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In Memoriam: Remembering Steve Nash’s Career

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan. 30, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan. 30, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Steve Nash
Nov 8, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash sits on the bench during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at New Orleans Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 96-85. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

The Early Years

It wasn’t always apparent that Nash was destined for greatness. As a freshman at Santa Clara, he led the Broncos to an historic upset of the No. 2 seeded Arizona Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA tournament. At the time, they were only the second 15-seed in NCAA history to knock off a 2-seed in the first round of the tournament. That victory put Nash on the map to some degree, but when he was selected 15th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, the fans booed the selection of such a relatively unknown player.

In his first two seasons in the NBA, Nash didn’t get the opportunity to show Suns fans what was to come. He averaged 6.2 points and 2.8 assists per game in those two seasons, earning limited minutes behind Kevin Johnson, Sam Cassell and eventually, Jason Kidd. The Suns ended up trading him to the Dallas Mavericks for Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells, Pat Garrity and a first round draft pick that ended up turning into Shawn Marion.

It was in Dallas that Nash made strides as an actual NBA starting point guard. In his third season with the team, Nash started all 70 games he played in while averaging 15.6 points and 7.3 assists per game. The following season, he earned his first All-Star appearance and All-NBA spot while averaging 17.9 points and 7.7 assists per game. Alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash and the Mavs advanced to the Western Conference Finals the following season, but they lost in six games to the eventual champions, the San Antonio Spurs.

After another season in Dallas, Nash became a free agent. The Mavs had money tied up between Nowitzki, Finley, Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison and offered Nash a four-year, $36 million deal. But the Suns swept back into Nash’s life with a six-year, $63 million offer. When Mark Cuban would not match the offer, Nash left for the Valley of the Sun, and the NBA would never be the same.

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