When you’re a teenager with outsized dreams and a growing obsession, and someone tells you this ain’t gonna last forever, it’s scary. I never forgot it.
So what did I do? Stayed obsessed. Set goals. Worked. Dreamed. Schemed. Pushed myself beyond what was normal or expected. I looked at my hero, Isiah Thomas, and thought to myself, “OK, I’m nowhere near the player he is but if I get better every day for 5 or 10 years, why can’t I be as good as him?”
The greatest gift has been to be completely immersed in my passion and striving for something I loved so much — visualizing a ladder, climbing up to my heroes. The obsession became my best friend. I talked to her, cherished her, fought with her and got knocked on my ass by her.
And that is what I’m most thankful for in my career. In my entire life, in some ways. Obviously, I value my kids and my family more than the game, but in some ways having this friend — this ever-present pursuit — has made me who I am, taught me and tested me, and given me a mission that feels irreplaceable. I am so thankful. I’ve learned so many invaluable lessons about myself and about life. And of course I still have so much to learn. Another incredible gift.
There are so many people who had a profound impact on me and who share in my successes. I can’t name them all, but I’d like recognize some.
Don Nelson insisted that I score. I always wanted to pass but he said, “It’s goddamn selfish when you don’t shoot.” Or, “If you’re a dominant fucking player — dominate!” He insisted that I be aggressive. That growth was a turning point in my career.
Mike D’Antoni changed the game of basketball. There’s not many people you can say that about. No wonder I had my best years playing for him. His intelligence guided him to never over-coach, complicate or hide behind the game’s traditions. He deserves a championship.
When I dribbled by our bench as a rookie on the Suns, Danny Ainge would say, “Take him!” with intensity and contempt in his voice. That was a huge vote of confidence for a rookie.
I remember when Dirk and I were nobodies. He used to say over dinner sometimes, “How are us two stiffs gonna make it in this league?” Somehow we made something of ourselves. After all the wins and all the great times we’ve had around the world together, what really means the most to me are the late nights early in our careers when we’d go back to the Landry Center in Dallas, to play a few more games of HORSE and one-on-one. Dirk and the great city of Dallas got their championship, and I couldn’t be happier for them.
Michael Finley was twice an All-Star in his prime, when Dirk and I were young guys on the Mavs. Michael never played in another All-Star Game, but our team went from last place to the Conference Finals under his watch. Do you know how rare that unselfishness is in our game? A true friend and teammate.
I looked up to Jay Triano, a star guard on the Canadian national team, as a kid. He recruited me in high school and coached me in the Sydney Olympics. His love for the game and competitive nature was always infectious. I never had more fun playing for anyone. Representing Canada in the Olympics was the best experience of my career, and he got us there.
Rick Celebrini had as big an impact on my career as anyone. Physiotherapist, sounding board, accomplice, coach, big brother. World class.
Alvin Gentry coached the heck out of our teams. Underrated and sharp, he found the elusive line between coach, friend and disciplinarian. It was a pleasure to play for him.
My sister is amazing. She has all the class and humanity you could ever dream for in a sibling. Her support is endless.
My brother and I battled it out in every sport, in any space, at any time. We had amazing memories growing up and emulating our heroes in every sport, while we tried to one-up each other in every game possible. You’ll never be as good an athlete as me — but you were so close, bud.
My mom supported me endlessly. She encouraged me and I could do no wrong when it came to sports. She is tough as nails and I think she rubbed off on me a lot. Not everyone has a mom like mine and I hope she never feels like I’ve taken her for granted.
My dad was an athlete who played semi-pro soccer. In the backyard or after games as a kid, he always applauded creative play. He always appreciated the unselfish. He never said, “Wow, three goals!” Instead he said, “Brilliant vision to see your teammate coming in behind the play,” or, “So unselfish to pass when you could’ve shot. That makes me proud.” I know that’s not normal and I’m grateful.
Jenny Miller has run my foundation for over 10 years, and she has never once left me or our mission exposed along the way. We’re childhood friends and her immense talent matches the trust I have in her.
My junior high coaches, Lanny and Sheff, saw this ball of energy and passion for the game in me, and went way out of their way to foster that passion while reining me in a little. They started something.
Ian Hyde-Lay, my high school coach, is as good a coach as I’ve ever played for. He taught me discipline, attention to detail and preparation. It still amazes me when he sends me an email about a game 20 years after high school saying I missed a box out with 8 min left in the 4th against Memphis. When I would re-watch the 4th quarter later, he was right.
Details.
Ken Shields gave me a chance to practice with the Canadian national team when I was 16 years old because he saw something in me. Four years later, I was his starting point guard in the World Championships. I owe him.
I didn’t know at first, but my Santa Clara coach, Dick Davey, pushed me so hard only because he thought I had it in me. He made me mentally strong. That toughness allowed me to keep overcoming and taught me to never give in.
Bill Duffy has been my agent the entire way. My big brother. He always had my back.
