Steve Nash
From Hoopedia
Steven John Nash, (born February 7, 1974) is a Canadian professional basketball player. He currently plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He won back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player Awards in 2005 and 2006.
Nash had an outstanding high school basketball career, but garnered no attention from US College recruiters as he was based in Canada. He was eventually picked up by Santa Clara University head coach Dick Davey, and he began his NBA career with the Phoenix Suns not long after, but his impact in the two years of his first stint was minimal. He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998, and by his third season with the Mavericks, he had established himself as one of the top point guards in the league. In 2001, he was voted into his first NBA All-Star game and earned his first All-NBA selection. Together with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash brought the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals the following season, which was the best achievement in the Mavericks' franchise history.
Nash became a free agent after the 2003-04 NBA season and signed for the Phoenix Suns. He was instrumental in dramatically transforming the fortunes of the Suns, leading them to an NBA-best 62-20 win-loss record as well as into the Western Conference Finals. For his efforts, he was named the league MVP and he repeated this feat in the 2005-06 NBA season. Now into his third season with the Suns, Nash continues to form the pivot of one of the league's most potent offensive teams.
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Early Life
Steve Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. His parents relocated to Canada, settling in Victoria, British Columbia, before he was two years old because they did not want to raise their children in an environment of apartheid.
His father John was a professional football (soccer) player in South Africa, while mother Jean was a member of the English national netball team. His brother Martin has made 30 appearances for the Canadian national soccer team. His sister Joann was the captain of the University of Victoria women's soccer team for three years. Nash attended St. Michael's University School, a private boarding school in Victoria, and was on the school basketball team. Nash had decided to focus on basketball in his early teens, but still played soccer through high school, and was named British Columbia player of the year in soccer as well as basketball in his senior year. Since his father is a native of Tottenham, Nash grew up rooting for Tottenham Hotspur and even trained with Spurs in North London as a teenager. Soccer continues to be an important part of Nash's life. In fact, when Dirk Nowitzki arrived in the NBA from Germany, he and Nash became close friends, in part because they enjoyed watching soccer together. In addition to soccer, Nash excelled at ice hockey as a child.
Nash played high school basketball for Mount Douglas Secondary School and St. Michaels University School along with his younger brother Martin. In his senior season, he averaged nearly a triple-double per game—more than 21 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds—led his team to the British Columbia AAA provincial championship title, and was named the province's player of the year. However, because of the limited attention afforded to the Canadian high school basketball circuit, Nash went completely unrecruited by the U.S. NCAA schools. His coach, Ian Hyde-Lay, sent letters of inquiry and highlight reels on Nash's behalf to over 30 American universities, to no avail.
College
Acting on a tip, Santa Clara University head coach Dick Davey was intrigued enough to request video footage of the young guard twice before finally making the trip up from Northern California to visit the recruit in person. After watching Nash dominate a game, Davey recalled later, "I was nervous as hell just hoping that no one else would see him. It didn't take a Nobel Prize winner to figure out this guy's pretty good. It was just a case of hoping that none of the big names came around." Nash was awarded a scholarship by Santa Clara for the 1992-93 season. As a freshman, he helped lead the Broncos to West Coast Conference title and an upset win over No. 2 seeded Arizona Wildcats in the first round of the 1993 NCAA Division I Men's Tournament.
NBA Career
First Stint in Phoenix
Nash was selected 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft. Upon hearing the draft announcement, Suns fans booed in disapproval of the relatively unknown player. Despite his impressive college accomplishments, he had not played in one of the major college conferences. During his first two seasons in the NBA, he played a supporting role behind NBA star point guards Jason Kidd and Kevin Johnson.
Dallas
Nash had met and befriended Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Donnie Nelson while he was at Santa Clara and Nelson worked for the nearby Golden State Warriors. He agreed to select Nash with the 15th pick. After moving to Dallas, Nelson was able to convince his father, Don Nelson, who was then the Mavericks coach and GM, to acquire Nash. On Draft Day, June 25, 1998, Nash was traded from the Suns to the Mavericks in exchange for Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells, the draft rights to Pat Garrity, and a first-round draft pick which was later used to select Shawn Marion but went back to Phoenix in 2004.
During Nash's first year in Dallas, the lockout-shortened 1998-99 NBA season, he notched the starting spot and averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. He missed the last ten games of the season due to a lower back injury.
In the 1999-2000 season, the team's prospects improved considerably. Nash missed 25 mid-season games due to an ankle injury, but he came back to notch 6 double-doubles in the last month of play. He finished the season with averages of 8.6 points and 4.9 assists per game. More importantly for the team, second-year teammate and friend Dirk Nowitzki was blossoming into a superstar, veteran Michael Finley was having an All-Star-caliber year, and the team's new owner, billionaire Mark Cuban, was bringing new energy and excitement to the franchise. Nash now had a supportive environment in which he could thrive.
