Steve Nash Shares How Steph Curry Pushed Him Toward Retirement
Steve Nash recently recounted a humorous yet humbling story about the moment he realized it was time to retire, thanks to a preseason game against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
The former Phoenix Suns legend spent his final two NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. By that point, sixteen years in the league had taken a heavy toll on his body and performance.
The Game That Changed Everything
Nash recalled the 2013 preseason matchup in Ontario, California, which became a turning point in his career. He used the game as a test to see whether he could still compete at a high level.
“We went to play these guys preseason in like Ontario, California, or somewhere,” Nash said on Mind the Game. “I think they put up like 50 in the first quarter. Maybe it was 45, but it felt like a 50-piece, right? I couldn’t have probably stopped him even if I were 100 percent.”
He joked about being targeted in every play, dragged around by Curry’s movements, and struggling to keep up.
“Steve Kerr was putting me in every action. I’m looking over at Steve like, ‘C’mon, Stevie.’ Alvin Gentry’s over there laughing at me like, ‘No, let’s see what you got.’”
After that game, Nash admitted it took only a few days of reflection to realize his time had come to step away.
“Three or four days later, I was like, ‘Yeah, I think it’s time to retire.’ I called Mitch Kupchak.”
Gratitude Toward Curry
Nash also spoke fondly about Curry, acknowledging the young star’s rise and how their paths crossed at a transitional moment in his career.
“You deserve a little bit of putting me out to pasture, a little bit of my retirement. It’s not something I like to talk about in public a lot. When he came into the league, I still felt like the big brother a little bit, like I still had the upper hand.”
Author’s Summary
In sharing this story, Nash reflected warmly and wittily on how facing Steph Curry made him recognize the end of his playing days, marking a graceful close to a remarkable career.