Steve Nash announces his retirement from the NBA
Two-time MVP Steve Nash's NBA career is officially over.
Nash, who has not played for the Los Angeles Lakers this season because of nerve damage in his back, announced his retirement on "The Players' Tribune."
"I heard someone once say there comes a day when they tell us all that we can't play anymore," Nash wrote. "We're not good enough. Surplus to requirements. Too slow, maybe. When you're a teenager with outsized dreams and a growing obsession, and someone tells you this ain't gonna last forever, it's scary. I never forgot it."
When Nash, 41, was ruled out for the season in October, his retirement was expected but this puts finality on a remarkable and unexpected 19-year NBA career.
"The greatest gift has been to be completely immersed in my passion and striving for something I loved so much — visualizing a ladder, climbing up to my heroes. The obsession became my best friend. I talked to her, cherished her, fought with her and got knocked on my (expletive) by her."
"And that is what I'm most thankful for in my career. In my entire life, in some ways. Obviously, I value my kids and my family more than the game, but in some ways having this friend — this ever-present pursuit — has made me who I am, taught me and tested me, and given me a mission that feels irreplaceable. I am so thankful. I've learned so many invaluable lessons about myself and about life. And of course I still have so much to learn. Another incredible gift."
Nash averaged 14.3 points and 8.5 assists and was one of the best three-pointer shooters in NBA history, making 42.8% of his threes (ninth best all-time) and is No. 15 on the all-time three-pointers made list (1,685). He also shot 49% from the field and 90.4% on three throws, coming ever-so-close to the impressive 50-40-90 mark.
But without question, Nash was more than mere statistics. Born in South Africa, Nash grew up British Columbia and excelled in basketball, soccer and rugby. But he was not recruited by major U.S. universities to play basketball. Santa Clara took a chance on him, and he developed into a first-round pick.
The Phoenix Suns drafted Nash 15th overall in 1996, and he played two seasons with the Suns before the Dallas Mavericks acquired him in a trade.
Nash began to flourish with the Mavericks under coach Don Nelson whose innovative offensive style matched perfectly with Nash's offensive flair.
In his essay, Nash made sure to mention Nelson. "He insisted that I be aggressive. That growth was a turning point in my career," Nash wrote.
Nash had a gift for seeing the court. His vision was amazing, head up, dribbling, reading the defense and creating – not only for himself but for others. He had that true point guard instinct: make your teammates better, and he did so with skill and creativity.
Nash was fortunate to play for two of the most innovative offensive coaches in the NBA. After six seasons with the Mavericks, he re-joined the Suns and played for Mike D'Antoni, whose up-tempo offense blended perfectly with Nash's skills.
In 2004-05, the Suns won 62 games and Nash averaged 15.5 points and 11.5 assists and won his first MVP award. The next season, Phoenix won 54 games and Nash again excelled with Amar'e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw. Nash also made sure to acknowledge D'Antoni.
Nash excelled in D'Antoni's system, doing what was necessary: running the pick-and-roll with clever passing, driving to the basket with a uncanny ability to elude bigger defenders and making jump shots. Nash didn't have outstanding athleticism but he combined skills and knowledge, giving him a unique panache.
"Mike D'Antoni changed the game of basketball," Nash wrote. "There's not many people you can say that about. No wonder I had my best years playing for him. His intelligence guided him to never over-coach, complicate or hide behind the game's traditions. He deserves a championship."
D'Antoni never won a title and neither did Nash. The Suns lost in the conference finals in 2005, 2006 and 2010.
Nash decided to play for the Lakers in the summer of 2012, and he had planned to help the Lakers and Kobe Bryant win another championship. That never happened either. Nash played in just 50 games in 2012-13.
Nash wanted to play this season, the final year of his contract, but the nerve pain was too much.
Along with Vince Carter who played for the Toronto Raptors, Nash had a significant influence on the awakening of Canadian basketball. Today's young Canadian stars grew up appreciating Nash's game and realized his success was possible for them, too. Nash will remain involved in basketball as the general manager of Canada's men's national team.
"I will likely never play basketball again. It's bittersweet," Nash wrote. "I already miss the game deeply, but I'm also really excited to learn to do something else. This letter is for anyone who's taken note of my career.
"At the heart of this letter, I'm speaking to kids everywhere who have no idea what the future holds or how to take charge of their place in it. When I think of my career, I can't help but think of the kid with his ball, falling in love. That's still what I identify with and did so throughout my entire story."
PHOTOS: Steve Nash's career highlights
