Steve Nash Reveals Defining Moment with Stephen Curry
In the latest episode of the Mind The Game podcast, Steve Nash shared a personal and unexpected story involving Stephen Curry that ultimately influenced his decision to retire from the NBA.
The Pivotal Preseason Game
The former Canadian point guard recalled a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors where he was assigned to guard the then-emerging star from San Francisco. It was during this matchup that Nash realized he could no longer perform at his previous level.
“My nerves were shot, and I just couldn’t recover. I thought, ‘I have to figure this out.’ It had been a week since my last game. We were going to play them in the preseason, and I kept thinking, ‘I have to play through the injury. And if not, what’s the point?’”
Memories Shared with LeBron James and Stephen Curry
Joined by LeBron James and Stephen Curry on the podcast, Nash vividly described the physical and mental challenge of guarding Curry, who was already demonstrating his exceptional skill.
“We got on the court, and I was guarding Steph. I think they scored like 50 points in the first quarter — maybe 45, but it felt like 50. My back was shot, my body was done.”
Curry laughed during the conversation as he recalled that intense night in Ontario, California.
Author's Summary
This story highlights how a single game with Stephen Curry made Steve Nash confront his physical limits and led to his NBA retirement decision.