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NBA: Top 25 Free Agent Signings of All-Time

By Bryce Olin

Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) during the first quarter in game five of the 2014 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) during the first quarter in game five of the 2014 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) practices before the Lakers play against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) practices before the Lakers play against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns

Season G MP FG FGA FG% 3P% FT% AST STL PTS
2004-05 ★ 75 34.3 5.7 11.4 .502 .431 .887 11.5 1.0 15.5
2005-06 ★ 79 35.4 6.8 13.4 .512 .439 .921 10.5 0.8 18.8
2006-07 ★ 76 35.3 6.8 12.8 .532 .455 .899 11.6 0.8 18.6
2007-08 ★ 81 34.3 6.0 11.9 .504 .470 .906 11.1 0.7 16.9
2008-09 74 33.6 5.8 11.5 .503 .439 .933 9.7 0.7 15.7
2009-10 ★ 81 32.8 6.2 12.2 .507 .426 .938 11.0 0.5 16.5
2010-11 75 33.3 5.3 10.8 .492 .395 .912 11.4 0.6 14.7
2011-12 ★ 62 31.6 4.8 9.0 .532 .390 .894 10.7 0.6 12.5
Career 1217 31.3 5.2 10.6 .490 .428 .904 8.5 0.7 14.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/2/2014.

When Dallas balked on Phoenix’s six-year, $63 million contract offer to Steve Nash in 2004, Nash looked like a decent pickup for the Suns, but I don’t know if anyone actually expected Nash would be the league’s best player for the next two years.

At the time, Nash was 30 years old, so a huge contract like that was a risky move for Dallas, but in hindsight, it looks like a terrible decision by Dallas and owner Mark Cuban not to re-sign Nash, regardless of the price. As you know, Dallas poured all their money into Erick Dampier‘s pockets, and Nash was the league MVP in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Nash never made the NBA finals with the Suns, however. In his first two seasons with the Suns, Nash was knocked out of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals. Unfortunately, that was as close as the Suns would come to the Finals.

Although Nash never played for a championship, he’s one of the best point guards, shooters, and free agents to ever play the game, averaging 14.3 points and 9.4 assists per game in his career with the Phoenix Suns.

Next: 2. Shaquille O'Neal