What do they say about men with big hands? They have quick feet? A’mare Stoudemire had both — and he made me look like an artist at times. Thanks, big man.
It will always hurt that Phoenix Suns fans didn’t get the championship they deserved during our run. Yes, we had some bad luck but I always look back at it and think, I could’ve made one more shot, or not forced a turnover, or made a better pass. But I don’t regret anything. The arena was always sold out and rocking. It was the time of my life. Thanks, Phoenix.
When people ask me if I have a favorite game or play or moment on the court that stands out the most, I can’t answer them. It all blends into one. What comes to mind are all the great teammates I’ve played with and the friends I’ve made through the years. Guys like Al Whitley, Chris Isherwood, Jason Sedlock, Drew Zurek, Rowan Barrett, Andrew Mavis, Rex Chapman, Leandro Barbosa, Raja Bell, Grant Hill and Rob Sacre. Nothing beats the times we’ve had through the years and that’s what I’ll remember most.
The Phoenix Suns training staff (or Training Room Mafia) always called us on our BS. They kept me on the court and kept me sane. Man, we had some damn good times.
When I signed with the Lakers, I had big dreams of lifting the fans up and lighting this city on fire. I turned down more lucrative offers to come to L.A. because I wanted to be in the “fire,” and play for high risk and high reward in my last NBA chapter. In my second game here, I broke my leg and nothing was the same.
Last spring, when I returned to the court, I was given a standing ovation at Staples Center. It was a dark time in my career and that gesture will be one of my best memories. There’s been a lot of negativity online, but in my nearly three years in L.A., I’ve never met anyone who didn’t show me anything but love and support for my efforts. There’s a lot of class in Lakerland, and the organization and staff have given me unwavering support.
Fans around the world have shown me so much appreciation throughout the years, it’s unbelievable. Going out to shoot hour after hour, day after day as a kid, I never sought or dreamed of the amount of support and love people have shown. It’s been a huge source of motivation and inspiration. Thank you eternally.
My girlfriend, Brittany, has stuck by me tirelessly through the hardest times in my life. I know I drove her crazy internalizing everything as she lost me to my battles. Without her love things would still be pretty dark.
I will likely never play basketball again. It’s bittersweet. I already miss the game deeply, but I’m also really excited to learn to do something else. This letter is for anyone who’s taken note of my career. At the heart of this letter, I’m speaking to kids everywhere who have no idea what the future holds or how to take charge of their place in it. When I think of my career, I can’t help but think of the kid with his ball, falling in love. That’s still what I identify with and did so throughout my entire story.
Lastly, Lola, Bella and Matteo, you’re the center of my universe. All my focus and energy is here for you guys and moving forward, I couldn’t think of anything more exciting or rewarding.”
Nash’s international performance was no less glittering than his pro career. (For game by game details, see files on Worlds, Olympics and FISU). He appeared in a Canadian uniform in nine competitions, commencing in 1993.
His first appearance came in 1993, at the FIBA Americas Qualifier for men under aged 22 in Argentina from June 15-22, at which Canada finished 4th.
A month later, Nash suited up for Canada at the 1993 World University Games, at which Canada won a silver medal, prompting him to note that “too many kids read too many American magazines. We’ve got to realize we can be this good. It’s all in how much you put in. If you work at it, you can excel.”
In 1994, Nash toiled for the Canadian senior men’s team that finished 7th at the world championships in Toronto.
In 1995, he played for the senior’s men team that finished 4th at the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Tucuman, Argentina.
In 1997, Nash led Canada to a World championship berth at the Tournament of Americas World Qualifier in Montevideo, Uruguay, noting at the time that he was sick of Canada’s international failures. “It would have almost been time to pack it in if we hadn’t won. How many times would it have been that we got close and couldn’t get the job done. After Saturday’s game (a loss to Argentina), I didn’t know what was going on. It sure didn’t feel good. I just tried to push the ball up the floor and force the issue down their throats. I think I only took one three-pointer. All my attempts were at the basket because we didn’t think they could stop us if we attacked all the time.”
Nash was unable to play for Canada at the 1998 World Championships in Athens because of a foot injury (diagnosed alternately as inflamed tissue or plantar fasciitis. Without him in the line-up, Canada finished 12th.
In 1999, Nash toiled for a Canadian squad the Tournament of the Americas Olympic qualifier in San Juan, Puerto Rico, finishing 2nd.
At the 2000 Olympics, Canada finished 7th. Shortly before the Games started, Nash gave Triano cheques for $3,000 to pass along to each of his teammates to enjoy Sydney. “He didn’t want anybody to know he was doing it,” said teammate Pete Guarasci. “But he knew that not everybody made the money he did, and that Olympic summer, we committed four, five months of our time, and a lot of the guys were struggling to get by.” Nash flew economy with his teammates and shared a room, unlike the superstars who toiled for America.
