Steve Nash Credits Steph Curry for His Retirement Decision
In a recent episode of the Mind the Game podcast, Steve Nash shared a humorous story with LeBron James and Steph Curry about the moment he realized his NBA career was ending, partly because of Curry.
The Pivotal 2014 Preseason Game
This moment occurred during the 2014-15 preseason when Nash’s Los Angeles Lakers faced Curry’s Golden State Warriors in Ontario, California. The Warriors dominated, scoring 39 points in the first quarter and winning 116–75. Curry scored 12 points in the first 2.5 minutes and finished with 25 points in just 24 minutes.
Nash’s Physical Struggles
Dealing with back problems, Nash admitted he could no longer match Curry’s agility. He said,
“I’m guarding Steph. They put up like 50 in the first quarter — maybe it was 45, but it felt like a 50-piece. I couldn’t have stopped him if I was 100 percent.”
A few days after the game, Nash reflected on his situation and joked to Curry,
“Man, literally like three more, four more days of thinking on it, I was like… yeah. I think it’s time. You put me out!”
Retirement Confirmation
In July 2014, Nash had already decided that the upcoming season would be his last. Unfortunately, after playing just three preseason games, including the one against the Warriors, his back issues worsened. On October 23, 2014, less than a week before the regular season began, he was ruled out for the entire season and did not return to play in the NBA.
Author’s Summary
Steve Nash humorously credits Steph Curry’s explosive play during a 2014 preseason game as a key reason he realized his NBA career had to end.