Steve Nash Shares Humorous Story About Steph Curry Influencing His Retirement
Steve Nash recounted a memorable moment when Steph Curry inadvertently made him realize it was time to retire. The Suns legend, who spent his final two NBA seasons with the Lakers, felt the effects of a long 16-year career during this period.
Preseason Game Against Warriors
Nash described a tough preseason game in 2013 between the Lakers and Warriors, held in Ontario, California. He aimed to test if he could still contribute effectively on the court.
“We went to play these guys preseason in like Ontario, California, or somewhere. 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. And now I’m like dragging around Steve Kerr putting me in every action. I’m looking over at Steve like c’mon Stevie. Alvin Gentry over there laughing at me like, ‘No, let’s see what you got.’ I’m like, man, literally like three, four more days of thinking on it, I was like ‘Yeah, I think it’s time [to retire]. I called Mitch Kupchak.”
Nash’s Reflections on Retirement
He admitted it took some contemplation before accepting retirement was necessary. Nash also expressed it wasn’t a common topic for him to discuss publicly.
“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, I still feel like I’ve got the upper hand here.”
Legacy and Respect
The story highlights the respect Nash has for Curry’s skill and the natural close of a distinguished basketball career.
Author’s summary: Steve Nash humorously revealed how facing Steph Curry convinced him that after 16 demanding seasons, it was time to retire, marking the end of an era in his career.