Stephen Curry Pushed Steve Nash into Retirement
In the latest episode of Mind the Game, the podcast co-hosted by LeBron James and Steve Nash, Stephen Curry shared a touching and humorous story from Nash. The former Suns point guard revealed how a preseason game against the Warriors made him aware that his body had reached its limit.
How Stephen Curry Influenced a New Generation
During a friendly match against Golden State, everything changed for Nash:
"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."
Just a few days later, Nash made a difficult decision:
"I called Mitch Kupchak to tell him my decision. Steph, you’ve kicked me out of basketball (laughs)."
The Shift Between Two NBA Generations
This sincere and self-deprecating confession highlights the transition between two eras in basketball: the 2000s playmaker-artist represented by Nash and the revolutionary shooter embodied by Curry.
Collaboration After Retirement
Following his retirement in 2015, Steve Nash became a player development consultant from 2015 to 2020. Though not part of the full-time staff, he regularly worked with players, particularly guards and point guards.
"After retiring in 2015, Steve Nash took on a role as a player development consultant from 2015 to 2020."
This collaboration bridged the gap between their generations and contributed to player growth.
Author's Summary: Stephen Curry's dynamic style signaled to Steve Nash that his time had come, marking a generational shift that led Nash to retire and later mentor young players.