In 2000-01, Nash averaged 15.6 points and 7.3 assists per game in a breakout season. With Nash directing the offense, Nowitzki and Finley playing at their best, and new acquisition, All-Star Juwan Howard, complementing the high-scoring trio, the Mavericks earned a playoff berth for the first time in more than a decade. Dallas lost in the second round, but it marked the beginning of a memorable title run for Nash and the Mavericks.
In the 2001-02 season, Nash posted career-highs of 17.9 PPG and 7.7 APG and earned a spot in the NBA All-Star Game and on the All-NBA Third Team. He was now an all-star, increasingly appearing in television commercials and, with Finley and Nowitzki, part of the Dallas Mavericks "Big Three." Dallas earned another trip to the playoffs and again lost in the second round to the Sacramento Kings four games to one.
Nash closely replicated his previous season's performance in 2002-03, averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 assists per game, again earning All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honors. Nowitzki and Nash led the Mavericks from an incredible 14-game winning streak to open the season all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs four games to two. It was only the second Conference Final appearance in franchise history.
The 2003-04 season saw a drop-off in Nash's scoring contributions and he was left off the All-Star and All-NBA team rosters. Despite this, he achieved new career highs in assists per game (8.8) and free throw accuracy (91.6%). Dallas suffered defeat in the first round of 2004 the playoffs to the Sacramento Kings four games to one.
Now a free agent, Nash attempted to negotiate a long-term contract with Mark Cuban. Cuban did not want to lose Nash, but wanted to build his franchise around the younger Nowitzki and did not want to risk signing the aging Nash to a long-term deal. Instead he offered a four year deal worth about $9 million per year, with a fifth year partially guaranteed. Cuban wrote in his own blog that he considered it fair and if Nash could get a better offer from another team he should take it and Cuban would be happy for him. Nash continued looking for a better deal and found one in Phoenix, where he still had a home and ties to the local community. Unfazed by Nash's age (30), the Suns offered him a six-year, $63 million contract. He was reluctant to leave Dallas and returned to Cuban to see if he would match the deal, to no avail. Nash signed a long-term contract with the Phoenix Suns for the 2004-05 season.
On a June 14, 2006 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, Cuban wondered out loud, "...you know Steve's a great guy and I love him to death, but why couldn't he play like an MVP for us?"
Second Stint in Phoenix: Nash's Career Transformed
The Phoenix Suns had two emerging young players in small forward Shawn Marion and power forward-center Amare Stoudemire, the 2002-03 Rookie of the Year, but the season before Nash arrived, the Suns recorded a 29-53 win-loss record. Other than the additions of Nash and swingman Quentin Richardson, the line-up was essentially unchanged from the previous season, and most critics projected them to have another poor season.
Head coach Mike D'Antoni, who had taken over midway through the previous season, favored an up-tempo style of basketball. This style requires smaller, more athletic players with the capability to outrun and outshoot their opponents. Nash's familiarity with this style combined with the athleticism of teammates Stoudemire, Marion, and Joe Johnson to produce many highlight reels, an NBA-best 62-20 record (a 33-win improvement from the previous season) and a points per game average of 110.4, the highest in a decade.
As the Suns' starting point guard and a veteran among youngsters, Nash proved to be a threat in every aspect of the Suns' offense and was one of the catalysts for the team's dramatic turnaround. He averaged 11.5 assists per game (the highest mark in that category since 1995) while making 50.2% of his field goals and 43.1% of his 3-pointers.
In 2005 playoffs, Phoenix swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games before meeting Nash's former club, the Dallas Mavericks, in the second round. Leading the Suns to a 4-2 series win, Nash put up some of the best numbers of his career, averaging 30.3 points, 12.0 assists, and 6.5 rebounds per game, recording his first playoff triple-double, and scoring a 2005 playoff high 48 points in one game. The Suns played in the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1993, losing to the eventual NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs in five games. For the series, Nash averaged 23.2 points and 10.6 assists per game.
Most Valuable Player 2005
In 2004-05, Nash edged Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat to win the NBA MVP award. Nash became the first Canadian and the second foreign-born player (after Hakeem Olajuwon) to earn the honor. He is the first MVP who did not lead his team in scoring since Dave Cowens in 1972-73. Nash is just the third point guard ever to be named MVP — along with Magic Johnson and Bob Cousy — and only the sixth guard (Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, and Allen Iverson being the others). Nash was the first white player to win the award since Larry Bird in 1986. Nash is also the lowest drafted player to win the award.
