Steve Nash Reveals How Stephen Curry Influenced His Retirement
In a recent episode of the Mind The Game podcast, Steve Nash shared a personal story about a defining moment in his career involving Stephen Curry. The former Canadian point guard explained that this moment happened during a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors, where Nash was assigned to guard the then-rising star.
That night, Nash came to a crucial realization about his physical limits and future in the NBA. Joining the conversation alongside LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Nash recounted how the experience made him reflect deeply on his condition.
“My nerves were shot, and I just couldn’t recover. I thought, ‘I have to figure this out.’ It had been a week since my last game. We were going to play them in the preseason, and I kept thinking, ‘I have to play through the injury. And if not, what’s the point?’”
Curry humorously chimed in, recalling that game in Ontario, California. Nash described the difficulty of keeping up with Curry’s emerging skills.
“We got on the court, and I was guarding Steph. I think they scored like 50 points in the first quarter — maybe 45, but it felt like 50. My back was shot, my body was done.”
This moment marked a turning point for Nash, highlighting the physical challenges that ultimately contributed to his decision to retire.
Author’s summary: Steve Nash’s experience guarding Stephen Curry highlighted his waning physical abilities, ultimately influencing his decision to retire from professional basketball.