Steve Nash Shares Story of Steph Curry Influencing His Retirement
Steve Nash recounted a memorable preseason game that led him to realize it was time to retire. The Suns legend, who spent his final two seasons with the Lakers, felt the physical demands of 16 seasons catching up to him.
The Preseason Game Against the Warriors
In 2013, Nash played a preseason matchup against the Golden State Warriors, testing if he could still perform at a high level. He recalled:
“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.”
He described the experience dragging down his confidence, especially with coach Steve Kerr calling plays against him and Alvin Gentry watching on with amusement.
Realizing It Was Time to Retire
After a few days to reflect, Nash decided to call Lakers executive Mitch Kupchak to discuss retirement. He explained:
“I was like ‘Yeah, I think it’s time [to retire]. 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.”
Feeling Like a Big Brother Fading Away
Nash also reflected on his transition as newer players emerged:
“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.”
In the end, Steph Curry's performance was a catalyst that helped Nash accept the end of his professional basketball journey.
Author's summary: A candid Steve Nash story reveals how Steph Curry's dominance in a preseason game pushed him to accept retirement, marking the end of a remarkable 16-season career.