Stephen Curry Pushed Steve Nash into Retirement
In the latest episode of the podcast Mind the Game, co-hosted by LeBron James and Steve Nash, guest Stephen Curry shared a humorous yet touching story from Nash’s career. The story revealed how one preseason matchup against the Warriors made Nash realize that it was time to end his playing days.
When Nash Faced His Limits
During a friendly game versus Golden State, the Warriors overwhelmed Nash’s team right from the start, scoring nearly 50 points in the first quarter. The fast pace and intensity of Curry’s play made the veteran point guard fully aware that his body could no longer keep up.
“They put like 50 points on us in the first quarter. He was running everywhere, my back was shot, everything was out of whack, I was dragging myself, and Steve Kerr was making them play everything off of me.”
A few days later, Nash decided to call Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak to announce his retirement.
“Steph, you’ve kicked me out of basketball,” he joked.
A Symbolic Passing of the Torch
This candid confession highlights more than statistics ever could: the transition between two basketball eras — from the creative, pass-first point guard of the 2000s to the transformative, sharpshooting style led by Curry.
Nash’s Post-Retirement Role
After retiring in 2015, Nash joined the Golden State Warriors as a player development consultant. From 2015 to 2020, he worked part-time with players, especially guards, helping shape their on-court vision and leadership.
Author’s summary: This story captures how a single preseason game with Curry led Steve Nash to recognize his time had come, symbolizing a graceful handover between two generations of NBA stars.