2005-06 Season
After losing three key players in the off-season (Stoudemire to a knee injury, Joe Johnson to a trade for Boris Diaw (who was later on named "Most Improved Player" of 2006) and Quentin Richardson to a trade with New York) the Suns were not expected to repeat their successful 2005 season. However, because of Nash's leadership and the solid play of teammates Marion and Boris Diaw, the Suns remained one of the elite teams in the NBA. They again were the highest scoring team in the league with seven players averaging double figures in points per game. Nash was voted as a first-time starter for the 2006 Western All-Star team. On May 17 it was announced that Nash had been named to the All-NBA first team.
Nash was widely viewed as an MVP candidate as the regular season came to a close. He set career highs in points (18.8), rebounds (4.2), field goal percentage (.512) and free throw percentage (a league-leading .921).
Nash finished second in the 2007 MVP voting, as long-time friend and now rival Dirk Nowitzki won.
He also became the fourth player in NBA history to shoot better than 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range (43.9), and 90% from the line, joining Larry Bird, Reggie Miller and Mark Price. Along with Shawn Marion, Nash led the Suns to another Pacific Division title and 54 wins. He would later be awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canadian athlete of the year.
Most Valuable Player 2006: Nash Wins Again
The MVP award was announced by the NBA on May 7, 2006 to be Steve Nash for the second year in a row. The official announcement came only a day after the Phoenix Suns (playing against the Lakers) became the eighth team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series.
Nash is only the second point guard, along with Magic Johnson, to win the MVP award multiple times and also the second guard in NBA history to earn back-to-back MVP awards, joining Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Nash joined eight other NBA players with back-to-back MVP awards: Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Tim Duncan. The merit of Nash's MVP seasons has been brought into question by several analysts, however, including Bill Simmons of ESPN.com, who stated "Steve Nash's back-to-back trophies transformed the award into what it is now: a popularity contest."
Playoffs 2007
The Phoenix Suns led by their two-time MVP (Steve Nash) once again enjoyed playoff success defeating the L.A. Lakers in just five games. The celebrating was short lived as they went on to face long time playoff rival the San Antonio Spurs in the second round. The series began in Phoenix where the San Antonio Spurs took a one game lead and Nash's infamous bloodied nose occurred. Game two had the Suns dominating during much of the action and blowing out the competition. Game three and four took place in San Antonio and would change the complexion of the entire series. Game three was won by the Spurs in a dominating defensive fashion that held the Suns to less than their usual triple digit average. Although many fans in Phoenix question whether the Suns could win a game in San Antonio they (Suns) had the game rapped up after some come-from behind play by Steve Nash and Co. Game four wasn’t over just yet and was abruptly interrupted by a body check from Robert Horry to Steve Nash. Phoenix went on to win game four but Stoudemire and Diaw were suspended as a result of leaving the bench area and though the Suns put up a valiant effort in game five the would eventually lose and never recover bowing out in game six. Many believe the series was awarded to the Spurs by NBA commisioner David Stern due to the suspensions of Stoudemire and Diaw and the unfair play by San Antonio that was being allowed by the commisioner.
International Career
Nash captained Canada's men's national basketball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Canada won their final game of the tournament, a placement game against Russia, which enabled Canada to finish in 7th place, overall. Nash expressed disappointment in the result, saying "It hurts a lot. I feel like I let everybody down." Nevertheless, he did see a possible silver lining, saying "Hopefully kids [in Canada] will be inspired to play--that's what I really hope."
Nash again led Team Canada during an unsuccessful qualifying bid for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Nash was named tournament MVP, but he admitted that he was disappointed that Canada did not qualify for the Olympics.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: Steven John Nash |
| Born: February 7, 1974 in Johannesburg, South Africa |
| High School: St. Michaels University School (Canada) |
| College: Santa Clara |
| Drafted by: Phoenix Suns (1996) |
| Transactions: Signed by Suns to three-year, $3.2 million contract on July 24, 1996; Traded by Suns to Dallas Mavericks on June 24, 1998; Contract with Mavericks expired, became free agent on July 1, 2004; Signed by Suns to six-year, $66 million contract on July 14, 2004 |
| Height: 6-3 (191 cm) |
| Weight: 195 lbs. (89 kg) |
| Honors: 2-time NBA Most Valuable Player (2005, 2006); 5-time NBA All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007); 5-time All-NBA (First Team: 2005, 2006, 2007; Third Team: 2002, 2003); 3-time NBA regular season leader, assists per game (2005 (11.5), 2006 (10.5), 2007 (11.6)); 3-time NBA regular season leader, assists (2005 (861), 2006 (826), 2007 (884)); NBA regular season leader, free throw percentage (2006 (.921)); NBA league leader in assists per 48 minutes (2004 (12.6), 2005 (16.1), 2006 (14.2), 2007 (15.8)) |
