Stephen Curry Pushed Steve Nash into Retirement
In the latest episode of Mind the Game, a podcast co-hosted by LeBron James and Steve Nash, Stephen Curry shared a touching and amusing story from the former Suns point guard.
How Steve Nash Realized His Career Was Ending
Nash recounted a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors that made him aware his body could no longer keep up. During that match, the Warriors scored around 50 points in the first quarter alone. Nash said, "He was running everywhere, my back was shot, everything was out of whack, I was dragging myself, and Steve Kerr was making them play everything off of me.”
A few days later, Nash made his decision. He called Mitch Kupchak, a Lakers executive, and humorously told him,
“Steph, you’ve kicked me out of basketball (laughs).”This heartfelt confession reflects the generational shift between Nash's playmaker style of the 2000s and Curry’s revolutionary shooting approach.
Collaboration After Retirement
Following his retirement in 2015, Nash became a player development consultant until 2020. While not a full-time staff member, he regularly worked with players, focusing mainly on guards and point guards, continuing his impact on the game.
“I called Mitch Kupchak to tell him my decision. Steph, you’ve kicked me out of basketball (laughs).”
Summary: Stephen Curry's dynamic playstyle led Steve Nash to retire, symbolizing a shift in NBA eras, yet Nash continued shaping the game as a player development consultant.