Steve Nash Details Stephen Curry’s Role in His NBA Retirement
Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash revealed that Stephen Curry played a significant role in his decision to retire after the 2013-14 season. Nash spent his final two NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, joining a superstar lineup that included Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard. Despite high hopes, the team struggled, and age eventually affected Nash’s performance.
On a recent episode of “Mind the Game,” hosted by Nash and LeBron James, Nash shared with Curry, who was the guest, how competing against him confirmed it was time to retire.
Retirement Influenced by Facing Curry
“You might know this, but you deserve a little bit of putting me out to pasture, a little bit of my retirement story,” Nash said. “It’s not something I like to talk about in public a lot. When he came in the league, I still felt like the big brother, you know, I still did. And then he started becoming who he is, and the pendulum shifted.”
Nash wanted to challenge his body against the younger Curry, but the experience proved tougher than expected.
“And so we went to play these guys’ preseason in Ontario, California, or somewhere. We came out, I’m guarding Steph. I think they put up like 50 in the first quarter. Maybe it was 45, but it felt like a 50-piece. He’s running everywhere, my back is broke, everything’s jacked. I couldn’t have stopped him if I was 100%, and I’m dragging around.”
Summary
Facing the young, relentless Stephen Curry made Steve Nash realize it was time to end his NBA career.