At the 2001 World qualifiers in Nequen, Argentina, Nash led Canada to a bronze medal finish, hitting six free throws in the final 23 seconds of play in a victory over Puerto Rico.
Shortly before the 2002 worlds in Indianapolis, at which Canada finished 13th, Nash announced that he would not complete because he need a rest for the coming NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks. Days earlier, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had complained that insurance costs to cover Nash’s play in the world championships were exorbitant. Nash said “I have decided not to play this summer. I am not mentally or physically ready to play this summer. It’s a hard decision to leave my team and not represent my country at the world championships. However, in the best interest of my career and playing in the Olympics, playing this summer could seriously jeopardize my availability.”
Nash’s last appearance in a Canadian uniform was at the 2003 Tournament of the Americas in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at which Canada finished 4th, failing to qualify for Athens, though Nash was selected as the tournament MVP.
On October 19, 2004, Jay Triano was fired as coach of the national team, with Basketball Canada asserting that the then-Toronto Raptors assistant could not commit adequate time to the program. The decision drew the ire of Nash, who said he was no longer sure he could play for the national team. He never again suited up for Canada.
On May 8, 2012, Nash was appointed the unpaid general manager of Canada Basketball. Nash said the opportunity to help what might be the most talented group of young players the country has ever produced was one he couldn’t pass up. “It really is a beautiful thing to see our kids and the game grow and the talent continue to reach new heights, it’s amazing. I have a lot of excitement generated for the young kids in this country, many of which are making a name for themselves already, and many of which are coming up behind them. … This program has meant so much to me. I owe a lot of my development to the program and feel that the success I’ve had in my career is in large part due to my time with the national team.” Three months later, Nash named Jay Triano as coach of the national team.
Off the court, Nash is reknowned as a philanthropist, the primary reason for which he received his Order of Canada.
In 2001, he established the Steve Nash Foundation, which is dedicated to assisting underprivileged children in the areas of health, recreation, personal development and education. It has helped equip a neonatal post-operative intensive care ward in Paraguay and build an all-access children’s basketball centre in Toronto.
Between April 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005, the Foundation raised US$428,000, including $300,000 garnered at the inaugural Steve Nash Charity Classic in Toronto, a summer all-star game of NBA players. Proceeds from the classic were directed to a youth basketball centre in Toronto. The event typified Nash. NBA centre Jamaal Magliore, who for years refused to toil for the Canadian national team in international competitions, complained that Nash was invading his “turf” by agreeing to participate in the Toronto event, which was, de facto, a replacement for an all-star game that ex-Toronto Raptor Vince Carter had held each summer. Nash handled Magliore’s astonishing claims with total aplomb, telling reporters at the event’s tip-off press conference that the Charlotte Hornets all-star was the “first person I invited to the game, and the invite still stands. He can show up at halftime, if that’s all he can make, and we’ll put him out there. I root for Jamaal. I want Jamaal to be a better and better player and huger and bigger influence in this country.” Moreover, the cause was worthy, Nash said. “No matter how much I’ve done for charity, you can still sit around and think: ‘what should I do? How should I help out?’ If you waste all that time thinking about what you may or may not do, I think it gets in the way of actually doing things and living life and making relationships and creative positive energy for people. So when the opportunity arose, it was: ‘why say no?’ Why not have a go at it? And regardless of how it turns out, at least you tried.” Needless to say, Magliore did not appear.
The event also included a clinic put on by the national team, as well as Nash receiving Basketball Canada’s Dr. James Naismith Award of Excellence. Similar Classics were held in Vancouver in 2006 and 2007. “For me, it is a source of pride to get that many people together,” Nash told the Toronto Globe & Mail. “It’s not a PR thing. It’s about creating a difference in the community. You can do that by raising money and by raising awareness. For our foundation to be able to bright together that many people and exchange ideas and their passion for helping in their community is amazing.”
The Foundation, run by sister Joann and high school friend Jenny Miller, focuses its efforts on communities in Arizona and British Columbia. It received the Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy in 2008. Among its activities has been the renovation of Strathcona Community Centre kitchen that, on a daily basis, feeds up to 250 children in eastside Vancouver. The Centre also provides life skills and pre-employment training to youths.
Nash’s charitable activities have also extended abroad, including participation in a September 2007 exhibition game with the Chinese national team that raised $2.5 million for Chinese children in need, as well as involvement with a charitable organization that raised funds for children in war-torn Uganda.
“If my career has somehow inspired or gained interest in kids across the country, that would be unbelievable to have that sort of impact,” Nash told Canadian Press after winning his second Conacher as Canadian athlete of the year. “I think a lot of it is intangible, so I really just try to keep going, and keep trying to improve and enjoy this opportunity I have – I know it won’t last forever. I’m just trying to make the most of it and have fun with my teammates, and hopefully a byproduct of that will be setting a good example and gaining interest amongst the youth in Canada.”
James Naismith would be proud.