Steve Nash Shares How Steph Curry Prompted His Retirement
Steve Nash recounted a humorous story about how Steph Curry made him realize it was time to end his NBA career. After 16 grueling seasons, Nash spent his final two years playing for the Lakers.
Preseason Game Revelation
Nash described a 2013 preseason matchup between the Lakers and the Warriors, which served as a reality check. The Warriors aggressively scored in the first quarter, making Nash doubt his ability to keep up.
“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.”
He added how Warriors coach Steve Kerr constantly had him guarded in every play, while Alvin Gentry laughed, urging Nash to show what he still had. This experience led Nash to seriously consider retirement.
“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 Perspective on Retirement
Nash reflected on his feelings about retiring, acknowledging it was difficult to discuss publicly but necessary.
“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.”
He also noted a shift in their relationship, saying that when Steph Curry first joined the league, Nash still felt like the "big brother" with the upper hand.
“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.”
Summary
Steve Nash’s encounter with an unstoppable Steph Curry during a 2013 preseason game ultimately convinced him it was time to retire after a remarkable 16-season NBA career.