Steve Nash Shares Funny Story About Steph Curry Ending His Career
Steve Nash recently recalled an amusing yet humbling moment that made him realize it was time to retire. The former Suns star spent his final two NBA seasons with the Lakers, where his 16-year career had already begun to wear him down.
The Preseason Game That Changed Everything
Nash described a 2013 preseason matchup between the Lakers and Warriors that served as a personal wake-up call.
“We went to play these guys preseason in like Ontario, California, or somewhere,” Nash said on Mind the Game. “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.”
According to Nash, Steph Curry’s performance that night made it clear that the game was changing rapidly. He laughed about being targeted in every play while coaches and old teammates looked on.
“I’m 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,’” he recalled.
Accepting the End
Just a few days later, Nash realized his time had come.
“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,’” he said.
A Respectful Farewell
Even in reflection, Nash joked that Curry helped push him toward retirement in a way that felt right.
“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,” Nash admitted. “When he came into the league, I still felt like the big brother a little bit, like I still had the upper hand.”
Author’s Summary
Nash’s candid story shows how Steph Curry’s explosive rise reminded one of the game’s greats that even legends must eventually pass the torch.